《The Wolf Is Fierce and Cautious》 Chapter 1 – We are ", find us on google. *** The blinding white light slowly brought Zhao Yi back from unconsciousness. Opening his eyes, he saw the operating light of a surgery room. His nostrils were filled with the heavy scent of dust and rust. He slowly sat up, taking in his surroundings, and immediately realized he had been pulled into the real-life horror game "Hell" that had descended upon the world three years ago! This game continuously drags humans into terrifying worlds to perform various horror tasks, and broadcasts them live on the virtual platform "Eternal Night Camp"! Those who succeed are rewarded and grow stronger! Those who fail have their life permanently deducted until death! The life displayed above is not the life bar of the character the player is playing. It is the player''s own life bar! After confirming that there was no immediate danger around him, Zhao Yi opened his quest board. "Hell difficulty beginner dungeon... Seems dangerous, better be careful!" Zhao Yi muttered to himself. He got up from the broken iron bed and stretched his muscles. Everything was intact. His state was currently manic. Approaching the shattered vintage glass window, Zhao Yi observed the outside scene, his gaze falling on the hospital''s outer wall. Deep in his eyes, a faint dark red bloody glow flickered! Immediately, Zhao Yi received some unstable data. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Access card?" Zhao Yi rubbed his chin. These mysterious data revealed important information! To escape the hospital, an access card is needed. It seems this is his ultimate goal. Carefully pushing the door open. The corridor was pitch black. In the distance, a stark white light flickered, unstable! A gust of eerie wind blew into his bones. Such a scene would be enough to scare an ordinary person into paralysis. *** [Eternal Night Camp Streaming Lobby] : Strange, this batch of newcomers actually has someone with a spirit value of 101?! : WHAT? Isn''t the max spirit value for players in this game 100? : I remember it is, the highest player currently is 100, called Dragon Emperor Demon God, not from our Bone Zone, heard he''s from the Blood Zone, top of the Blood Zone leaderboard. : Could the system have a bug? : Damn! Look! This unlucky kid''s beginner dungeon is actually Colossus Hospital? : He''s done for, this newbie is going to die right from the start! : What? Another newbie entered Colossus Hospital? Let''s go watch the stream! : What''s his name? : Zhao Yi. In Eternal Night Camp, many players shouted, clicking into Zhao Yi''s live streaming room. They were eager to see how this unlucky guy who entered Colossus Hospital would meet his end. *** Fourth floor. Zhao Yi continued forward, along the mottled walls. Paint peeled off with the wall skin, scattered all over the floor, mold spots everywhere. Clearly, the hospital had been abandoned for years. 401... 402... 403... The door plates were barely hanging on. Finally, Zhao Yi stopped at room 409. He saw an elderly man lying in the ward, emaciated, with a head full of white hair. The old man was connected to many tubes keeping him alive. With a pleading look, the old man slightly moved his lips. "Young man... help me... I want to use the bathroom, can you help me get up?" Zhao Yi carefully examined the old man. Those unstable strange data appeared again. Zhao Yi''s mind raced, then he entered the room, step by step approaching the old man. The old man on the bed watched Zhao Yi approach, a trace of resentment and a sinister smile flashed in his eyes, but he gratefully said: "Thank you, young man!" *** In the live streaming room, players watching Zhao Yi enter the room showed regret and mockery on their faces. :Tsk tsk tsk, he actually dared to go in! In a place like this, even using your butt to think, there can''t be any living people, right? : Dying at the hands of Old Liu, there must be at least fifty if not a hundred! : I thought a newbie with a spirit of 101 would be impressive, but he''s just an idiot, even worse than the last one with 78. : Let''s disperse, this newbie is too weak! The audience in the live streaming room discussed heatedly. However, they soon noticed Zhao Yi stopped about three meters away from the old man. The old man''s cloudy eyes were filled with urgency and impatience. Come on! Come touch my hand! It screamed frantically in its heart! Unbeknownst to anyone, a rusty scalpel appeared in Zhao Yi''s hand hidden behind his back. He took another step, but sidestepped the old man''s front, coming to the back. The old man''s smile froze. "What... what are you doing?" Zhao Yi stared at the back of the old man''s head for a long time, calmly saying: "I''ll ask you a question, if you answer correctly, I''ll take you to the bathroom." "And... if I answer incorrectly?" "Then I''ll cut off your head." Old Liu was stunned! The audience in the live streaming room was also stunned! Goodness, this is a complete reversal! This newbie seems to be a bit... fierce? "Okay... okay." Due to the system settings, Old Liu couldn''t turn around, and now, as fierce as it was, it became a lamb to the slaughter. Zhao Yi pressed the scalpel''s tip against the back of Old Liu''s head and asked: "How many leg hairs do I have?" Old Liu: Live streaming room: ??? Squelch! The sound of the scalpel entering flesh echoed. The scalpel in Zhao Yi''s hand had successfully pierced Old Liu''s brain! Old Liu''s face was filled with terror, he shouted:"Don''t kill me! Ask another question! Ask another one!" Zhao Yi was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Alright. Then I''ll ask another. Where is the hospital''s access card?" Old Liu let out a breath, hurriedly saying:"There are three access cards in the hospital, one in the logistics department, one with the director, and another..." As he spoke, his eyes suddenly widened, his body convulsing! The old man struggled a few times, then his head drooped. Zhao Yi withdrew his scalpel, noticing that some of the rust on it had faded. He glanced at the iron window, noticing a slight lift at the corner of the bed, something that would be impossible to spot without careful observation. After some searching, Zhao Yi found a property deed. At the same time, the system''s voice sounded. With the system message, the old man''s corpse had somehow turned over, quietly watching Zhao Yi, no longer fierce. His figure was fading. "Young man, thank you for freeing me. This property deed is the only savings of this old man. My daughter once..." In his final moments, he recounted his story. It turned out that Old Liu''s daughter, Liu Xue, had secretly had an affair with the director of Colossus Hospital to obtain this property deed, planning to conspire to kill him! But later, Liu Xue died in an elevator accident in the hospital. So the matter was left unresolved. Old Liu entrusted Zhao Yi to help kill the director of Colossus Hospital, in exchange, the property deed would belong to Zhao Yi. *** In the live streaming room, hundreds of players watching the stream were stunned. For a full three seconds. Then suddenly, it became noisy! Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan Chapter 2 – The Female Ghost in the Colossus Hospital Elevator "This newcomer actually triggered the hidden quest in Colossus Hospital!" "Impressive!" "So Old Liu can''t move at all! But how did he know?" "Who just called this newcomer an idiot? Stand up and speak!" Everyone was discussing when suddenly a special framed message appeared in the live streaming room. Yang Tao: "Although it was somewhat accidental, among the new players added to the Bone Zone this year, his performance is quite good. The outcome of the newbie dungeon isn''t very important; what''s important is his mindset, judgment, and reaction ability." "??? Isn''t this the vice president of the Call to Arms Guild, Boss Yang Tao?" "It''s really Yang Tao! Let''s take a photo together!" "Why does Boss Yang Tao have time to visit a newbie''s live stream?" "Is your guild short on people? Boss, look at me! I''m already level 12!" Yang Tao: "We''re not short on people. I just happened to have some free time, so I came to check out the newbies'' dungeon situations." Yang Tao: "Given the current situation, Zhao Yi''s best approach is to resist the temptation of the hidden quest and focus on completing the main storyline. The map of Colossus Hospital isn''t large, and there aren''t many monsters, but there are many restrictions on the exit. You must obtain an access card to leave." Yang Tao: "But the two known access cards in the hospital, one is with the director, and the other is in the logistics department. The former is extremely difficult to obtain, and the latter might be challenging to explore. Let''s see how this newcomer performs." Yang Tao: "Moreover, Old Liu has subtly hinted to Zhao Yi that his daughter died in the elevator, which means the hospital''s elevator cannot be used." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In the live streaming room, Yang Tao was analyzing with reason when he suddenly stopped. Because he saw Zhao Yi heading straight for the elevator with a property deed in hand... *** The wood paneling in the elevator was very worn. There were many dark brown spots. Those were dried bloodstains. Clearly, something had happened here before. Zhao Yi rubbed his chin, staring at the elevator for a long time. The annotation appeared again. Seeing this, Zhao Yi smiled. The one who died in the elevator was most likely Old Liu''s daughter! Her strength and resistance were severely diminished. Good, Very good. He stepped forward boldly. Zhao Yi walked into the elevator. And his hand reached into his pocket, pulling out a pitch-black object, placing it under the property deed. "Are you Old Liu''s daughter, Liu Xue?" *** "Brothers... why do I feel like Zhao Yi''s expression is... a bit off?" "He doesn''t seem scared, maybe even a little... excited?" "Can he really handle this?" "Stay true to yourself! I call him... a true warrior!" In the live streaming room, the crowd initially frightened by the sudden appearance of the female ghost, found their fear dissipating by half upon seeing Zhao Yi''s expression. *** Seeing the man in front of her completely unafraid, Liu Xue was dumbfounded. What''s going on? Am I not scary enough? "I am Liu Xue... are you here to avenge me?" Her face was drenched in blood, her black hair wet and sticky... Her skin was deathly pale, her voice eerie and ghostly... Zhao Yi wasn''t scared, he even wanted to perform a craniotomy on her. "Your father, Old Liu, has a special gift for you." Liu Xue was stunned. Zhao Yi nodded slightly. "He left it for you alone, said it''s very important, and asked me to make sure you get it. It seems to be related to a property deed. But first, tell me your story, weren''t you killed in an elevator accident? Why seek revenge?" Upon hearing the words "property deed," the female ghost Liu Xue realized Zhao Yi was indeed sent by Old Liu. Because only three people in the entire hospital knew about this matter. Her, Old Liu, and the director. Liu Xue''s eyes were cold, hanging outside her sockets filled with resentment, her aura growing increasingly unstable. "Accident? Yes... everyone thinks it was an accident... Do you think it was an accident too? Do you think so!!" As she spoke, she suddenly thrust her terrifying, rotten face in front of Zhao Yi! Her resentful eyes stared intently at Zhao Yi! Zhao Yi blinked and asked:"And then?" The atmosphere was silent for a few seconds. Ghosts scaring people is a terrifying thing. But failing to scare someone is quite awkward. Liu Xue coughed twice, slowly retracting her face, and said coldly: "It was the director. He murdered me, pushed me off the rooftop! Then had my body collected, claiming it was an elevator malfunction!" Zhao Yi suddenly understood. "So, you want me to help you kill the director?" Liu Xue nodded. "If you help me kill the director and bring his head back to me, I''ll give you a generous reward!" There was no system prompt. This meant the female ghost was lying to Zhao Yi. She had no intention of rewarding Zhao Yi. She might even plan to kill Zhao Yi afterward! "Does he have any weaknesses?" Zhao Yi seemed unaware, asking on his own. "He is the strongest ghost here... but also the weakest. Unlike other ghosts... he doesn''t know he''s dead! If you can make him realize he''s dead... his obsession will vanish, and his power will drain!" After the female ghost finished speaking, Zhao Yi handed the property deed and the object beneath it to her. "I understand. These are the things your father wanted you to have. I''ll find a way to help you get revenge, you take a look first." Liu Xue''s cold gaze fell on the property deed, casually accepting the two items Zhao Yi handed her. The process was so smooth. So smooth that the female ghost didn''t even suspect a thing. Zhao Yi exited, turned right. Stopped. Covered his ears. A strange pull ring was looped around his middle finger. After a brief wait¡ª A violent explosion sound followed, accompanied by countless pieces of flesh and wood flying out, scattering everywhere, covering over ten meters! A blown-up, round head rolled out from the elevator, the fallen eyeballs filled with extreme unwillingness and terror... Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan Chapter 3 – The Fierce Ghost Scared Away from Inside the live streaming room, everyone was dumbfounded. "Damn... isn''t he a psychologist? Why does he carry a grenade when entering a dungeon?" "Is he a battlefield psychologist from Syria?" "This physical exorcism deserves full marks!" Yang Tao: "Brilliant! He used his words to divert the female ghost''s attention, making her focus entirely on the property deed, which was her obsession in life, subconsciously lowering her guard against Zhao Yi... After all, most players think only of escaping when facing ghosts. Who would expect a human to attack a specter?" Yang Tao: "Moreover, Zhao Yi is clearly exploiting a loophole in the game system. Normally, physical means have negligible effects on specters, but because Zhao Yi is currently in a beginner dungeon at hell difficulty, the system significantly reduced the specter''s resistance to give players a fighting chance. That''s why the grenade could cause such severe damage to the female ghost!" "That makes sense!" In the live streaming room, Yang Tao stared intently at Zhao Yi in the dungeon, his eyes gleaming. In just a short time, he already had the urge to make an exception and recruit Zhao Yi into the guild. This newcomer''s performance was simply outstanding! Even many players who have completed numerous tasks find it hard to be as calm and decisive as Zhao Yi! *** The head on the ground, blown to a pulp, looked increasingly hideous and ugly. Liu Xue glared at Zhao Yi with intense anger and resentment! "You dare... to scheme against me?" Zhao Yi ran to the blood-soaked female ghost''s head, as if discovering a new toy, and patted it like a ball. It bounced high. "Hey! Your head is quite bouncy, isn''t it? Uh... just a bit sticky." Female ghost: "???" The next moment, a sharp, rust-stained small knife appeared in Zhao Yi''s hand. It was his soul weapon. *** Seeing the scalpel in Zhao Yi''s hand, immense fear appeared in the female ghost''s resentful eyes! "No! Don''t kill me!" The female ghost let out a piercing scream! "Shh¡ª My knife is quick, it won''t hurt." Zhao Yi gently extended his left hand to comfort the female ghost. Then, amidst the female ghost''s shrill screams, he slowly stabbed the scalpel into the back of her head. And stirred it around. The female ghost stopped screaming. *** Footsteps echoed from the corridor not far away. Zhao Yi stood up and slowly turned around. In front of him was an old man with half his head sliced off. A strange smile hung on his face. But when he saw the female ghost''s head, with its terrified expression, in Zhao Yi''s hand, his smile gradually disappeared. "Is there anything I can help you with?" Zhao Yi asked politely. The old ghost''s hair stood on end, and he turned to flee, not looking back! Damn it, this guy is too damn scary! The crazy woman in the elevator actually had her head cut off by him! I hope he doesn''t chase after me! No, I need to run faster! *** Watching the specter''s panicked retreat, the entire live streaming room erupted. The original few hundred viewers had now turned into tens of thousands. Many large guilds send representatives to newcomer live streams every year to spot promising talents. "???" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''m fucking impressed! This newcomer is so fierce! He actually scared the ghost away!" "He treats the female ghost''s head like a ball. Is he really a psychologist and not a psychopath?" *** After scaring away the old ghost, Zhao Yi looked down at his scalpel. The rust had disappeared. But the blade kept oozing blood. Zhao Yi clenched his fist, clearly feeling much stronger. His strength value had increased from 2 to 5. It felt great. A bit insane. In the hospital''s first-floor lobby, Zhao Yi found the map he was looking for. He glanced at it. Memorized it. And continued exploring. Following the map north, he avoided several highly dangerous unknown shadows. Zhao Yi didn''t head straight to the director''s office but chose the security room instead. He needed proof to inform the director that he was already dead. The security room had surveillance and possibly a printer. Unlike the large hospitals in the city center, Colossus Hospital was built in a remote area, so for safety and convenience, the security room was equipped with networked electronic devices and printing materials. Dim lights flickered ahead. Several corpses lay scattered on the floor inside. As soon as Zhao Yi entered the security room, the first thing he did was take out his scalpel and cut off each corpse''s head! Then he placed them neatly on the table! *** Zhao Yi''s actions sent chills down the spines of many players in the live streaming room. This guy... He must have some psychological issues, right? Yang Tao: "Although it''s quite twisted, it''s a very safe approach. In beginner dungeons, some specters have their powers severely restricted, so they might play dead to ambush players." Yang Tao: "Soul weapons are among the few weapons players have that can significantly harm specters, so doing this eliminates any worries." "Boss makes sense, but is this really something a newcomer to the hell game can do?" "In future team-ups... will he get so carried away that he kills his teammates too?" "This guy is a psychologist? Allow me to mourn for his patients for three minutes!" *** After finishing his task, Zhao Yi calmly washed the blood off his hands in a corner of the room. Then he went to the desk to log into the computer. He opened a webpage and searched. Zhao Yi finally found some old news about Colossus Hospital, took screenshots of key images, put them into a WORD document, and printed them on a sheet of paper. After carefully reviewing and confirming everything, Zhao Yi folded it up and kept it with him. Then he left the room. But not long after, he returned, took out his scalpel, and gave each ghost head on the table another stab! After doing this, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "I knew I forgot something... Now you shouldn''t be able to come back to life..." He muttered to himself. Everyone: "???" Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan When you''re just trying to make great content at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. Chapter 4 – Upon entering the central hall, the shadows around painted an eerie scene. The sky was already quite dim. The air was cold and damp as Zhao Yi paced forward, a strange black fog spreading ahead! *** For the full version, visit [ ]. : Here it comes! The Ghostly Fog Corridor! : Tsk tsk, this fog has claimed many players. It reduces their spirit value, so you can''t linger too long! : I remember, deep within the fog, there''s a room with a Weeping Ghost. Seems like there''s some side quest there. : Right! But it''s not just one ghost there; there''s a Door-Opening Ghost too. Newbies can easily die there! : Hiss¡ªlast time Old Zhang told me he died in the Door-Opening Ghost trap at Colossus Hospital! *** Without hesitation, Zhao Yi stepped into the Ghostly Fog Corridor. As soon as he entered, he felt his vision obscured and concealed. Whispers began to echo around him. Mysterious, cryptic. These voices had a certain mental pollution. But clearly, they were useless against Zhao Yi. Because, Long ago, Zhao Yi could hear countless terrifying whispers every day! From the moment he woke up until he fell asleep. Never a moment of peace! Those voices were far more extreme than the whispers he heard now! Each carried intense malice! Zhao Yi calmly walked through the fog. It felt familiar. Like returning home. The narrow corridor twisted, about three hundred meters long. At the end was a staircase. But as Zhao Yi reached halfway, a faint sobbing sound echoed in his ears... Zhao Yi followed the sound, a scalpel somehow already in his hand. He arrived at Room 1007. The sobbing came from inside. The paint on the wooden door was peeling, leaving mottled marks. Zhao Yi reached out, grasped the doorknob, and tried to turn it. It wasn''t locked. *** Everyone in the live streaming room held their breath. They knew that once Zhao Yi opened the door... He would die! In those few seconds, they felt like years had passed. Holding their breath, fully focused. : Huh? : Why didn''t he... open the door? : Wow! So cautious? *** In the end, Zhao Yi chose not to push the door open. He stepped back a few paces, his gaze falling on the door. Simple data. Gave Zhao Yi an idea. He took out his scalpel, gestured at the door a couple of times. Then suddenly plunged the knife into the wooden door! A piercing scream erupted from behind the door! The sound overwhelmed the Weeping Ghost''s cries! One stab after another... No one knew how many times he stabbed. Zhao Yi''s hollow expression, combined with the perfectly timed shadows and his precise, ruthless stabbing motion, sent chills down the spines of the players watching in the live streaming room. *** : Damn... Is this newbie a bit too fierce? : I''m even starting to worry about the hospital director... : Motherfucker, if I ever meet him, I''d better be careful... I think he''s a madman! Yang Tao: There''s something odd about this newbie. Under the dual stimuli of the Ghostly Fog and the Weeping Ghost''s cries, his spirit didn''t drop at all! : Holy shit? Really! His spirit value is still 101?! *** Finally, Zhao Yi received another notification. Zhao Yi looked at the scalpel in his hand. No obvious changes. Clearly, the enhancement was minimal. But even a little is better than nothing. Blood seeped through the cracks in the door, and the door before Zhao Yi had shifted from dangerous to neutral. Only then did he push it open and enter. The Weeping Ghost was a little boy. He cowered in the corner, trembling as he watched Zhao Yi enter with a knife in hand! He had seen everything just now! "Don''t kill me... don''t kill me!" The Weeping Ghost screamed in terror! His proudest attack method was completely ineffective against Zhao Yi! Zhao Yi approached the Weeping Ghost with the knife. Squatted down, Reached out, Gently patted the Weeping Ghost''s head. *** In the live streaming room, players saw this heartwarming scene and couldn''t help but sigh. Even someone so decisive and ruthless has a gentle side! Hong Ying: His approach is correct. First intimidate the specter, then soothe it, to establish a trust relationship with the specter, which is crucial for completing the side quest! : Whoa?! Goddess Hong Ying is here too! : Goddess, can I have your autograph? Hong Ying: Many skilled newbies have entered the Bone Zone this year. I just came from another live stream of a newbie Chubby Kid, who cleared the "Hunter''s Game" in just forty-six minutes, breaking a three-year record! Hong Ying: This newbie named Zhao Yi is not simple either. Let''s see what this side quest is about. *** The Weeping Ghost, whose head Zhao Yi was patting, gradually calmed down. He was no longer as afraid as before. "You''re not here to kill me, right?" The Weeping Ghost muttered to himself. "I''ve been here so long, and finally someone has come to help me." Zhao Yi smiled warmly, continuing to pat his head. The Weeping Ghost completely relaxed, starting to ramble about his story¡ª "Back then, my mom fell seriously ill..." Zhao Yi gripped the scalpel tighter, slowly applying pressure. "This hospital told me they could save my mom, but it required a huge medical fee..." Zhao Yi shifted slightly, adjusting his posture. Perfect for exerting force. "We''ve always been poor..." The Weeping Ghost rambled, lost in past memories. At that moment! S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi suddenly struck! Crushing! With just one strike, he severed the Weeping Ghost''s head! Immediately, Zhao Yi continued to stab the Weeping Ghost''s head frantically! Blood splattered! He wiped the blood off his face and exhaled. "It''s safe now." He said to himself. Everyone: ??? *** In the live streaming room. : ...I''m stunned! : Skipping dialogue through physical means, impressive! : But now, without key information, he can''t complete the side quest! : Goddess Hong Ying''s analysis was in vain. This guy doesn''t play by the rules! *** While everyone chattered, Zhao Yi remained focused. The Weeping Ghost was a medium-level threat. This meant the ghost had some means of inflicting significant harm on him. To ensure his own safety. Zhao Yi decided to kill the Weeping Ghost directly. As for the side quest, it wasn''t within Zhao Yi''s consideration. The Weeping Ghost died by Zhao Yi''s hand, and the blood on the scalpel became noticeably thicker. Now, blood dripped from the tip every two or three seconds onto the floor. After killing the Weeping Ghost, Zhao Yi searched the room. He found a diary. Flipping through it briefly. It was the Weeping Ghost''s diary. Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan Chapter 5 – The Director of *** The diary ends here. Besides the misery, there''s no useful information. Zhao Yi tossed the diary aside and was about to leave when he suddenly stopped. He reopened the Weeping Ghost''s diary, carefully reviewing it, his gaze deepening. "Mother... surgery..." Zhao Yi seemed to understand something. He took the diary with him, left the room, and re-entered the ghostly fog. In his mind, the entire map of the hospital appeared. Indeed, the map was quite complex, but for Zhao Yi, who could easily remember the symptoms of hundreds of patients without confusion, it was no challenge. The hospital building was not safe, with specters of varying combat strength wandering around. Zhao Yi avoided conflict with them, cautiously making his way to the densely populated inpatient rooms. The conditions in these rooms were extremely poor, even filthy, clearly not meant for the wealthy. This matched the Weeping Ghost''s description in the diary about himself and his mother. ¡ªPoor. Zhao Yi had no intention of completing this side quest. He was looking for the female ghost for another reason. His gaze swept over the corridor. Both sides were filled with low-level dangers and neutral entities. Zhao Yi stepped on the damp, raised floorboards, his footsteps light, checking each room through the glass. *** : What is he doing? : Not sure... maybe exploring the map? Yang Tao: He''s eliminating options. : Eliminating options? Boss Yang Tao, please explain! Yang Tao: Didn''t you notice? In that diary, the Weeping Ghost often worried about his mother. It''s likely his obsession is also his mother in the hospital bed. The side quest is probably related to this, so if Zhao Yi finds the Weeping Ghost''s mother, he can naturally continue the side quest. Yang Tao: Zhao Yi is now eliminating which rooms have women and which don''t, narrowing down the range before exploring, saving time and ensuring safety! : Wow, makes sense! : As expected of Boss Yang Tao, seeing through Zhao Yi''s plan at a glance! A group of people flattered Yang Tao, while other silent players focused all their attention on Zhao Yi! This newcomer... is ridiculously strong! Although his strength is still weak compared to others, his judgment, decisiveness, and adaptability are beyond what many veteran players can achieve! Yang Tao: Look, now he''s found his target. Next, he''ll interact with the target to extract useful information and continue the side quest. *** After a brief elimination process, things went unexpectedly smoothly. Of all the rooms on this floor, only room 3004 had a female ghost lying in the bed. So, Zhao Yi could almost confirm that the Weeping Ghost''s mother was this female ghost lying in bed. Despite her frail and pale appearance. Like the Weeping Ghost, she was classified as ''medium danger.'' In contrast, the fierce-looking old ghosts in the previous rooms were ''neutral'' entities. Zhao Yi arrived at the door of room 3004, placed a hand on the doorknob, and slowly pushed the door open, asking politely with a smile: "Hello, are you Xiao''s mother?" Xiao was the signature in the Weeping Ghost''s diary. The female ghost turned her head, her eyes emitting a deathly aura, staring at Zhao Yi at the door. "I... am... Xiao''s... mother... what... do you... want..." Zhao Yi''s face lit up with joy. "Great! Finally found you! Um... may I ask, is your husband or any relatives in the hospital?" The female ghost was silent for a moment, not answering. "No... Why are you... looking for me... what... do you... want..." As she spoke, her hair began to grow eerily, like a ghost reaching for the door! Clearly, she wasn''t planning to let Zhao Yi go easily. Of course, Zhao Yi wasn''t planning to let her go either. "Good, then. That way, I don''t have to run around... running around looking for people is quite troublesome..." Zhao Yi muttered to himself. Then he tossed in a dark object. The female ghost caught it precisely with her ghostly hair. The next moment, Zhao Yi slammed the door shut! A massive explosion of fire erupted, accompanied by the female ghost''s screams! The whole building seemed to shake! After the aftermath subsided, Zhao Yi opened the door to see the room, and the female ghost was dead beyond doubt. A complete mess. The specter''s resistance had been severely reduced, resulting in firearms being effective. This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV. *** The audience in the live streaming room grew, but no one spoke. This newcomer made them feel a chill down their spines! Yang Tao was also silent. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This newcomer, his thought process was truly abnormal. Wouldn''t a normal person continue the unfinished side quest by finding the female ghost? But Zhao Yi, upon meeting, gifted a grenade! And from the conversation just now, it was clear... Zhao Yi intended to kill Xiao''s entire family! Apparently, after killing Xiao, Zhao Yi was worried about Xiao''s family seeking revenge... after all, the hospital was only so big, and specters could easily find him... So, he made a decision. ¡ªTo kill Xiao''s family first! Is this person... really not insane? At that moment, Yang Tao''s eyelid twitched slightly. Zhao Yi finished his task, turned, and continued towards the rooftop. All the nearby specters hid, trembling, fearing Zhao Yi would kick open their doors and deliver them a blast. After some twists and turns, Zhao Yi arrived at the director''s office door. Data appeared before his eyes. Even before entering, Zhao Yi felt a wave of deathly aura! He touched his chin, pondering for half a second. Then he took out a printed paper from his belongings. He found a pen in a nearby room and circled a section with a thick red frame. He looked at it carefully, very satisfied. Then he taped it to his face with transparent tape. Holding a blood-stained scalpel, he kicked open the director''s office door! A loud crash! The crisis of death and the director''s gaze arrived simultaneously! A pair of pale hands, without warning, grabbed Zhao Yi''s neck from an unknown angle! Zhao Yi had no chance to resist! The opponent was too fast! Moreover, these cold hands drained all of Zhao Yi''s strength! The director''s mouth split to his ears, opening wide, ready to devour Zhao Yi! At the critical moment. Its gaze fell on the newspaper covering Zhao Yi''s face. On it was a section of text and image specially outlined in red. In the image, The director''s corpse was coincidentally hanging from the rooftop, swaying like a tattered newspaper. His tongue was long, face bluish-purple. His hollow eyes gazed into the distance, mouth torn open, faintly dripping blood. Seeing this image, the director seemed to recall something. The grip on Zhao Yi''s neck weakened rapidly. The coldness retreated, strength returning to Zhao Yi''s body. This was the moment! He wielded the scalpel, using all his might to deliver the fastest strike possible, stabbing straight into the director''s forehead! Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan Chapter 6 – End of the Dungeon, Invitation from the Guild This strike was the fastest Zhao Yi could deliver! It accurately hit the director lost in his own world. As the scalpel''s tip pierced the director''s forehead, an unforeseen change occurred! The director, whose strength hadn''t completely faded, suddenly widened his bloodshot eyes! Blood vessels swam in his eyes like centipedes crawling. The pale claws gripping Zhao Yi''s neck were drained of all strength in that moment of near-death. Zhao Yi fell awkwardly to the ground, pulled off his newspaper mask, coughed a few times, and found several bruised claw marks on his neck! The director was still hanging from a rope, but his head had drooped. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Chaos damage... is it some kind of advanced attribute?" Zhao Yi silently noted this special attribute. After killing the director, Zhao Yi carefully looked at the hanging ghost in front of him and pulled the scalpel out of its forehead. Blood dripped continuously from the tip of the blade. Zhao Yi went to the director''s office, rummaged through the place, and found a letter and the director''s access card in a cabinet. He took the card and carried it with him, then opened the letter to read it. The Weeping Ghost''s diary had piqued Zhao Yi''s interest in this world. Colossus Hospital and the town had clearly been invaded by mysterious forces, leading to their current state. Although the beginner dungeon didn''t give Zhao Yi much chance to explore the world view, he still wanted to gather whatever materials he could find. It''s hard to say he wouldn''t enter a dungeon in this world view again in the future. The letter was sent from the outside world. The ink on the paper was sparse, and the handwriting was quite sloppy. Just four lines in total. There wasn''t even a signature on the envelope. The sender clearly knew what was happening in Hanging Valley Town. But things still went beyond his expectations. The director, known as ''Old Chen,'' ultimately died in the hospital! A gruesome death! Zhao Yi squinted, folded the letter neatly, and put it back in another drawer. Turning around, he left the director''s office and locked the room. With the access card in hand, Zhao Yi carefully avoided some extremely dangerous unknown shadows and reached the hospital''s entrance. The security guard''s corpse was shattered into pieces, scattered on the ground. In an instant, Zhao Yi felt something, his gaze locking onto a twisted humanoid figure in the shadows! The figure remained motionless, its back facing him! Seeing this red warning, Zhao Yi''s hair stood on end! He couldn''t clearly see the eerie twisted humanoid figure. But both the data warning in front of him and his instincts told him this thing was not something he could handle right now! Zhao Yi calmly walked to the door and swiped the access card. Beep¡ª The black iron door emitted a harsh grinding sound, like a machine that hadn''t operated in hundreds of years, slowly opening. The world outside was shrouded in thick fog, obscuring everything from view. Clearly, this beginner dungeon didn''t want to reveal more information to Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi kept his eyes fixed on the twisted figure in the darkness, slowly retreating, disappearing bit by bit into the thick fog... As the fog completely enveloped Zhao Yi''s body, a white light appeared before his eyes, and his body suddenly vanished from the fog. After Zhao Yi disappeared, the twisted humanoid figure in the shadows suddenly turned around, freezing like a puppet, coldly staring at the spot where Zhao Yi vanished... *** *** The live streaming room erupted in excitement. A newcomer. In the hell-level difficulty dungeon ''Colossus Hospital,'' managed to achieve an S+ rating! Many witnessed everything firsthand, thrilled as if they had cleared the dungeon themselves! And Zhao Yi, upon returning to the safe zone, received over 99 friend requests! Eternal Night Camp is a safe zone where players can interact with each other. In fact, it''s not a traditional real location. It''s a virtual platform. Inside, there are live streaming rooms for all players in the area, and they can trade items with each other. Within the camp, there''s a forum for players in a specific area to exchange dungeon insights and discuss challenges in their region, as well as share experiences in expanding territories. Zhao Yi looked around and found himself in a special environment. In front of him was a white circle. Inside were two different options. One option was to join, the other to create. Zhao Yi opened his system panel, and among the friend requests, many were marked with a noble gold. These individuals had extraordinary identities. They were key personnel in major guilds. They didn''t make any extra moves, wanting to recruit Zhao Yi into their guilds, openly stating they would provide resources for his development, significantly increasing his survival rate in dungeon and world quests! Among them were top guilds like Five Tigers, Call to Arms, and Skywatch! These major guilds have strict recruitment standards. And they rarely accept newcomers! Their invitation to Zhao Yi was already an exception! It''s known that ordinary players, even if they try their hardest, find it difficult to jump into these top guilds in the Bone Zone! A good guild, with its rich resources, can quickly advance in world quests, expand the guild''s scale, and gain more benefits! Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan Chapter 7 – All Freeloaders In one corner of the system, there was a shop and a leaderboard. The shop was filled with various items, including incense, bronze mirrors, and talisman paper used for warding off ghosts, as well as mysterious potions to enhance one''s abilities. However, the best items were in the advanced shop, which required special conditions to unlock! Shop points couldn''t be earned in beginner dungeons; they had to be obtained in subsequent dungeons, with higher scores at the end of a dungeon yielding more points. After closing the shop, Zhao Yi opened the leaderboard beside it. There were five leaderboards in total. They were: Newcomer Leaderboard, Guild Leaderboard, Leveling Maniac Leaderboard, Wealthiest Leaderboard, and World Renowned Leaderboard. Currently, Zhao Yi had secured the top spot on the Newcomer Leaderboard with an S+ rating. As the top newcomer, Zhao Yi naturally received the corresponding title: Rising Star. The Newcomer Leaderboard recorded the comprehensive scores of newcomers within level 5. Besides the points on hand, the most important factor was the score given by the system at the end of a dungeon. Zhao Yi glanced at the Leveling Maniac Leaderboard. Currently, the highest level player in the Bone Zone was level 63. It was Xue Daozhi, the leader of the Call to Arms guild. After getting a general understanding of the situation, Zhao Yi looked into the guilds. It turned out that after entering the game, players could no longer return to their original world but were instead placed in the outskirts of a new chaotic world! It was dangerous, barren, and desolate. There was no sunlight. Players needed to deal with various dangers, build homes, expand territories, store resources, and move towards the center of the world! Zhao Yi carefully reviewed the current world map that had been explored and found that the location of the ''All Freeloaders'' guild was closest to a familiar area! Hanging Valley Town! Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi''s eyes lit up slightly. He was very interested in everything happening in Hanging Valley Town. He clicked on the ''All Freeloaders'' guild and submitted a request to join. Now, it was just a matter of waiting. It wasn''t long before he received a message. Clearly, the other party was surprised by Zhao Yi''s choice to join their guild. Zhao Yi wasn''t angry at their rejection. He replied: [I''m very interested in Hanging Valley Town.] Just a few simple words. *** In the chaotic world. In a remote corner, inside a dilapidated apartment building, a mature woman with a seductive demeanor looked at the message in front of her, slightly surprised. She turned her head to the teammates sitting on the messy sofa and said: "Interesting, the top newcomer this year actually applied to join our guild." We are "pawread dot com", find us on google. A middle-aged Taoist with a rosy complexion was busy sorting through the treasures he had ''dug up'' in the last dungeon, smiling as he said: "Infinite Heavenly Sovereign! Didn''t this guy receive invitations from a few top guilds? Or are this year''s newcomers so bad that even the top ones can''t impress those old ghosts?" The mature woman lazily flicked her long hair and said:"A newcomer who scored S+ in a hell-level dungeon like ''Colossus Hospital,'' what do you think?" The Taoist''s smile faded slightly."Then why would he choose our guild?" The woman replied:"He said... he''s very interested in Hanging Valley Town. Uncle Quan, any thoughts?" The woman''s gaze fell on the middle-aged man with black-framed glasses reading a book in the center of the sofa. He looked up slightly, adjusted his glasses, and smiled:"Hanging Valley Town seems to be related to our world mission, right? You guys never do the world missions, always fighting and causing trouble. After all this time, the guild is still in this state, and newcomers are almost all gone." The woman sneered. "Isn''t that what we learned from you? The upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked. Don''t blame us; you set the example." Uncle Quan awkwardly touched his nose. "Let him in. It''s rare for a newcomer to want to join our guild. You guys better not bully the newcomer." The woman licked her red lips, a glint flashing in her eyes, and smiled:"Alright." *** The news of Zhao Yi joining the ''All Freeloaders'' guild quickly spread throughout the Eternal Night Camp. Many people didn''t understand Zhao Yi''s choice. "Tsk tsk, such a good hand, played to pieces." "Why go to such a trash guild? It''s been established for two years and hasn''t even opened a path to the abandoned city!" "What a pity for this guy. I heard the big shots from several major guilds had high praise for him, but he chose to mess it up himself!" In the abandoned city of the chaotic world, inside a bustling skyscraper. Yang Tao sat in front of a computer, curiously examining Zhao Yi''s profile. He was very interested in this person. Outside the door, a woman in a black silk professional outfit knocked and entered, handing a stack of documents to Yang Tao. "Vice President, someone dug up his information from the original world. The information has been uploaded to the Eternal Night Camp. Here''s the original manuscript for your review." Yang Tao picked up the document and carefully read through it. His expression turned serious. "Is he well-known in the industry?" The woman nodded. "He has cured nearly a thousand patients with severe psychological disorders, and completely cured them! Whether it''s depression or violent tendencies, severe psychological distortions... Anyone treated by him always recovers. However, all the patients he treated forget the treatment process. They only remember that Zhao Yi cured their illness, but all memories related to the treatment mysteriously disappear. So in the industry, no one calls him by his real name; instead, they gave him a special nickname¡ª" Yang Tao was silent for a long time, suddenly remembering something. "Go, call Bal!" The woman hesitated:"Vice President, Bal killed all the other players in the last dungeon. Now, due to his high kill count, he''s been locked in the Slaughter Arena by the system and won''t be out for three days." Yang Tao glanced at the calendar. "I have time, I can wait." *** Gale, torrential rain. No sun, the surroundings were in ruins, as if they had gone through a world war, leaving only debris. That lone old building stood before Zhao Yi. There were lights inside. "Welcome, Zhao Yi." A voluptuous mature beauty stood at the door, wearing cool sunglasses, greeting Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi curiously asked:"Is this the territory of the ''All Freeloaders'' guild?" The woman smiled sweetly:"Why? Do we not look like freeloaders? Oh, I haven''t introduced myself yet. I''m Liu Ruoqing, the guild''s reviewer. You can call me Sister Liu." She graciously led Zhao Yi back into the old building, where many people in the first-floor lobby looked at him with strange smiles. Liu Ruoqing introduced Zhao Yi:"The man with black-framed glasses is our guild leader, you can call him Uncle Quan.That ice-cold beauty is Meng Jiao, also our vice president. Try not to talk to her; she won''t respond to you. As for that damned charlatan Taoist, his name is Jiang Xiao. He loves to trick people, so be careful not to fall for his scams!" Jiang Xiao protested:"Liu Ruoqing, if you can''t speak properly, don''t speak at all! I, the Taoist, am knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, and I never overcharge for fortune-telling. How am I a charlatan?" Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan Chapter 8 – New dungeon opened, Haunted School Horror ### Chapter 8: New Dungeon Unlocked, Haunted School Horror As soon as he opened his mouth, the old Taoist''s charlatan demeanor was unmistakable. "I''ve arranged a room for you. We usually stay on the seventh floor, while newcomers stay on the first, second, and third floors. Your room number is 404. I specifically applied for it for you¡ªvery auspicious!" Zhao Yi nodded politely and said, "Thank you, Master!" Jiang Xiao chuckled mischievously. "No worries, once you''re here, you''re family. You''ve managed to top the newcomer list among millions, we have high hopes for you!" Liu Ruoqing rolled her eyes and led Zhao Yi to room 404, saying, "Once you bind with the room, it will become your safe house." "No one can enter without your permission." The peephole at the door emitted a light, collecting Zhao Yi''s soul information. The door opened. Inside, the decor was clean and tidy. Eighty square meters, two bedrooms, one living room, independent bathroom, with 24-hour hot water supply. "Food and water need to be taken from the abandoned train station two kilometers away... I mean, you need to be at least level three to enter there. Since you''re not high enough level, I can provide some for you first." Zhao Yi sweetly replied, "Thank you, Sister Liu!" Liu Ruoqing waved her hand, flipped her hair, and sat on Zhao Yi''s soft sofa, opened a bottle of ''82 Cola, and said, "Come to the living room tomorrow night, I''ll give you and the other newcomers a rundown of the ''Hell'' game process. Also... don''t go anywhere outside the apartment for now, those places aren''t safe!" Zhao Yi nodded slightly. Liu Ruoqing drank the cola, leaving a faint lipstick mark on the glass, then got up and swayed her hips as she left. *** After waiting quietly for a day. This world has no sun, only some faintly glowing stars. The only way to confirm the passage of time is the big world time in the game system. The next day. Zhao Yi, wearing a robe, came to the hall. The murals were mottled, the wall paint old, and the lamp cast a warm yellow glow. About forty to fifty people were gathered here. Men and women alike. Some had anxious and worried expressions, while others seemed excited. "Everyone''s here, so... let''s keep it brief." A steady man sat on the sofa, legs crossed. In his hand was a black leather book with strange symbols. "I''m the president of the ''All Freeloaders'' guild, you can call me Uncle Quan. The world we''re in now is a world of chaotic rules¡ª''The Chaos Realm.'' It''s very dangerous here, only this guild building is absolutely safe. So don''t wander around unnecessarily. As players of the ''Hell'' game, there are two tasks you need to complete. One is the dungeon task, the other is the big world task. The former must be completed once a month by each player, at most twice. After the dungeon ends, you''ll be rated based on your performance, and you''ll earn points based on your rating and difficulty, which can be exchanged for items in the mall. Note that you might be matched with other players in the same dungeon, and killing and looting are common, so don''t trust anyone easily!" Uncle Quan adjusted his black-framed glasses. A hint of obscure excitement flashed in his eyes. "After you enter the dungeon, there will be a live streaming room for you at the Eternal Night Camp. Try to perform well to attract more players to become your fans. When you finish, the popularity and gifts will be converted into extra points for you. Although not much, it can help big guilds notice you, making it easier to switch guilds in the future." Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He never minded whether newcomers stayed or left the guild. "As for the world tasks, they are simpler. They are displayed in your system. If you''re interested, follow them; if not, or if you''re afraid of dying, don''t do them. The guild doesn''t force you." Now, do you have any questions?" Many newcomers raised their hands, their faces flushed. Uncle Quan glanced around. "Good! Since there are no questions, let''s adjourn!" With that, several of the veterans got up and left. Everyone: "???" "Damn! Are the veterans in this guild really so irresponsible?" "Shit... why does it feel like we''ve boarded a pirate ship?" "You applied to the freeloader guild yourself, don''t blame others!" "I joined because the top player applied to this guild, so I followed!" "..." The group muttered among themselves, while Zhao Yi sat on the sofa, drinking water. In fact, everything about the game can be found in the system. Whether they explained it or not made no difference. The only thing that left Zhao Yi speechless was... this guild''s world task hadn''t progressed at all! The guild was established two years ago, and the world task interface was still stuck on the ''Guide Task''! Those guild members weren''t even pretending. Collectively doing nothing. But in a way, this was also good. Zhao Yi could experience the storyline from the beginning and see what really happened in Hanging Valley Town back then. *** Zhao Yi glanced at the map. The abandoned train station was only two kilometers from the apartment. The distance wasn''t long. But it was enough for accidents to happen. Moreover, according to the map markings, the abandoned train station was large, with 80% in shadow. This meant that those areas unrelated to the task could have dangers exceeding levels 1-3. Hmm, it''s not the right time to go yet. Anyway, the guild''s storage warehouse still had a mountain of food, enough for now. The most urgent thing now was to quickly improve his level and points. To exchange for the necessary items in the mall. With this in mind, Zhao Yi opened the system. Dungeon matching. *** A burst of intense white light flashed, and Zhao Yi disappeared from the guild, leaving a group of bewildered people behind. "Whoa, who was that guy?" "Already entered a dungeon?" "Is this the legendary dungeon maniac?" Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan Chapter 9 – Warm sunlight streamed through the glass windows into the classroom, illuminating the delicate profile of Yang Linlin. A beautiful woman with an impressive performance was enough to attract a multitude of fans, especially male fans. So, not long after Yang Linlin entered this dungeon, the live streaming room quickly gathered over a thousand viewers. Although she had only experienced four dungeons, her growth was evident to them. From a useless rich girl to a newbie player who knew how to think and empathize, her progress attracted many fans. Upon awakening at the dungeon''s spawn point, Yang Linlin''s face turned extremely pale! The words "Hell Difficulty" on the system screen made her entire body go weak! This was only her fourth dungeon! How could she be so unlucky to encounter Hell Difficulty? The previous dungeon on normal difficulty had already tormented her to death, and she couldn''t even imagine what would happen this time! She was now Level 4, with a total of 25 Life points. Having died three times in previous dungeons, she had lost 15 points, leaving her with only 10. If she died again, the pressure of entering the next dungeon would be immense! It was known that once a player''s Life points hit zero, they would no longer revive at the guild''s base! Stunned for a few seconds, Yang Linlin frantically turned her head and saw that only half of the people in the classroom were sitting crookedly. Among them, three had obvious markers above their heads. They were the players matched with her. Looking at these three guys, Yang Linlin felt a bit hopeless! Their levels were even lower than hers, they were newbies through and through! She couldn''t rely on them at all! Were they really going to fail today? And that guy named Zhao Yi seemed completely unaware of the dungeon''s terror, still having the leisure to look around! Yang Linlin painfully closed her eyes and exhaled. At this point, they could only take it one step at a time. It was now lunchtime. The students in the classroom were either whispering or sleeping. She glanced at the timetable and the large clock. There were ten minutes left until the first math class in the afternoon! Find the original at ". A good opportunity! They could just discuss and exchange information with each other! So, at Yang Linlin''s invitation, the four of them went to a lawn outside the classroom. "Listen, we are now facing unprecedented difficulties and dangers! In the next seven days, we must work hard to unite and cooperate if we want to survive! Now, do you have any thoughts on this dungeon?" Zhen Tao and Lu Bai shrugged helplessly. Just entering the game, what thoughts could they have! Zhao Yi, with one hand in his pocket, stood outside the window, carefully observing the classrooms on the first floor. None of the classrooms were full. And in all the classrooms, the number of people was less than half the number of seats. If a classroom had forty-six seats, then there would be no more than twenty-three people in it. Eight classes in a row, all like this. An interesting phenomenon, but... what did it signify? Zhao Yi became alert. "Hey¡ªZhao Yi, why aren''t you talking? Didn''t you hear me say we need to unite? We must communicate more now, exchange useful information, to have a chance to survive!" Yang Linlin watched Zhao Yi walking by himself, not paying attention to them, and couldn''t help but feel anxious. The dungeon was already difficult, and if teammates didn''t cooperate, the difficulty would increase! "Zhao Yi... this name seems familiar..." Zhen Tao muttered, suddenly raising his head. "Aren''t you the newbie who scored S+ in the Hell Difficulty dungeon ''Colossus Hospital'' and topped the newbie leaderboard?" The other two were also stunned upon hearing this. Quickly, they learned about Zhao Yi through the system. Top of the newbie leaderboard! Impressive! This was a big shot who emerged from millions! Zhao Yi looked at the three with their fervent gazes, stroked his chin, and said:"Do you remember your seats?" Yang Linlin replied:"Of course, why?" Zhao Yi didn''t answer, instead glancing meaningfully at the classroom on the third floor. "Nothing. Class is about to start, let''s go back to the classroom. If nothing unexpected happens... quite a few people in our classroom should die today. Oh¡ªby the way, remember to sit in your own seats... don''t sit in the wrong place!" The tone of that last sentence made one''s hair stand on end. The three exchanged glances, Zhen Tao''s face gradually turning pale. "Zhen Tao, what''s wrong?" "I... I think I forgot my seat!" He looked at Zhao Yi. "Brother Zhao, is this... is this important?!" S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi rolled his eyes and said: "I''m not sure if other seats are dangerous, but our spawn point is definitely safe for a short time. If you really can''t remember, try recalling any reference points you remember." *** Live Streaming Comments: : As expected of the top ranker! Clear thinking! : After leaving the newbie recommendation platform, Brother Zhao Yi''s popularity dropped, only three hundred people in the live room. : Come on, which newbie''s live room has this kind of popularity? Three hundred is a lot, okay? : Wow! Another Hell Difficulty dungeon, Zhao Yi is really unlucky! : For those with ability, the higher the dungeon difficulty, the better. It''s impossible to score S or above in dungeons below Nightmare difficulty. : This time, without the system weakening the specters, he can''t rely on tricks! Let''s see how he dies! : No way, does anyone really think you can top the leaderboard with just tricks? *** The class bell rang. The music was still familiar, but with too much static, vaguely mixed with a wailing sound, sending chills down one''s spine! All the students in Class 8, Grade 1, sat up straight, ready to welcome the teacher. It was clear they were very nervous. Zhao Yi''s gaze swept over all the students in the classroom. In that instant, his pupils turned a terrifying scarlet, spinning like a kaleidoscope. He took in all the data of the students. In this classroom... They were all ghosts! Not a single person! But fortunately, these students were in a neutral state and wouldn''t harm them without reason. The door was pushed open, and a female teacher in formal attire walked into the classroom. Trigger-type neutral? Zhao Yi seemed to understand something, glancing at the test papers in her hand. Was the trigger point related to the test papers in her hand or their seats? Or... both? "We have a test this class." The female teacher said calmly. After she spoke, Zhao Yi clearly noticed the fat ghost in front of him... trembling! The female teacher explained the exam rules and then personally distributed the test papers. From the first on the right to the last on the left. Even if there were empty seats without students, the female teacher patiently placed the test papers and scratch paper on those seats. Zhao Yi glanced at an empty seat near him. The test paper and scratch paper on it were pure white. The test paper... had no words. But some of the empty seats had test papers with words. Zhao Yi looked at his test paper, which had some very basic and simple math problems. For example¡ªprove the Goldbach Conjecture. Great! No idea. Zhao Yi quickly wrote his name and student number. The rest, he left to the eraser. The exam discipline was a mess, with many people looking around, and some even taking out their phones to search for answers, but the female teacher didn''t seem to care. She opened the roster on the podium, carefully checking the students in the classroom. But Zhao Yi keenly noticed that the ghost sitting in front of him... was trembling even more! Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan Chapter 10 – Zhao Yi''s seat was towards the back. Yang Linlin could only catch glimpses of him from the corner of her eye. Upon learning that Zhao Yi was currently ranked first among the newcomers, she suddenly felt invigorated, as if she had seen hope! Since the game started bringing in new players, the number of entrants over the past three months had reached hundreds of thousands, even millions! To rise to the top among so many people, it couldn''t be just luck! He must have some extraordinary skills! But from the corner of her eye, Zhao Yi, who was idly tossing an eraser, made Yang Linlin anxious again! This guy... could he really not even handle high school math? She looked down at her own test paper. A system of quadratic equations. Multiple choice. Simpler than simple. Did he really need to rely on tossing an eraser to decide on an answer? She began to doubt Zhao Yi''s intelligence. Suddenly, the voice of the female teacher came from the podium. "Stop looking around!" Instantly, a bone-chilling cold enveloped all the students present! The female teacher stood up. A wave of pressure swept over, and all the students sat up straight in their seats! Zhao Yi also stopped tossing the eraser in his hand. He began to seriously calculate with his fingers. One times one is one, one times two is two, three times seven is twenty-one, four times six is twenty-four... Soon, he finished all the questions on the paper. Unexpectedly smoothly. And the female teacher, with her hands behind her back, stepped down from the podium, starting her patrol from the first seat on the right. Proctoring... quite common! What wasn''t common was that she was holding an axe stained with blood and flesh! As she passed by Zhen Tao, she stopped. The shadow of the axe fell right on Zhen Tao''s test paper! Zhen Tao kept his head down, gripping his pen tightly, cold sweat pouring down! At this moment, he dared not look up. His heart was nearly jumping out of his throat! Did I... sit in the wrong seat? That shouldn''t be! It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from ". Only my pencil case is blue around here... Please... Don''t kill me! He screamed internally, his spirit nearly leaving his body. At this moment, his mental strength was depleting at a rate of two to three points per second! It quickly dropped below 70! *** In Yang Linlin''s live streaming room: : Zhen Tao is done for, at this rate, he won''t last the first day. : Most newcomers are like this, even Linlin Goddess''s spirit is starting to drop... sigh, worried for my goddess! : Motherfucker, is Zhao Yi a monster? His mental strength is as steady as an old dog, still at 101! : I admire Zhao Yi''s mental fortitude! But his math... I''m speechless! : Haha, just came from Zhao Yi''s live stream, I took a look at his paper, not a single question is right! *** Zhen Tao''s mental strength continued to plummet, quickly falling below 50! At this point, he was already in a semi-conscious state. And the female teacher standing beside him walked out of his range, causing Zhen Tao to collapse onto the desk, eyes vacant. Then, she stopped by Zhao Yi''s side. The familiar pressure came again. Zhao Yi even distinctly felt a hint of murderous intent. He looked up. Meeting the gaze of the female ghost. The ferocity in her eyes was blocked by a grayish veil, even though it was filled with considerable malice, it still remained neutral. Zhao Yi guessed that this was the rules at work. Even if the female ghost really wanted to kill him, as long as Zhao Yi didn''t trigger the female ghost''s killing point, she couldn''t make a move. In a way, the female ghost was actually the safest ghost in this classroom. But being safe now didn''t necessarily mean being safe later. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi touched the scalpel in his hand. Then put it away again. Not sure if he could kill this female ghost yet, he decided to hold back for now. "What are you looking at? It''s exam time! Hurry up and do your questions!" The female ghost glared at Zhao Yi with her axe in hand, her words filled with killing intent! Whether it was the audience in Yang Linlin''s live stream or Zhao Yi''s, everyone''s hearts seemed to be in their throats! The expression on the female ghost''s face was becoming increasingly exaggerated! But Zhao Yi kept staring at the female ghost, clicking his tongue. The female ghost''s face came closer, viciously saying:"What are you looking at? Is there something on my face?" Zhao Yi replied:"No, I just think you look quite nice, teacher. I just met a female ghost who was pushed off a building, her face was all smashed, yet she shamelessly appeared in front of me, leaving a huge trauma on my young heart!" Hearing Zhao Yi compliment her looks, the female teacher''s expression returned to its peak, showing a surprised and shy look. "Really? Teacher really looks good? No way! It''s exam time! Stop trying to get close to me! Do your questions!" She pressed one hand on Zhao Yi''s head, forcing him to look at the test paper. Her pale hand was cold, but indeed did not harm Zhao Yi. But the student in front of Zhao Yi wasn''t so lucky. From the beginning, he was scared. And now, his body was shaking like a sieve. When the female ghost teacher passed by him, the axe in her hand was raised for the first time! "No... teacher... give me one more chance... I beg you! I promise... I promise next time I definitely won''t..." He suddenly knelt on the ground, hugging the female teacher''s leg, crying bitterly. His words stopped at the critical point. The female ghost''s axe had already swung down! A round head rolled to Zhao Yi''s feet, eyes wide open, staring at Zhao Yi with resentment and unwillingness. Zhao Yi slowly extended his leg. Bang! He kicked the head away. Coincidentally, it landed on Zhen Tao''s desk! Zhen Tao, having just recovered from the fear given by the female teacher, looked up to see a bloody head staring back at him... His eyes rolled back, and he fainted again. Foaming at the mouth. Everyone in the classroom looked at Zhao Yi in unison, the atmosphere indescribably eerie. *** Live stream comments: : Laughing to death, everyone is showing off, only Zhen Tao is getting beaten! : Zhen Tao: Are you polite? : Luckily Zhen Tao fainted, otherwise, with his mental strength continuing to drop, he might not even have the chance to die, directly becoming a dungeon monster! *** The female ghost, holding the blood-stained axe, turned coldly to Zhao Yi. Without hesitation, he handed his paper to her. "Teacher Li, I''m done." The female ghost took the paper Zhao Yi handed over, glanced at it, and said coldly: "Get out! Disturb the exam again, and I''ll cancel your exam qualification!" Zhao Yi chuckled. "Alright!" He happily ran out of the classroom. Once outside, the smile on Zhao Yi''s face disappeared. His eyes flickered. "I think I understand a little now." Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan Chapter 11 – Haunted School Horror: Death Point Chapter 11: "Haunted School Horror" Death Trigger S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The viewers in the live streaming room had no idea what Zhao Yi was contemplating. Most of them thought that this newcomer at the top of the leaderboard might have some mental issues. That kick just now¡ªhow could any normal person do something like that? And in such a situation, wasn''t it too reckless to act so irrationally? After the exam, there was a half-hour break. Yang Linlin and the others found Zhao Yi. "Let''s just say, when tackling a Hell-level dungeon, can''t you be a bit more cautious?" "What you did just now was way too dangerous!" "We''re in a Hell-level dungeon, where a single slip could cost us our lives. The death of any team member is an immeasurable loss!" Zhao Yi shook his head. "I was just testing that teacher." "The fact is¡ªunless you trigger a death point, those NPCs are quite tolerant of us!" Death point, a key term. It immediately caught the attention of Yang Linlin and the other two! "Bro, please explain!" Zhao Yi glanced at both sides of the corridor, ensuring there were no teachers around, and then whispered: "Haven''t you noticed?" "That female ghost teacher kills according to a set of rules." Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the "pawread dot com" The three were dumbfounded. Rules? What rules? Isn''t it just randomly picking a lucky one to behead? Zhao Yi led them to the playground, a spacious area with a wide view, and more importantly, lots of people around. "During the lunch break, Yang Linlin took us to the lawn on the first floor, and I observed eight classes in total." "The number of people in each class didn''t exceed half the seats, and the further forward the class, the fewer the people!" "Just now, I handed in my exam early and checked the second floor, finding that the fourteen classes there were in the same situation as the first floor." "Our class is the first one by the stairs on the third floor, and the classes behind us have the same number of seats and people, but our class already has quite a few empty seats!" "Suppose... just suppose." Zhao Yi analyzed: "The students'' deaths are caused by some curse, spreading from the first floor like a virus, infecting each class one by one, and now it''s reached our class." "This curse creates a certain rule, and anyone who breaks this rule... will die!" "Think about it, I was loud and kicked my classmate''s head, disrupting the exam room''s order, yet the invigilating teacher didn''t touch me... instead, the chubby kid in front of me was inexplicably beheaded!" "He must have done something... all those dead students must have done the same thing, meeting the same condition!" "And if you''re observant enough, you''ll notice that the test papers and scratch papers on the empty seats are blank, with no writing, and just now, some students'' papers were also blank... and those with blank papers were all killed." Although Zhao Yi didn''t see the female ghost invigilator kill, he was confident in his deduction. Yang Linlin looked at Zhao Yi in surprise, then surveyed the surroundings, finally expressing a bit of admiration: "I noticed that too!" "The ghost invigilator killed those with blank test papers!" "Seven in total!" "Could it be... that the test paper is the death trigger point?" Zhao Yi shook his head. "You''re still too naive." "The test paper isn''t the death trigger point." "From my experience with the last dungeon, even in a Hell-level dungeon, simply completing the main quest isn''t too difficult. The real challenge lies in exploring side quests, hidden quests, and the world view!" "So since the difficulty of the main quest is limited, it means players can control it." "If the test paper were the death trigger point, wouldn''t players be left to fate?" Yang Linlin was speechless. Zhen Tao''s lips turned pale, and he spoke with a sobbing tone. "You''ve said so much, why not just tell us the death trigger point?" "I don''t want to die..." "I really want to get out of here!" Even now, his spirit hadn''t fully recovered, still hovering around 60. Clearly, the bloody head Zhao Yi kicked onto his desk had caused severe trauma to his young mind! Zhao Yi touched his nose. "I don''t know what the death trigger point is yet, but it''s likely related to the test paper." "Maybe it''s the score, or maybe... something else." "And there''s something I need to tell you in advance..." At this point, his gaze turned frightening. The other three were startled by his expression. "Wha... what is it?" Yang Linlin swallowed. Zhao Yi: "No joke... this school... it''s highly possible..." "That only the four of us are alive!" As soon as he finished speaking, Zhen Tao''s legs gave out, and he fainted on the ground. Zhao Yi: "..." Everyone: "..." ... Live Stream Comments: : Haha! Poor Zhen Tao, he''s having such a hard time... Please stop scaring him! : This seems a bit personal! : Hey... do you think Zhao Yi might be telling the truth? : How could it be true? Look at those students on the playground, so lively and jumping around, they don''t look like ghosts at all! : Exactly! If the classroom were full of ghosts, wouldn''t it be ghosts biting ghosts? ... Yang Linlin rolled her eyes helplessly. "Stop scaring him!" "He''s already timid!" "By the way... what should we do next?" This dungeon left her feeling at a loss. Time wasn''t tight. The pace seemed loose. Zhao Yi gazed at the distant teaching building. "Wait." "Wait for what?" "Wait for nightfall." "Why wait for nightfall?" Yang Linlin and Lu Bai were puzzled. Zhao Yi asked in return: "Do you think, as students, we have extra time during the day to investigate what we want to know?" Yang Linlin was stumped again. Damn it! Why didn''t I think of such a simple question? With so many people watching the live stream, will I look stupid? No, I have to find a way to act smart! Otherwise, the viewers will all leave soon. Speaking of which... is this what being number one is like? It feels like there''s something to it! "Alright then, let''s set a time and place for tonight to go for a stroll?" As soon as Yang Linlin finished speaking, Zhen Tao, lying in Lu Bai''s arms, raised his hand, staring blankly at the white clouds in the sky. "Can I say something... um, can I not go?" "I''m afraid of running into ghosts." Zhao Yi nodded. "Of course you can." "But let me remind you, if you hear or see something at night, don''t scream!" "No one will come to help you, we won''t be around." Zhen Tao shivered and said with a bitter face: "Bro, stop scaring me, I''ll go!" "I''ll go, okay?" Chapter 12 – Haunted School Horror: world After the evening self-study ended, the students returned to their dorms one by one. Zhen Tao, feeling heavy-hearted, also carried his backpack back to the dorm. Due to the school''s excellent discipline, there was no dorm supervisor present. During morning reading, if a student was absent, they received a warning. Absent twice, and they had to go home for reflection. More than three times, and they were expelled. As the most prestigious high school in City A, the school''s approach was indeed somewhat harsh, but the high admission rate made everyone eager to get in! The dorm environment was decent, with six people per room, beds aligned, and sturdy iron frames. Below were desks with lamps prepared by the school for students to study all night, quite considerate. Zhen Tao returned to his dorm, tossed his backpack onto the bed, and collapsed into the comfortable covers! The exam that afternoon had nearly drained him! And during the evening self-study, the old man who came was terrifying, with a cleaver stuck in his head, still bleeding! If the math invigilator, Teacher Li You, still had some humanity, then their homeroom teacher, this old man with a cleaver in his head, didn''t hide the fact that he was a fierce ghost at all! Discover the complete story on There were three classes during the evening self-study. The old man stared at him the whole time, grinning eerily. Zhen Tao''s spirit was constantly teetering in a dangerous zone. He barely made it to the end of class, dragging his heavy steps back to the dorm. On the way, Yang Linlin kept giving him psychological counseling, making him feel a bit better. As soon as Zhen Tao lay on the bed, he was overwhelmed with sleepiness, his mind foggy, and he lost consciousness as soon as he closed his eyes... He had a dream. In the dream, a roommate stood pale-faced and hollow-eyed at his bedside, looking at him with a creepy smile! "You''re doomed!" He cursed viciously. Zhen Tao woke up with a start, drenched in cold sweat! The dorm was pitch black. Outside, the stars cast a faint light, sprinkling into the dorm, and as Zhen Tao, accustomed to the darkness, suddenly saw, the entire dorm... He was the only one left! ... At the same time, Zhao Yi was facing the same situation. All four players had suddenly fallen asleep due to a mysterious force, and when they woke up again, they found they were the only ones in the entire dorm building! Zhao Yi checked the time on his phone. 11:57 PM. Only three minutes left until their agreed time at midnight. Zhao Yi quickly headed to the agreed pavilion, but under the pavilion, only Yang Linlin was there. The surrounding scenery had drastically changed, desolate and dilapidated, with a bleak view everywhere. The walls even resembled rotting corpses, oozing foul-smelling slime! Yang Linlin, anxious from waiting, cautiously looked around, stamping her feet and clenching her hands. Seeing Zhao Yi, her spirit lifted! "You''re finally here!" "Where are the others?" Zhao Yi shook his head. "Haven''t seen them." "Everyone''s disappeared, I even thought you weren''t here." Yang Linlin was stunned by his words. "How could this happen?" "Could it be they..." Zhao Yi: "Don''t overthink it, we probably haven''t triggered any death points yet, they''re likely still alive." "Judging by the surroundings, we''ve probably entered a place similar to the ''inner world''." "This is a good thing, at least when exploring the school, we won''t be as restricted as during the day." In their daytime identities at the school, they couldn''t possibly delve deeper into the school''s matters. Now the system had opened previously restricted areas for them, giving them a chance to explore the school. Zhao Yi headed towards the teaching building, and when Yang Linlin came to her senses, she realized Zhao Yi had already walked far away! "Hey! Wait for me!" She hurriedly caught up with Zhao Yi. Such a straightforward guy, at least take care of the young lady beside you, hey! She stayed close to Zhao Yi. Not leaving his side, as if that was the only way to feel safe. As they entered the teaching building''s vicinity, they immediately saw a vague black shadow in the distance. It was too far to see clearly, but it seemed to be standing there, watching them. "What... what is that..." Yang Linlin''s voice changed. Zhao Yi strode towards the shadow, replying: "Don''t know, but it''s definitely not human." Yang Linlin shrank her neck at his words, hurriedly grabbing Zhao Yi. "And you''re still going?" "Are you crazy?" Zhao Yi turned back to explain: "If it''s a neutral entity, it might help us gather information." "And... and if it''s not?" Zhao Yi pulled out a scalpel that was continuously dripping blood, smiling faintly: "Then I''ll make it a neutral entity." Yang Linlin was speechless. She took a serious look at Zhao Yi, and under the moonlight, Zhao Yi holding the scalpel... seemed scarier than a ghost! Especially his smile, which gave Yang Linlin a creepy feeling! Bullet comments: S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. : Damn, this guy''s got some real guts! : I''ve been following Brother Zhao Yi since the last dungeon, this guy is ruthless when he acts! He killed six ghosts in Colossus Hospital! One of the little ghosts was even a side quest NPC, but because Zhao Yi suspected it was dangerous, he not only chopped its head off but also took out its mom! : Hiss¡ªreally? : Absolutely true! Even Yang Tao, the boss in the live streaming room, was stunned! Chapter 13 – Haunted School Horror: Terrifying Shadows, Life and Death on the Line Chapter 13: "Haunted School Horror" - The Terrifying Shadow, A Thin Line Between Life and Death Zhao Yi strode towards the shadow, and as expected, the figure bolted into the teaching building upon seeing him approach! The distance was too great for Zhao Yi to activate his special ability, making it difficult to discern the shadow''s nature. However, judging by its behavior, it likely wasn''t a highly dangerous specter. Zhao Yi chased the shadow into the pitch-black teaching building, with Yang Linlin following closely behind. To be honest, she would never have had the courage to enter such a place on her own, especially knowing there were ghosts inside. She wouldn''t dare take another step! S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luckily, with someone by her side, her spirit didn''t plummet into madness from fear! "Are you always this brave?" Yang Linlin quipped. Zhao Yi thought for a moment. "No, I''m always very cautious." "Cautious? You disrupted the exam right in front of the invigilating female ghost today!" Zhao Yi continued down the corridor without looking back. "That''s because I was 100% sure the female ghost wouldn''t harm me." "Even at hell-level difficulty, the dungeon''s level isn''t high, and the specters are heavily restricted." "Didn''t you pay attention during the exam this afternoon?" "Several ghosts... several students were cheating right under the invigilating teacher''s nose, and when the teacher noticed, she just gave a warning." "This shows that breaking exam discipline and violating rules doesn''t trigger a death penalty!" Yang Linlin pondered for a moment and scratched her head sheepishly. "I really didn''t notice that!" Bang! As she spoke, she bumped into Zhao Yi''s back! "Hey! Why did you stop suddenly without saying anything..." Yang Linlin rubbed her sore head, complaining, but before she could finish, she instinctively fell silent! In the darkness, it was hard to see anything clearly. The two cautiously approached the back door of a classroom and peered inside through the window. These classrooms were the ones below theirs, near the windows. During the day, the four of them had conspired outside the window, and Zhao Yi had observed each one. Starlight seeped in, its faint glow bright enough in the darkness to illuminate everything inside the classroom! They saw that the dilapidated classroom, which should have been empty, was filled with dense shadows! Yang Linlin was terrified! She shivered involuntarily, and if Zhao Yi weren''t beside her, she might have bolted already! What the hell are these shadows? Zhao Yi glanced around and continued to the next classroom. Neither of them spoke as they checked all eight classrooms on the first floor. Without exception, each was filled with dense shadows, sitting in different positions, reading intently. There were shadows on the podium as well. "What are these shadows?" Yang Linlin asked cautiously, keeping her voice as low as possible. "Not sure." A glint flashed in Zhao Yi''s eyes. His answer was "not sure," not "don''t know." "Let''s go to the third floor." "Huh? Why the third floor?" Zhao Yi didn''t answer her question but instead headed up the stairs at the end of the corridor to the third floor, arriving at the back door of their classroom. Inside, there were only a few shadows. Zhao Yi stared at the shadows inside, contemplating seriously. "Zhao Yi..." Yang Linlin suddenly spoke, her voice trembling. Zhao Yi frowned. "What is it?" Yang Linlin extended her hand, pointing through the back door glass at the podium inside the classroom, too nervous to speak! Zhao Yi looked and found that the shadow on the podium had noticed them! It was staring at Zhao Yi and Yang Linlin with its eerie green eyes! Instantly, a chill rose from their feet, shooting up to their heads! "Run!" Without hesitation, Zhao Yi grabbed Yang Linlin and ran downstairs! "Ke ke ke!" However, a terrifying, eerie laugh echoed from the bottom of the stairs! It was a shadow! [Chong: Low-level Danger] [Note: A deceased student from Rockridge High School.] Seeing the ghostly figure not far ahead, Yang Linlin''s spirit value plummeted! This was terrifying! Yet Zhao Yi wasn''t fazed at all! This level 2 entity dared to block him, and when they were about ten steps away, a subtle stream of light flew from Zhao Yi''s other hand! Thud! The sound of a sharp weapon piercing flesh echoed! The eerie laughter ceased abruptly. The shadow lay on the ground, a blood-stained scalpel embedded in its forehead! [You have slain the unfortunate ghost ''Chong'' who came out to use the bathroom] [Your Soul Weapon has gained a slight enhancement] Glancing at the ghost on the ground, Zhao Yi pulled the scalpel from its forehead and immediately led Yang Linlin out of the teaching building! "Hurry!" "It can''t leave the teaching building!" Zhao Yi reassured the fear-stricken Yang Linlin, giving her a sense of security. Hearing Zhao Yi''s words, Yang Linlin''s eyes lit up, and she dashed madly with Zhao Yi, ignoring the terrifying footsteps behind them! Ten steps... five steps... This novel is available on "pawread dot com". Zhao Yi had already exited the teaching building, and she was close! Almost there! Just one more step! Yang Linlin''s eyes were filled with the joy of survival, her heart pounding wildly! But the next moment, a pair of terrifying black hands suddenly grabbed her neck from behind! Her smile froze, and the joy in her eyes turned to horror and despair! Coldness spread through her body in an instant! It''s over! Just as the black hands were about to drag her into the darkness, a sharp scalpel whizzed past her ear, slicing off her earlobe! And it hit the shadow behind her accurately! "Ah!" A piercing scream rang out, and the black ghostly hands released her. Yang Linlin''s adrenaline surged, and she scrambled out of the classroom! She stumbled in front of Zhao Yi, feeling a warm stream down her legs. The smell spread, but she didn''t care about embarrassment, screaming and pulling Zhao Yi to run away! "Alright, alright!" "It''s gone now!" Zhao Yi comforted her, and Yang Linlin gradually regained her composure, sitting on the ground and wiping her tears. Then she felt warmth by her ear and touched it. Oh no! Her left ear was gone! "My... my ear..." Her voice was tearful, the pain slowly spreading. Zhao Yi rolled his eyes. "Come on, it''s just an ear. It''ll grow back when the dungeon ends." Yang Linlin pouted, her eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you." She still whispered. Although Zhao Yi had cut off her left ear, he saved her life. If he hadn''t acted in time, she would have had to start over! Chapter 14 – Haunted School Horror: Your Own Death Date ### Chapter 14: "Haunted School Horror" - The Date of My Death **Comments:** - Damn! My goddess almost didn''t make it! - Haha, Yang Linlin peed herself again. Last time, it was in a death factory when a ghost face suddenly appeared, right? - No wonder he''s the top guy. Zhao Yi''s reaction was so quick. If it were me, I''d probably run without looking back. But he actually thought of saving someone! - That flying knife was vicious! Just a bit off target. If it had been a little more to the side and hit Yang Linlin''s forehead, Zhao Yi would have been punished! - Hurting a teammate results in punishment, but Zhao Yi''s rescue this time should boost his score significantly! ... While everyone was amazed by Zhao Yi''s quick reaction, he made another jaw-dropping decision! After helping Yang Linlin stop the bleeding, Zhao Yi decided to enter the teaching building once more! "Are you crazy?" "You''re going back in?" "What if it ambushes you? Wouldn''t you be walking into a trap?" Yang Linlin looked at Zhao Yi with a gaze that suggested he was an idiot, her tone anxious. Zhao Yi glanced at the darkness inside the teaching building and replied with interest: "No." "The specters in this school don''t move freely. They''re bound by certain rules, just like us." "Like the ghost chasing us is an invigilating teacher, so I bet it won''t follow us out of the teaching building. Otherwise, it would break its own rules and face unimaginable punishment!" Hearing this, Yang Linlin lowered her head, only now feeling a chill between her legs. Damn, peed again! So embarrassing! Her face turned red, and she changed the subject through gritted teeth. "Is there some important information in that building?" "Is it worth the risk?" Zhao Yi replied: "I need a roster. The one with the invigilating teacher is too dangerous, so we won''t consider it for now. But generally, teachers don''t keep just one roster, so there should be one or two backups in her office." With that, he stood up to go inside, but Yang Linlin spoke up: "Can you take me with you?" Zhao Yi was surprised and turned to look at her. "Are you sure?" Yang Linlin took a deep breath. "Yes." "I won''t be a burden. If we encounter danger, just run, don''t worry about me." "If we do nothing, even if we clear the dungeon, our score and points will be low." "If I go with you, maybe I can help at some point?" Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow. "Alright." The two entered the teaching building again. This time, with experience, they avoided the corridor with the restroom and went directly up the stairs on the other side to the fourth-floor teacher''s office. "By the way, Zhao Yi... why did you go to the third floor to check our classroom earlier?" "To verify a suspicion of mine." "What suspicion?" "The shadows in the classroom... are the students who died during the day." Zhao Yi stood on the fourth floor and found their homeroom teacher''s office. The sticker at the door had simple information about the internal teachers, with photos. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The old man with a cleaver in his head was among them. But in the photo, the old man looked kind. Carefully, he pushed the door open. There were no shadows inside, it was safe. The two tiptoed in and carefully locked the door. While searching for the roster, Zhao Yi explained. "During the day, there were eight classes on the first floor, with a total of 472 seats and 121 students, scattered randomly. I memorized their positions and general postures." "And just now, in the first-floor classroom, the shadows were sitting in the exact empty seats from the day!" "If this happened in one class, it might be a coincidence, but if all eight classes are like this... I think it''s enough to establish a rule." "But I''m still not confident... I''m always very cautious, so I went to the third floor, where I saw the chubby kid in front of my seat¡ªhe was killed by the invigilating teacher during the day, and sure enough, a shadow appeared in his seat." "So, now we can draw a basic conclusion¡ªthe shadows are the students who were killed during the day." Zhao Yi calmly explained his theory, leaving Yang Linlin stunned! "You just said... you memorized all 472 seats and 121 students'' positions in the eight classrooms on the first floor?" "Yes." "But... but you just glanced at it?!" Zhao Yi looked up, puzzled: "Isn''t that enough?" Yang Linlin was speechless. At this moment, she no longer doubted Zhao Yi''s intelligence but started doubting her own... Why is there such a big gap between people? She began to question life. "But what use is this knowledge?" Zhao Yi continued to explain: "It''s very useful." "Based on this rule, we can make a hypothesis about the rules¡ªduring the day, people are ''alive,'' and at night, the shadows are ''dead.'' The living and the dead cannot sit in the same seat, or it will be considered a ''rule violation'' and result in execution." Yang Linlin felt her brain couldn''t keep up. "Haven''t those shadows already died once?" "Can they die again?" Zhao Yi found a roster and a letter in the cabinet. A quick look at "pawread dot com" will leave you more fulfilled. He tossed the letter aside and opened the roster, which not only had the names of everyone in the class but also marked their assigned seats. Zhao Yi recalled the calendar under the alarm clock from the day and quickly cross-referenced it with the roster. September 14th. "Look." Zhao Yi pointed to the seat in front of his name. There was no name there. This meant that seat shouldn''t be occupied. But the chubby kid sat in front of Zhao Yi, and in fact... he realized he was in the wrong seat, but he didn''t know which one was correct! So, he was scared! He knew sitting in the wrong seat meant death! After realizing their lives were tied to their seat positions, Yang Linlin suddenly got excited! "Then we can just take this roster, and for the next few days, we''ll know where we''re supposed to sit?" "We''ll clear the dungeon!" Zhao Yi calmly said: "No, it''s not that easy." He flipped through the roster, turning six pages past the 14th. They had to survive in the school for seven days, so theoretically, if the daytime was continuous, they should leave the dungeon on September 20th. But the roster in Zhao Yi''s hand only went up to the 19th. After that, it was all blank. "Huh¡ªwhy is there no seating arrangement after the 19th?" Yang Linlin tilted her head, filled with confusion. Zhao Yi''s eyes were deep, and his words sent chills down Yang Linlin''s spine! "Because on the 20th, all of us... will die!" Chapter 15 – A Letter from Haunted School Horror ### Chapter 15: "Haunted School Horror" - A Letter "Don''t scare me, I''m easily frightened!" Yang Linlin shot Zhao Yi a glance, but deep down, she was already starting to accept Zhao Yi''s explanation. Zhao Yi quickly skimmed through the information on the roster, then placed it back in its original position and opened the envelope. Inside, apart from a thick stack of cash, there was a brief letter. ... [Principal, I''m really sorry!] [The (crossed out) incident has caused you trouble, I will definitely be more careful about such matters in the future!] [Regarding (entire section crossed out)] [I heard his mother is his only relative, and now that things have blown up like this, he probably won''t let it go easily. Please communicate more with the mayor!] [This money isn''t much, just a small token of respect for you!] ... Clearly, this letter hadn''t been sent out yet. There were many corrections, with a lot of ink marks crossed out, and it was evident that the crossed-out parts contained quite crucial information! "This letter is meant for the principal..." Zhao Yi''s eyes lit up, and the next moment he said to Yang Linlin: "Let''s go to the principal''s office." He and Yang Linlin quickly tidied up the office, putting the items back in place. As they were leaving, Zhao Yi took some of the cash. Yang Linlin asked curiously: "Why are you taking the money?" Zhao Yi replied meaningfully: "Just in case." Yang Linlin was puzzled. Although she had been with Zhao Yi the whole time and saw everything he saw, she had no idea what Zhao Yi was thinking! It felt very much like when everyone watched Conan gather clues and have an epiphany, while they themselves understood nothing. The only thing on Yang Linlin''s mind now was that after the dungeon ended, she definitely needed to get an IQ test! The two of them left the office, carefully closed the door, and continued upstairs. A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled. "Can you explain?" "I still don''t understand why you took that money!" Zhao Yi asked in return: "Why did I dare to go to the office to look for clues?" "Because you''re brave!" "And why am I brave?" "I... I don''t know why you''re brave!" Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow: "Because I knew no one was in the office." "That''s why I took you in." "As I said, whether it''s people or ghosts in this school, they''re all following their own rules." "Teachers are invigilating exams, and without special circumstances, they can''t leave the classroom for long." "But the principal is different." "You need to understand, the principal isn''t as busy as the teachers most of the time." "If it''s in the office, we need to find a way to lure it out!" "Got it?" Yang Linlin''s eyes lit up. "I got it!" "But... what does this have to do with the money?" Zhao Yi gestured for her to be quiet. They reached the top floor and walked along the dark corridor, keeping to the right, until they arrived at the spacious principal''s office. Carefully peeking through the window, they indeed saw a shadow inside! Moreover, those unstable data points reappeared at this moment! ... [Principal: High-level Danger!] [Note: This is clearly not an entity you rookies can confront directly, but its mobility is greatly restricted, forcing it to run in a peculiar way.] ... The data of the entity appeared before them. The principal was indeed sitting in the office, and its actions revealed Zhao Yi''s real intentions to Yang Linlin. The principal of Rockridge High School was counting money at this moment. Clearly, the entity was a complete money-grubber! Zhao Yi intended to use money to lure the principal away! "You stay here and keep an eye on it, I''ll go lay out the money!" Zhao Yi instructed in a low voice and began laying out the cash on the floor. He planned to use the cash to draw the principal away, giving them time to investigate matters related to the past in the principal''s office. Zhao Yi moved quickly, returning in less than ten minutes. Then they took off their shoes, knocked on the principal''s office door, and quickly ran to the stairs leading to the rooftop! Before long, the door opened, and a sinister shadow stood at the entrance. Its head rotated 360 degrees. Seeing no one, it seemed to detect a strange scent in the air... like a stray dog had urinated at its doorstep. The shadow was puzzled and looked down. A bright red bill appeared before it! It paused for a moment, as if its DNA couldn''t resist, and it picked up the money involuntarily. Then, as it bent down, it saw a second bill not far away! S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The principal was dumbfounded. What the heck! What''s going on today? Did I hit the jackpot? Why is there so much cash on the ground? Hmm, the urine smell is stronger here too. Curious, the principal looked towards the stairs leading to the rooftop, but after thinking for a while, it chose to go downstairs to pick up the money. Stray dogs aren''t as important as money, right? Once it was a bit further away, Zhao Yi and Yang Linlin reappeared at the entrance to the principal''s office. "Yang Linlin, I hope next time before we act, you can use the restroom." Zhao Yi seriously advised, as they had almost been exposed earlier due to the smell of urine on Yang Linlin. The darkness hid the burning blush on Yang Linlin''s face, her toes gripping the floor, wishing she could dig a three-bedroom apartment at the principal''s office door! "Got it!" The two wasted no time, knowing the principal wouldn''t be gone for long, and quickly searched the office! "The previous letter indicated that a student''s mother had a conflict with the school, and the school caused her significant harm." "Possibly even... killed the student''s mother." "So what we''re looking for now is the records." Yang Linlin, rummaging through the cabinets, was puzzled. "If it''s really as you suspect, such a scandalous event wouldn''t be recorded in the school''s files, would it?" Zhao Yi, seriously examining a file record, replied casually: "But a student''s withdrawal would be." "A major conflict between the school and a student''s family doesn''t have many motivations." "Parents causing a scene at the school is usually about the child''s safety, health, or academics." "Rockridge High School is a military-style closed school, with students going home once a month. The school rules strictly prohibit fighting, and as the top-ranked school in City A, the chance of campus violence is almost zero!" "So, the motivation for a major conflict, even a physical altercation, is likely related to a student''s withdrawal!" Yang Linlin''s eyes lit up. Right! Why didn''t she think of that? Comments: : I must say, I''m impressed by Zhao Yi! : As a newcomer, he''s really outstanding! : I''m a rookie too, and I''d love to be matched with Zhao Yi so I can just ride to victory! : I''m going to follow Zhao Yi, I feel like I can learn a lot from him! ... Chapter 16 – Haunted School Horror: A Hairs Breadth from Disaster Chapter 16: "Haunted School Horror" - A Hair''s Breadth Zhao Yi quickly found an interesting person in one of the files. ¡ªChen Qiong. He was the top student in their Class 8 of Grade 10, consistently ranking first in the grade. Until the week before he was expelled, he was still the top of the grade. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The reason for his expulsion was a teenage romance. "A top student who would have brought great honor to the school, expelled for a teenage romance." Zhao Yi''s tone was meaningful. Yang Linlin, standing beside him, glanced at the file with a peculiar expression. "Does the school have a rule expelling students for teenage romance?" Zhao Yi replied: "I''ve roughly gone through all the disciplinary files here, and he''s the only one expelled for a teenage romance." "Such an outstanding student wouldn''t normally be expelled for that, unless¡­" Zhao Yi paused, as if something occurred to him. "Unless what?" Yang Linlin was curious. "Unless, during the romance, he provoked someone he absolutely shouldn''t have." "Perhaps his romantic interest, or maybe a rival, but I personally lean towards the latter. After all, someone with such excellent grades likely has a strong sense of pride. If he were directly rejected by his romantic interest, he probably wouldn''t persist." "Moreover, a teenage romance involves both parties. Look at these files¡ªany disciplinary action always involves both people, not just one." "Chen Qiong from our class is the only exception." "This suggests that his rival has a powerful background, not only pressuring the school to expel Chen Qiong but also protecting the girl he liked." "We need to investigate Chen Qiong''s case; there might be valuable clues." Zhao Yi found what he was looking for, tidied up the files, and put them back in place. "Where do we investigate?" "Our phones are issued by the school, so we can''t connect to the internet, only set alarms." "If we must connect, we have to go to the computer lab." Zhao Yi replied: "To the computer lab." As he finished speaking, Yang Linlin''s eyes widened, staring intently behind Zhao Yi. A murderous aura permeated the air, piercing through Zhao Yi''s bones! With his back to the door, Zhao Yi instantly understood what had happened from Yang Linlin''s horrified expression! The principal¡­ had returned early! In an instant, the walls of the room began to peel, revealing a bloody red beneath! Countless black beetles crawled out from the wall, swarming towards the door, sealing it completely with flesh! In no time, the two were trapped like fish in a barrel! "You¡­ all¡­ deserve to die¡­" "Deserve¡­ to die!" "Die!" A venomous voice came from the principal''s mouth, but it wasn''t the voice of a middle-aged man; it was¡­ a young boy. Without thinking, Zhao Yi pulled out a property deed from his inventory, turned around, and shouted at the principal''s shadow: "Are you Chen Qiong?" "We''re here to uncover the truth!" "What happened back then with you and your mother?" At the mention of ''truth'', the shadow clutched its head and howled! The piercing, terrifying sound made the two dizzy, their eardrums bleeding! At this moment, Yang Linlin''s spirit value plummeted, while Zhao Yi, though his spirit remained steady, could clearly feel his life slipping away! "I¡­ I am¡­ I am¡­ I''m not¡­" "Chen Qiong¡­ Mother¡­ Zhang Ya¡­ Pang Xiao¡­" "Ah!!!" Finally, the shadow let out a long wail, its head exploding, revealing numerous spiked tentacles! Twisting like eels, the sight drove one''s sanity value to plummet! Having just pulled out a shotgun from her inventory, Yang Linlin sat down on the ground, unable to hold the gun steady! What the hell is this monster? The principal''s shadow advanced towards them step by step, cornering them. Yang Linlin''s mouth hung open, her legs shaking like a sieve. "Zhao Yi, run! I''ll hold it off!" She raised the gun to shoot, but Zhao Yi kicked her in the chest, sending her sliding several meters away like a slippery chicken! At the same time, Zhao Yi dodged in another direction! The next moment, sharp spikes struck where they had just been! The spikes oozed black pus, sizzling with smoke, clearly highly corrosive! Whoosh! Almost simultaneously, a thick, spiked tentacle whipped towards Zhao Yi, moving so fast it caused a sonic boom! If it hit, Zhao Yi would be dead on the spot! With Zhao Yi''s current reflexes, there was no way to dodge this attack! At the critical moment, a gunshot rang out, and the principal howled, forced to halt the attack and retreat two steps! It was Yang Linlin! Her hands shook like a sieve, biting her lip hard, clutching the shotgun tightly! Ordinary guns couldn''t effectively harm specters, but the impact of the bullets helped Zhao Yi avoid a fatal blow! "Run!" "I''ll cover you!" Yang Linlin screamed, like a madwoman, firing two more shots at the principal, causing it to stagger! Zhao Yi watched the principal, slightly staggered, his eyes flashing red, and he rolled towards it, closing the distance significantly! This reckless move left Yang Linlin stunned! Is he crazy? She risked her life to create an opportunity, and instead of escaping, he''s charging in! Isn''t this a waste?! Zhao Yi approached the principal, quickly pulling out a property deed and thrusting it towards the principal! At the same time, the tentacle swung down again, hovering just a centimeter above Zhao Yi''s forehead! One more centimeter, and Zhao Yi''s head would burst like a rotten watermelon! But at that moment, the principal stood frozen like a wooden figure, immobilized! ¡­¡­ [Item: Old Liu''s Property Deed (Unsealed)] [Quality: Green] [Description: The lifelong effort of an old worker.] [Effect: Forcefully seals a monster within five meters for ten seconds, cooldown: 1 day] ¡­¡­ As soon as the principal''s shadow froze, Zhao Yi turned and grabbed Yang Linlin, and they frantically fled outside! Ten seconds. They only had ten seconds! Every second determined their life or death! Still in shock, Yang Linlin glanced back at the motionless principal. As Zhao Yi passed the door, he didn''t forget to stab the monster! The knife pierced the principal''s shadowy heart. But it couldn''t kill this powerful monster! Of course, Zhao Yi didn''t expect to kill it with one stab, just collecting some interest along the way! Reaching the door, Yang Linlin raised the shotgun and fired two shots at the lock wrapped in black bugs! The door opened. Without looking back, they dashed into the darkness of the corridor¡­ Chapter 17 – Haunted School Horror: A Terrifying Discovery The two of them sprinted down the corridor, with a twisted specter hopping after them. Fortunately, the specter moved awkwardly, its limbs uncoordinated, allowing Zhao Yi to quickly lead them away from the principal. "Why didn''t you use that earlier if it''s so powerful?" Yang Linlin asked, panting and clutching her chest. Zhao Yi replied, "Because it has a long cooldown." "And why are you holding your chest?" he added. Yang Linlin shot him a glare. "What do you think!" Earlier, Zhao Yi had kicked her Winnie the Pooh plush to save her. Though it wasn''t a hard kick, in a life-or-death situation, Zhao Yi had used considerable force, leaving Yang Linlin in pain. "Sorry, special times call for special measures... Want me to rub it for you?" "Get lost!" Zhao Yi rolled his eyes. Women are such strange creatures. He offered to help, and she told him to get lost. The computer lab was in another building, and with three hours left until the next day''s morning class, Zhao Yi and Yang Linlin decided to try their luck there. Who knows what they might find? "By the way, where did you get that shotgun?" "In the last dungeon, I was in a survival scenario. Worried I''d encounter something similar again, I stocked up on guns, knives, tents, firewood, ropes, fishing lines, sunscreen, waterproof bedding..." Seeing the array of items in Yang Linlin''s inventory, Zhao Yi praised, "I didn''t expect you to be so prepared. It''s a good thing you brought guns this time; otherwise, we might have had to escape through a window and leave someone behind." Hearing Zhao Yi''s compliment, Yang Linlin lifted her chin proudly and said, "Of course! I''m no rookie!" She paused, then pulled a shotgun from her inventory and handed it to Zhao Yi. "Here, take this shotgun. When the domain system opens, using it will increase your proficiency in firearms." Zhao Yi accepted the shotgun from Yang Linlin with thanks. This wasn''t an ordinary shotgun from the outside world; it was an item exchanged from the game store. Though it wasn''t very effective against specters, it could stun them and had a decent silencing effect, making it a valuable item for newcomers. Live Stream Comments: : "The ''Crusher'' costs 2000 points in the store, and my goddess just gave it away?" : "Damn! Is Yang Linlin falling for this nutcase Zhao Yi? I''m unfollowing!" : "Zhao Yi saved her twice. Regardless of personal feelings, it''s only right to return the favor with a gift." : "My goddess... my goddess... But it''s okay, I''ll still like you!" : "Such a simp!" ... They found the computer lab, and Zhao Yi shot the lock with his gun. The door opened. Computer labs in high schools are often underused, with students mostly playing games rather than studying. However, in schools with special programs, a computer lab is a necessary public facility. It might not always be used, but it must be there. Yang Linlin kept watch while Zhao Yi used the school''s network to search for information on Chen Qiong. "How''s it going?" Yang Linlin asked, unable to resist as she watched Zhao Yi''s fingers fly over the keyboard. Support us at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. Zhao Yi, eyes fixed on the screen, replied, "The person has a significant background. All online information about him has been blocked and erased!" "But no worries, I can check the ''Black Sea.''" Yang Linlin was puzzled. "Black Sea, what''s that?" "The internet''s junkyard," Zhao Yi explained. "Typically, information on the internet isn''t completely deleted. All data that once appeared is dumped into the Black Sea when cleaned up." "But accessing the Black Sea requires a complicated key, involving compiling, trial and error, modification, and then logging in." His explanation left Yang Linlin dumbfounded. "Were you a hacker before? How do you know so much?" Zhao Yi''s expression was serious. "No, I''m a psychologist." "I once had a patient who was a hacker with severe paranoia. He''d tell me he could inject his spirit into the internet and roam the endless sea of code..." Yang Linlin rolled her eyes. "You believe a madman''s words?" Zhao Yi continued, "At first, he wandered aimlessly in the virtual world. After some treatment, we could finally explore together." Yang Linlin: "???" Live Stream Comments: : "LOL, so the one being ''treated'' was you!" : "I knew this guy had some mental issues. Maybe he got infected by spending too much time with the mentally ill?" : "Haven''t you seen his profile? Zhao Yi must be joking. He''s treated over a thousand severe mental illness patients!" : "I was a med student too, and though I''m not in psychology, the name ''Forgotten Angel'' is really famous in the field!" Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... "And then?" "Then I was the only one left." "Why?" "Because I cured his paranoia." Yang Linlin rolled her eyes. "So you''re saying you have paranoia too?" Zhao Yi successfully logged into the Black Sea and snapped his fingers. "Paranoia?" "No, this isn''t paranoia." "My spirit can truly communicate with data." Yang Linlin laughed, thinking Zhao Yi was just teasing her, and didn''t give it much thought. But if she had walked to the front of the computer, she would have been shocked to find... Zhao Yi''s computer wasn''t running any programs at all! The keyboard wasn''t even plugged into the computer. "Found it." Zhao Yi squinted, focusing on the computer screen. The light cast shadows on his face. "Chen Qiong''s mother had an argument with the homeroom teacher of Class 8, Grade 1 at Rockridge High School, resulting in an accident. She fell from the third-floor corridor and died on August 13, 3032, after failed resuscitation." "Cause of death: severe brain damage." "A week later, Chen Qiong infiltrated the school, wielded a cleaver, and split his homeroom teacher Liang Ming''s head in half before escaping." "Since then, Chen Qiong vanished without a trace... and the teachers and students at Rockridge High School began mysteriously disappearing within a month, with no survivors..." "During this period, City A dispatched numerous police officers to search Rockridge High School, but found nothing..." Zhao Yi''s account left Yang Linlin in a daze. "August 13, 3032... A week later is August 20, and another month is... September 20, 3032!" "Isn''t that... the day our main quest ends?" Yang Linlin suddenly realized, as if uncovering an important clue! During the day, she saw an electronic calendar under the classroom''s large clock. The date marked was 3032! Which means... They''ve returned to... a past timeline! Back to the last seven days of the curse! "No wonder... no wonder the seating arrangement on that roster... only goes up to September 19!" "Zhao Yi, your guess was right!" "On September 20, everyone... will die!" Chapter 18 – Haunted School Horror: Mysterious Thick Fog Yang Linlin felt a chill in her heart. Having obtained the roster, she thought she was just one step away from surviving this hell-level dungeon. However, at this moment, she suddenly realized... she had underestimated the difficulty of the hell-level dungeon! The real challenge was surviving the seventh day! Yang Linlin exhaled and smiled bitterly to herself. She was such a fool. How could a dungeon of this difficulty be so easily cleared? Fortunately, today was only the first day, and they still had plenty of time. From the current situation, as long as she followed Zhao Yi, her chances of survival were high! After the series of dangers they had just faced, Yang Linlin clearly recognized that Zhao Yi was the true powerhouse in their group! Sticking close to Zhao Yi not only increased her chances of clearing the dungeon but might also earn her a decent rating! It was important to know that high ratings were extremely valuable in the ''Hell'' game! Just to unlock the intermediate dungeon store, you needed three S-level ratings! Without ratings, no amount of points could buy items from the intermediate store! With these thoughts clear, Yang Linlin felt much more relaxed. She would face whatever came her way! She continued to cautiously observe the shadows that might appear around her, tightly gripping a handgun. This handgun was far less powerful than the ''Crusher'' she had given Zhao Yi, but having something in her hand made her feel much more at ease! The starlight was dim, and the moonlight was faint. A light mist suddenly rose from nowhere. It gradually thickened. The already dim visibility in the night was further reduced! Yang Linlin keenly sensed something was wrong and immediately called out to Zhao Yi in the computer lab: "Zhao Yi... it''s getting foggy!" Zhao Yi looked up, countless data flashing in his eyes, which were then quickly erased. He swiftly shut down the computer, reset the keyboard and mouse, walked out of the computer lab, looked at the fog outside, and grabbed Yang Linlin''s hand! "Run!" Yang Linlin was pulled by him, directly fleeing into the white fog! By this time, the fog had become quite dense, limiting their visibility to about twenty meters, and it was still shrinking! The most terrifying part was that this mysterious fog was continuously draining Yang Linlin''s spirit! She felt dizzy, then suddenly alert, quickly biting her tongue. The sharp pain and the taste of blood in her mouth barely kept her rational! sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Live Streaming Room: : Damn! This fog has a Silent Hill vibe! : Are we going to see a pyramid head wielding a big knife soon? : Just the fact that this fog drains spirit points is terrifying enough, isn''t it? It drops five or six points a minute; no one can withstand that! : Why isn''t Zhao Yi''s spirit dropping at all? This guy is definitely suspicious! ... "Is the SAN dropping that fast?" Seeing Yang Linlin''s increasingly vacant eyes, Zhao Yi quickly made a decision and ran towards the distant tall water tower! He originally wanted to return to the dormitory, but it was too late now. The first floor of the water tower was locked with an iron gate. Fortunately, Yang Linlin had given Zhao Yi a shotgun, and he shot at the water tower''s door handle! Entering the first floor of the water tower, Zhao Yi slammed the door shut and moved some dusty wooden crates to block it! Luckily, the fog didn''t seep in. Zhao Yi stood up and looked outside through the peephole. The fog was getting thicker, reducing visibility to just five meters! At the same time, data related to the fog appeared before Zhao Yi. ... [Fog: High-Level Danger] [Note: There are many strange things inside. If you don''t want to encounter them, you''d better find a shelter quickly.] ... Indeed, there were unimaginable dangers in this fog! Without the influence of the ghostly fog, Yang Linlin''s spirit began to recover. Her face was still pale, but her eyes regained their sparkle. Find the original at "pawread dot com". "Thank you, you saved my life again." Yang Linlin looked gratefully at Zhao Yi, only to find Zhao Yi pointing a gun at her! Before she could understand what was happening, she heard Zhao Yi say: "Come out." "I''ll only say this once." Yang Linlin was stunned for a moment, then heard rustling sounds from the darkness behind her! She turned around in shock and discovered a disheveled man behind a pile of debris! The man raised his hands, his face full of smiles: "Please... don''t shoot, I''m not a bad person!" ... [Human: Low-Level Danger] [Note: Congratulations, you''ve found a living person in a haunted school! But there''s no reward.] ... Zhao Yi slowly lowered his gun and asked: "Who are you?" The man smiled wryly: "It''s a long story. This place isn''t safe. Something terrifying will come in soon. Let me take you to the basement first." Zhao Yi nodded slightly. The man moved a large brick under his feet, revealing a light below! The two followed the man into the basement, where he carefully restored the entrance and checked it several times before exhaling. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Li Sheng, a mysterious event investigator from the former City A police department. Here''s my ID." Li Sheng handed his ID to Zhao Yi, and they exchanged brief information. "Did you come alone?" Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow, his fingers brushing the corner of a lamp on the cabinet. He rubbed them together. No dust. Li Sheng sat on a worn-out sofa and sighed. "No, about three months ago, we started investigating Rockridge High School... Students and teachers inside were mysteriously disappearing one by one, as if they vanished into thin air. The police in City A deployed a large number of personnel to investigate, but found nothing. Under pressure from public opinion, the mayor had to turn to us." "After some preparation, I led a special task force to this school to investigate, but we encountered strange events..." Li Sheng slowly recounted his experience. It turned out that their task force consisted of twenty-seven people, but that day, the school was shrouded in fog. Li Sheng and his team were attacked by terrifying unknown creatures in the fog. Despite being fully armed, they barely saw their attackers before almost being wiped out! In the end, the severely injured Li Sheng, along with the remaining six team members, escaped into a dormitory building, barely surviving. When the fog cleared, they found they couldn''t leave the school. Outside the school gates, there was nothing but terrifying thick fog! The seven of them could only struggle to survive in the eerie school! "May I ask, what happened to the six teammates with you?" As Zhao Yi finished speaking, he noticed Li Sheng''s expression turn grim. "They''re dead." Zhao Yi asked again: "According to you, you''ve been in the school for at least three months. What have you been eating?" Li Sheng''s face turned even grimmer. "Can we not talk about that?" Zhao Yi pondered. At this moment, strange noises came from above them. Creak¡ª Like a machine that had been idle for decades, it emitted a grating sound. Then came the sound of chaotic footsteps. The three held their breath, not daring to make a sound, listening intently to the footsteps above. They could hardly imagine what kind of creature would make such a hair-raising sound while walking. It wandered back and forth for a long time before finally leaving. "I only discovered this refuge recently; otherwise, I''d be dead by now!" Li Sheng lowered his voice and approached the two. At this moment, their systems suddenly displayed a message. [Player Zhen Tao has been assimilated into a dungeon monster due to low spirit.] [Player Lu Bai has been killed by an unknown creature.] [Congratulations to players Zhao Yi and Yang Linlin for triggering the hidden quest¡ªInvestigate the truth behind Rockridge High School!] [Quest Reward: S Rating *1.] Chapter 19 – Haunted School Horror: Chen Qiongs Past After the hidden quest was triggered, news of the deaths of the other two teammates arrived simultaneously. Compared to Zhen Tao, Lu Bai seemed to find relief quickly. As for Zhen Tao, although his life value hadn''t hit zero, the severe loss of spirit turned him directly into a dungeon monster! This seemed even more unbearable than death! Looking at the man beside him, Zhao Yi curiously asked, "You''ve lived at this high school for three months, haven''t you encountered anything terrifying?" Li Sheng gave a bitter smile. "How could I not have?" "Though I don''t know how you got in here, I can tell you haven''t been here long." "The dangers of this high school far exceed your imagination!" "Most of the people you''ve seen in the school... aren''t alive!" As his words fell, Yang Linlin nearly jumped out of her skin! Earlier in the day, Zhao Yi had already told them that they might be the only four living people in this high school, and back then, they thought Zhao Yi was joking! Now she realized Zhao Yi was telling the truth! "Rockridge High School is trapped in a terrifying cycle of curses, repeating every seven days." "These zombie-like people on campus will all die within seven days, then be reborn, only to repeat the cycle of death again!" "The further the curse progresses, the more terrifying things will happen!" "I once saw with my own eyes, on the seventh day of a previous cycle, all the teachers and students carrying their bloody heads, patrolling every corner of the school..." "If they find you..." At this point, Li Sheng shuddered involuntarily. Clearly, the experience had left a deep psychological impact on him! He was unwilling to recall or describe it further. "Then... how did you manage to hide safely?" Yang Linlin asked with a hint of urgency. Since this man had survived three months in this high school, helping them survive seven days should be no problem! Li Sheng patted the sofa beneath him. "Well¡ª" "I escaped to the water tower at that time and accidentally discovered this basement, which is how I survived!" Hearing this, Yang Linlin excitedly grabbed Zhao Yi''s arm! "I got it!" "The water tower must be a hidden safe zone. As long as we stay here and don''t wander around, we can survive the seven days!" Zhao Yi''s face showed no sign of joy. "Sigh..." Seeing Yang Linlin''s jubilant expression, Li Sheng couldn''t help but sigh. "Miss Yang, things might be more complicated than you think." The smile on Yang Linlin''s face gradually faded. "What... do you mean?" Li Sheng looked troubled. "The power of the school''s curse is expanding!" "Previously, the water tower was indeed safe; the specters outside would ignore this area, not even glancing at the water tower..." "But later, they began to linger outside the water tower, even knocking on the door to see if anyone was inside, and eventually... they forcibly entered the water tower, searching everything here..." "On the seventh day of the last cycle, I was hiding in the basement and almost got exposed..." "So I suspect the curse''s power has spread here. If we hide in the basement again during this cycle, I''m afraid..." Li Sheng suddenly stopped talking. Footsteps above them had started again at some point, and this time... they were even more frequent! The three of them were on edge! Even the viewers in the live streaming room felt incredibly tense! They held their breath, not daring to make a sound! Clearly, there was more than one specter upstairs! If they were exposed, they''d be sitting ducks, doomed to die! Bang! Bang! Bang! Suddenly, there were thuds from above! It seemed a clever specter was checking the ground! A chill ran down their spines, reaching the top of their heads! Zhao Yi''s mind raced, and he quickly moved a ladder from the pile of junk behind him, then stood on it, using his back to support their entrance! Seeing this, Yang Linlin and Li Sheng understood what Zhao Yi intended to do, and they carefully stepped forward to help stabilize Zhao Yi''s body! The sound of tapping on a special brick, whether connected or not, was completely different! The specter was still suspicious, not yet certain there was a secret room below. As long as they handled it properly, they could completely avoid the specter''s inspection! Before long, Zhao Yi felt tapping on his back! The specter was strong, and even through a thick brick, the force from above made their muscles spasm! They gritted their teeth, holding on tightly, not daring to relax for a moment! After tapping for a while and confirming there was no issue, the specter moved on to tap elsewhere. Only then did the two relax, and Zhao Yi immediately gestured to them, prompting Yang Linlin and Li Sheng to continue holding Zhao Yi''s legs tightly! Sure enough, after a while, the specter returned to the same spot, stomping heavily! The intense force made the legs of the two below tremble. Finally, the specter seemed to confirm there was no issue, stopped probing, and left the water tower for another location. Yang Linlin and Li Sheng collapsed to the ground, their bodies weak! "See, I told you, the water tower is no longer safe..." Li Sheng''s face was full of worry. "To survive this cycle of the curse, we either find another shelter or... break the curse!" Zhao Yi glanced at him nonchalantly, saying nothing. But Yang Linlin''s eyes lit up at his words. Read the most updated version of this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at "pawread dot com" "Break the curse?" S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You know how to break the curse?" Li Sheng was silent for a long time. "I know the method, but it''s extremely difficult to execute!" "I can''t do it alone; I need help!" Yang Linlin said, "We can help you!" Li Sheng hesitated for a moment, then nodded resolutely after a while. "Alright!" "I''ll trust you this once. After all, dragging it out any longer is a dead end!" "Might as well take a gamble!" "...Based on our previous research and investigation, I can now confirm that the cycle of curses at this high school began with a student." As he finished speaking, Yang Linlin instinctively blurted out: "Chen Qiong?" Li Sheng looked at the two in surprise. "You know?" Zhao Yi replied, "Not much, just that Chen Qiong''s mother had an accident at Rockridge High School..." Li Sheng sighed, rubbing his head. "That''s right." "It''s a long story." "Chen Qiong was originally from a poor family in the city. Life was manageable until his father was buried in a mining accident back home. The mine owner, fearing criminal charges, fled abroad with the money, leaving no compensation. Life became increasingly difficult for his family, with only a disabled seamstress mother left. Fortunately, Chen Qiong was a diligent student, always excelling academically. He not only got into the best high school in the city¡ªRockridge High School¡ªbut also received a substantial scholarship for his top ranking." "This place should have been the cradle of his dreams, but then something unexpected happened..." "To stimulate student competition, Rockridge High School held exams twice a month, determining seating arrangements for the following week based on results. Chen Qiong, with his outstanding grades, always sat at the front near the podium, leaving other top students from all over the place trailing behind!" "Besides, there was another student in their class, a girl named Zhang Ya, who was both academically excellent and beautiful." "She consistently ranked second in the class and was Chen Qiong''s deskmate... You know how it is with high schoolers, full of youthful vigor, hormones running high. Spending so much time together, Chen Qiong fell madly in love with Zhang Ya." "It could have been a perfect match, but then a transfer student named Pang Xiao arrived, the son of the Mayor. Despite always ranking last in tests, he also took a liking to Zhang Ya and directly had the homeroom teacher, Liang Ming, switch his seat with Chen Qiong''s." "Liang Ming, of course, didn''t dare refuse his request." "So suddenly, the top student was sitting in the last seat, while the last-ranked student took the top seat." "Every weekly test result, those glaring perfect scores, seemed to slap Chen Qiong in the face!" "He knew his family was poor and couldn''t compete with Pang Xiao, so he endured... But one day, he saw Pang Xiao slip his hand into Zhang Ya''s clothes during class, and Zhang Ya didn''t dare resist. That was the last straw for his anger." "He secretly bribed some classmates from similarly poor backgrounds with his scholarship money, and one night, they covered their faces with scarves and dragged Pang Xiao into a small grove to beat him up!" "However, the school''s surveillance caught it all, and after severe questioning from the grade director, one student finally cracked under pressure and exposed Chen Qiong." "As a result... Chen Qiong was expelled." "Afterward, Chen Qiong''s mother came to Rockridge High School, found his homeroom teacher Liang Ming, and knelt in his office, begging for mercy. But Liang Ming couldn''t care less. In the end, during a scuffle, Liang Ming accidentally pushed Chen Qiong''s mother, Ren Fang, from the building. She landed headfirst, her brains splattered everywhere..." "You can probably guess what happened next. Chen Qiong''s mother died from her injuries, but the incident was covered up by the school and the Mayor''s office..." "The situation was too deep for anyone to intervene. Days later, Chen Qiong snuck into the school alone, hacked his homeroom teacher Liang Ming to death with a cleaver, and then escaped the school''s security pursuit, disappearing without a trace..." At this point, Li Sheng paused, looking at the two who were listening intently, and lowered his voice. "That''s the official story." "But in reality... Chen Qiong never ran away..." "He... died in the school." Chapter 20 – Haunted School Horror: Zhao Yis Terrifying Insight "He died in the underground parking lot of Zone B. His deep resentment has affected the entire school. Our goal is to destroy his corpse!" "Only by destroying his corpse can we possibly end the curse!" "Coincidentally, when we first entered the school, we brought a very powerful weapon... But that item was left behind in a vertical shaft labeled ''Contaminated Fire'' in the underground parking lot of the West Zone after being attacked by Chen Qiong''s spirit." "That special weapon requires identity verification, but it won''t take long. As long as you can distract Chen Qiong''s spirit, I can quickly activate the weapon and destroy Chen Qiong''s corpse!" Yang Linlin bit her lip. "How long will it take?" Li Sheng replied: "About three minutes in total!" Yang Linlin looked at Zhao Yi, her eyes questioning. Zhao Yi reached out and shook hands with Li Sheng. "When do we take action?" Li Sheng pondered: "Tonight is too late. Tomorrow night, come back here to the water tower, and I''ll take you to the West Zone''s underground parking lot!" Zhao Yi: "Can we scout the area first?" Li Sheng scratched his head: "Almost forgot... You''re not familiar with the terrain, so scouting the perimeter first is a good idea!" After making their plans, the three sat quietly for about four hours until the ghostly fog outside dissipated. Only then did Zhao Yi lead Yang Linlin away from the water tower and head to the dormitory building. The next day, they sat according to the seating chart. A few people in the class sat in the wrong seats and were beheaded on the spot! The blood was cold and foul-smelling. But in the blink of an eye, Both the blood and the bodies vanished completely. The two managed to survive the day without incident. While eating dinner in the cafeteria, Zhao Yi shoveled food into his mouth and asked Yang Linlin beside him: "Do you have any fishing line?" "Thread will do... It needs to be thin, long, and strong." Yang Linlin was still preoccupied with the night''s events, not interested in eating. "I do." "But... what do you need it for?" Zhao Yi replied: "To kill." Yang Linlin froze. "Kill who?" S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi: "Li Sheng." Yang Linlin continued to watch Zhao Yi, who was eating nonchalantly, as if he were discussing something trivial. But only those involved knew how crazy this sounded! "Are you insane?" "If you kill Li Sheng, who will help us break the curse?" Yang Linlin didn''t understand what had gotten into Zhao Yi, but from his tone, he didn''t seem to be joking! He really intended to kill Li Sheng! After finishing the last bite of his meal, Zhao Yi elegantly opened a bottle of ''82 soy milk and said seriously: "If you''re still counting on him to help us break the curse, then you''re not far from death." Yang Linlin glanced at the noisy cafeteria around them, leaned in, and whispered: "What do you mean?" Zhao Yi drank the soy milk in one go. "He lied." Yang Linlin frowned. "Lied?" "How do you know?" Zhao Yi tapped his finger lightly on the table, recalling everything from last night, and explained: "First, he''s just an investigator, not a student of Class 8, Grade 1. Don''t you think his description of Chen Qiong was too detailed?" "So detailed that he even knew about Chen Qiong seeing the mayor''s son, Pang Xiao, putting his hand inside class beauty Zhang Ya''s clothes during class." Yang Linlin''s body stiffened. "Second, three people are missing from the roster." "Chen Qiong, Pang Xiao, Zhang Ya." "These three are not on the roster." "If everything happened as Li Sheng described, then I think Chen Qiong, who has the power to plunge the entire school into a strange force, wouldn''t let Pang Xiao and Zhang Ya go¡ªat least not Pang Xiao." "Because Pang Xiao is the source of his tragedy!" Yang Linlin fell into deep thought. Zhao Yi continued: "Third, that water tower''s basement wasn''t discovered by him by chance... I even suspect he built that basement." Yang Linlin looked up at Zhao Yi, her face full of confusion. Discover the complete story on pawread dot com. If she could understand the first two points, this third point made her think Zhao Yi was talking nonsense! "The school''s curse has spread to most corners, affecting all the teachers and students inside. How could he have had the time to build such a large basement in front of so many evil spirits?" Zhao Yi''s gaze was deep. "No dust." "Huh?" "I said, there''s no dust in the basement." Recalling last night''s events, Zhao Yi explained: "Last night, I deliberately checked many corners." "The lampstand, the sofa, even... those miscellaneous items, almost no dust, very clean." "Generally, no one cleans a basement." "Unless someone lives there regularly." "As you said, after the curse occurred, it''s almost impossible to build such a basement in front of evil spirits, so the basement could only have been built before the curse." "The entrance is so hidden, there''s no light, and the mechanism is hidden behind bricks where no one would think to look... Do you think it''s more likely he stumbled upon the basement while being chased by evil spirits, or that he knew about the basement''s existence all along?" Yang Linlin was stunned. Zhao Yi''s observational skills... were terrifying! "But if he''s deceiving us, what''s his motive?" Zhao Yi explained: "In psychology, purposeful lies are usually a mix of truth and falsehood." "To make the lie more logical and believable, some real elements are often added." "For example, in the West Zone''s underground parking lot, even if there''s no evil spirit version of Chen Qiong, there''s definitely a danger we can''t imagine." "And Li Sheng genuinely wants to enter that vertical shaft labeled ''Contaminated Fire.''" "It''s just that once he goes in, he won''t come out, so he lied to get me to distract the specter outside." Layer by layer, the analysis unfolded. Yang Linlin now believed that the seemingly harmless Li Sheng was actually a liar! ... Live Stream Comments: : Damn, this level of observation and judgment is incredible! : Honestly, I also felt something was off about Li Sheng! : This unlucky guy actually tried to outsmart Zhao Yi, the madman. He''s probably in for a bad end! : But since Zhao Yi discovered the problem, why didn''t he kill Li Sheng last night and wait until today? : It''s normal for you not to understand. After all, we''re normal people, and he''s a madman! ... Yang Linlin took out the fishing line and handed it to Zhao Yi. After Zhao Yi put it away, Yang Linlin asked: "What do I need to do tonight?" Zhao Yi said: "You don''t need to do anything." "Whether we succeed depends on tonight." "If we''re lucky, we can break this curse tonight!" Chapter 21 – Haunted School Horror: A Brilliant Counter-Scheme The night was cold with clouds, and the moonless sky was as dark as a tide. Zhao Yi and Yang Linlin met at the agreed location, both fully prepared, and headed towards the water tower. "Zhao Yi, I still don''t quite understand." "Why do you need the fishing line?" "Are you planning to strangle Li Sheng with it?" Zhao Yi raised a finger to his lips. "Silence." He didn''t want to explain to Yang Linlin. Though she was obedient, she talked too much. Zhao Yi was cautious around her, in case she messed up and exposed him. Faced with Zhao Yi''s mystery, Yang Linlin said no more. They reached the basement of the water tower, where Li Sheng had been waiting for a while, appearing somewhat... anxious. "Why are you so late?" Li Sheng complained. "Let''s hurry and scout the area; we don''t have much time. Once midnight ends and the third bell rings, the ghostly fog will spread across every corner of the campus again!" Zhao Yi nodded. "No problem." The three of them left the water tower and cautiously headed to the West Zone''s underground parking lot under the moonlight. There were three entrances in total. They followed Li Sheng around the perimeter, listening to his detailed escape route plan and how to distract the specters... As Li Sheng spoke, there was an unnatural excitement in his demeanor. Yang Linlin, who was observing him intentionally, became more convinced of Zhao Yi''s suspicion. This guy was up to something! They entered from the east, which was the planned entrance where Li Sheng would be lurking. Li Sheng led the way, so he didn''t see Zhao Yi quietly take out a similarly dark green, round object and wedge it onto the iron rod on the side wall of the entrance. The loop on it was connected to a fishing line almost invisible in the darkness. The other end of the line was hidden in Zhao Yi''s school uniform sleeve. Li Sheng hid in a corner and said to them: "Chen Qiong''s vengeful spirit is wandering in the C Zone ahead. After you go over, make some noise to attract its attention, then split up and run, one to the north exit, one to the west exit." "Then follow our planned route to evade it!" "It won''t stray far from here. As long as you can lure it out of the underground parking lot, I can grab the weapon, destroy its body, and break the curse!" Zhao Yi glanced towards the C Zone. "No problem, wait for us to lure it away before you act. We only have one chance, don''t rush!" Li Sheng nodded. "Alright!" Zhao Yi and Yang Linlin crouched and moved towards the C Zone, carefully sticking to the walls and using vehicles as cover, observing for any sign of Chen Qiong''s vengeful spirit. A cold wind blew in from the entrance, making Yang Linlin shiver in the darkness. She was scared to death. She could even hear her heart pounding in her throat! In fact, she wasn''t the only one nervous. Li Sheng was equally on edge. Ever since that incident went awry, he had been barely surviving in this haunted school for months, and now he was out of resources. He was getting hungrier. His companions were dwindling. Whether he could survive depended on whether these two could help him lure away that terrifying evil spirit today... ... As Zhao Yi explored towards the C Zone, he maintained a high level of mental focus. The red bloody glow in his eyes grew stronger. It even faintly emitted a slight red light. His pupils were no longer round, turning into a strange and eerie pattern! In his eyes, all inanimate objects were gradually fading. Areas that were dark and invisible became increasingly clear to Zhao Yi! [Player Zhao Yi''s source code error disorder...] [Attempting to repair...] [Repair failed...] [Repair failed...] [Repair failed...] ... The annoying system voice kept ringing in Zhao Yi''s ears, but he ignored it along with those strange whispers. At this moment, he seemed to be in a god''s-eye view! He saw everything in the underground parking lot! Including the twisted humanoid figure hidden in the corner! ... [Rampant Quantum State: Extremely Dangerous!] [Note 1: Extremely fast movement, can pass through most obstacles!] [Note 2: Extremely strong attack, you cannot resist!] [Behavior: Slaughter all living things it sees! Prioritizes attacking loud units!] [Weakness 1: Schr?dinger''s Cat.] [Weakness 2: The body.] ... Having obtained this data, the crimson in Zhao Yi''s eyes slowly faded, returning to normal. He was dazed for a few seconds before his eyes regained focus. Zhao Yi carefully led Yang Linlin around the twisted humanoid and out of Li Sheng''s line of sight. He turned back and gave Li Sheng an ''OK'' gesture. Li Sheng returned the gesture. In the darkness, his face was filled with a sinister and twisted smile! Die... die! Once you''re dead, I can survive! Blame your bad luck! How could you trust a stranger so easily? Li Sheng''s mouth curved into a shocking arc. The next moment, Zhao Yi grabbed the fishing line in his sleeve. He pulled it sharply! In the darkness and silence, the sound of the grenade pin being pulled was abrupt. Ding! The pin hit the ground. The sound was crisp. The twisted humanoid in the corner turned around. And Li Sheng''s body tensed at that moment. He was puzzled, What was that sound just now? He turned his head, Firelight exploded! Brilliant flames spread like a phoenix spreading its wings, and the violent explosion echoed throughout the underground parking lot! The terrifying impact slammed Li Sheng hard against a nearby car door. He barely had time to think about what had happened before he vaguely saw, in the blinding firelight, the terrifying shadow drifting towards him from afar! Doomed! Li Sheng was terrified! The shadow of death loomed, adrenaline surged! No time to think, he fled immediately! If he didn''t leave now, he would surely die! As he neared the exit, he instinctively glanced back and saw¡ª Zhao Yi standing in the underground parking lot, waving goodbye to him! By now, how could he not realize that Zhao Yi had outsmarted him? His fists clenched, eyes blazing with fury! Li Sheng was almost coughing up blood from anger, but there was no time to think! The twisted humanoid was chasing him at high speed! He had to get away from this place immediately! Li Sheng fled with the shadow trailing him, while Zhao Yi quickly led Yang Linlin to the vertical shaft marked with ''Contaminated Fire''. "Damn, you actually carry a grenade, such a massive weapon!" "Isn''t the beginner dungeon supposed to have no points?" Yang Linlin''s face was full of shock as she took out a crowbar to help Zhao Yi pry open the manhole cover, listening to Zhao Yi say: "I once had a patient who was an arms dealer." "I cured his bloodlust, so he gave me a box of custom-made ammunition as a reward." "I usually carry a few grenades with me, just to fiddle with when I''m bored." Yang Linlin: "..." Live comments: Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. : Crazy! Who the hell fiddles with grenades for fun! : I''m more and more convinced that Zhao Yi has become a lunatic from dealing with too many mental patients! Explore the extended edition on : Putting aside his eccentric behavior, Zhao Yi''s counter-scheme was truly brilliant! : Indeed! From seeing through the plan to setting it up, what seemed like the simplest operation had such a devastating effect... :... Chapter 22 – Haunted School Horror: Mysterious Experimental Base With ease, the manhole cover was pried open. At this moment, the number of viewers in Zhao Yi''s live streaming room had surged from a few hundred to sixty thousand! Among the newcomers, his popularity had already skyrocketed to the top ranks. His impressive moves in the earlier waves had garnered him quite a few fans. Especially those rookies who were also new and wanted to enter the dungeon but were too timid to do so, they had already started to see Zhao Yi as their big brother! Down the vertical shaft, it was pitch black. Yang Linlin took out a flashlight, handed it to Zhao Yi, and grabbed one for herself. Turning on the flashlight, the light illuminated the shaft wall. No filth, no dust! The smooth alloy wall reflected the flashlight''s beam. In the center of the shaft wall was a button, etched with strange patterns. After a simple inspection, the two discovered it was actually an elevator leading underground! "Aren''t these places usually for drainage... how come there''s an elevator?" Yang Linlin covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with astonishment! Zhao Yi glanced back. The pitch-black underground parking lot, the deathly still wind. The feeling was not good. "Let''s go, there''s no time to waste, who knows when it will return!" The two quickly entered the elevator and pressed the button. The elevator operated smoothly, a slight feeling of weightlessness enveloped them as they began to descend... This process lasted a full three minutes before stopping! The alloy shaft wall in front of them suddenly parted, the intense light blinding them momentarily until their vision returned. Ahead was a long, narrow, pure white corridor. The lights illuminated every corner of the corridor, leaving no trace of darkness. Stepping out of the elevator, the alloy door automatically closed behind them. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What is this place?" Simple shock couldn''t describe Yang Linlin''s feelings at this moment! Who could have imagined that hundreds of meters beneath a university, there was such a sophisticated underground structure! "Perhaps it''s some kind of strange experimental base." Zhao Yi stroked the stubble on his chin, his eyes flickering with a glint. Ever since he met the principal, he had felt something was off. Having tentacles growing from one''s head didn''t seem too ghostly. In the previous dungeon, he encountered several specters, especially the director of Colossus Hospital. That was a typical example. A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled. The more powerful the specter, the more their attacks leaned towards the metaphysical, making them hard to counter with ordinary means. Yet, the principal in this dungeon, though powerful, had attacks that were entirely physical. This indicated that the principal wasn''t a specter. But rather some kind of... monster. Clearly, "Haunted School Horror" wasn''t purely a supernatural dungeon; its world view was broader than he had anticipated! Perhaps the school''s current state was a result of some human intervention? As the two walked through the corridor, they found the ground covered with a lot of bloodstains! Though dried, the air still carried a faint scent of blood and decay. The trail of blood led to several men in special clothing, their faces masked, appearing to be some kind of lab personnel. Their bodies were mangled and grotesque, as if torn apart by a large beast, making Yang Linlin''s scalp tingle! "What on earth happened to these people?" Zhao Yi cautiously surveyed the surroundings. "One thing''s for sure, this place isn''t safe either." He stepped forward, turning a corner. Ahead was a heavily encrypted alloy door. Zhao Yi approached the control panel, finding that entering required facial recognition. "Looks like we can''t get in." Yang Linlin frowned. If they couldn''t get in here, it meant they would have to turn back, risking an encounter with the terrifying shadow outside! Even someone as daring as Zhao Yi wanted to avoid that shadow, indicating just how dangerous it was! "Hey?" "What are you doing?" Yang Linlin watched as Zhao Yi suddenly pulled out a scalpel and walked towards the corpses, her eyelid twitching for no reason! Zhao Yi didn''t answer her, but the next scene nearly made Yang Linlin throw up! [800 million words of mosaic omitted] It wasn''t until Zhao Yi finally picked up a decayed, pus-filled, maggot-ridden head and brought it to the alloy door that Yang Linlin barely managed to control her churning stomach. Live Streaming Comments: : Holy crap! Just when it''s getting good, why censor it?! : How can this be censored? Who do you think you''re underestimating? : Are you all psychos? My sister can''t handle this! : Frankly, this is way too heavy; I can now understand why there are so few forensic experts... : My brother Zhao is amazing, doing this without even blinking! ... [Beep¡ª] [Facial recognition successful.] Click¡ª The massive alloy door cracked open, and Zhao Yi casually stored the head in his inventory. ... [Item: Hedi''s Head] [Quality: White] [Description: Hedi never imagined that even after death, he''d encounter a psychopath who wouldn''t even spare his only intact head!] [Effect: Opens doors] ... Seeing the system''s jab at him, Zhao Yi couldn''t help but roll his eyes. Dragging all of humanity into such a terrifying (fun) game, you''re the real psychopath! Beyond the alloy door, there were three square branching paths, with more bloodstains and fragments of flesh and bone scattered about. Yang Linlin had already drawn her gun, her palms sweaty. Clearly, this underground lab held immense danger! The two cautiously explored the rightmost path, picking up a special manuscript from a blood-soaked severed hand along the way. [My dearest Lina.] [I''ve heard the Babel Amusement Park is finally built, and I promised to come back and take you there.] [Work is nearing completion, just another half month at most, and Daddy will be home.] [Don''t worry, this time... Daddy will definitely make it back!] After reading the manuscript, Yang Linlin sighed. Zhao Yi, however, disdainfully tossed the paper aside. "That''s why pigeons are so annoying!" "Always cooing when something comes up." Yang Linlin sighed: "He was just a father who loved his daughter, thinking of her even in his final moments!" Zhao Yi replied nonchalantly: "Yeah, he was a good father." "But aside from that, he was likely a murderer; the deaths of thousands outside the school are probably linked to him!" Yang Linlin was taken aback. With Zhao Yi''s words, she suddenly felt no sympathy for the man. Serves him right! Scumbag! Screech¡ª From a distant corner, a grating noise echoed! The sound resembled someone dragging a heavy metal object, its sharp edges scraping the ground, even sparking as it moved! Only such a scenario could produce this teeth-gritting sound! The two stared tensely at the distant corner, their muscles tensing in an instant! Chapter 23 – Haunted School Horror The two quickly hid behind a wall, peeking out slightly to check the situation around the distant corner. As the sound grew louder, a giant white leg appeared before them! Hundreds of tentacles extended from its body, each ending with a human head the size of a fist. However, these heads looked simplistic and were all grotesquely deformed, with faces covered in blood and flesh. At the top of the giant leg hung a certain male private part. The terrifying noise they heard was the sound of those heads'' bones scraping against the ground! "What the hell... is this thing?!" Seeing this monster, Yang Linlin felt utterly disturbed! However, Zhao Yi beside her seemed entranced, with a hint of excitement in his eyes. "What a beautiful creation!" He exclaimed in admiration. Yang Linlin: "???" Audience: "???" Live chat: : Damn! Zhao Yi, what kind of aesthetic do you have?! How is this thing beautiful?! : It seems Zhao Yi not only has some mental issues but also aesthetic problems! : Brother Zhao''s taste, I can only say I''m impressed! : I suddenly understand why he got excited seeing the female ghost in the elevator in the last dungeon! ... "What do we do next?" At this moment, Yang Linlin was at a loss. This sanity-draining thing couldn''t be stared at for long; after all, not everyone was like Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi replied: "There must be important clues in this underground experimental base, but it''s also fraught with dangers. We need to proceed steadily and cautiously." Yang Linlin nodded solemnly. Then she watched in bewilderment as Zhao Yi picked up a scalpel and charged toward the monster in the distance! Damn it! Is this guy losing it again? What happened to proceeding steadily? Is being so aggressive really okay? After a moment of hesitation, Yang Linlin gritted her teeth, picked up her small handgun, and followed Zhao Yi, charging at the monster! She thought she must be crazy! But she had unconditional trust in Zhao Yi! The opponent was clearly not easy to deal with. After spotting Zhao Yi, the monster turned abruptly and ran toward him in an incredibly bizarre manner, leaving a long trail of blood on the ground! Just as they were about to collide, Zhao Yi suddenly pulled out Old Liu''s property deed and locked the bizarre monster into a small dark room! Ten seconds! That''s enough! This monster looked terrifying, but it was far inferior to the Principal! It was only a mid-level threat and had a fatal weakness! ... [Rampaging Mutant: Mid-level Threat] [Note: Just a semi-finished product, not even close to the Quantum State outside] [Weakness: Hemorrhoids on its butt] [Note: Apparently, those madmen didn''t consider that the mutant would develop hemorrhoids from sitting too long during their horrific experiments.] ... Since his data got scrambled in the underground parking lot earlier, Zhao Yi''s annotations on things he saw became more detailed. The most significant and useful information, of course, was the weakness. Zhao Yi decided to kill this mutant for two reasons. First, although Old Liu''s property deed had a cooldown of one day, its refresh time was actually at midnight. In other words, if he used it once at 11:59 PM, he could use it again at midnight. Second, this specter was easy to kill. Zhao Yi didn''t even need to deliberately find its hemorrhoids, as they were right on its butt. He struck¡ª Whoosh! Precise and ruthless, the minimally invasive surgery was successfully completed. The monster''s body collapsed to the ground like a pile of mud. [Congratulations on killing the Rampaging Mutant] [Your Soul Weapon absorbed the fragmented Evil Deity Meme inside the mutant and is attempting to reconstruct the meme...] [0.01%... Insufficient strength... Unable to continue reconstruction, reconstruction paused.] [Your Soul Weapon gained a special ability¡ªEntangle.] [Units harmed by your Soul Weapon will have ''Devourers'' continuously grow from the wound until the unit dies. The strength of ''Devourers'' is related to your power and level.] [Your attributes have been enhanced!] ... [Character: Zhao Yi] [Life: 15/15] [Strength: 16] [Spirit: 101 (100+1)] [Luck: 0] ... After killing the Rampaging Mutant, Zhao Yi unexpectedly absorbed part of the ''Evil Deity Meme'' from it! Although he didn''t know what the ''Evil Deity Meme'' was, just reconstructing one ten-thousandth of it increased his strength by 8 points and granted him a special passive skill! It felt pretty awesome! Yang Linlin cautiously approached from behind and looked at the completely motionless mutant on the ground, exclaiming in surprise: "Is it dead?" "Yes." Zhao Yi stared at the corpse on the ground, his eyes filled with intense interest! "It should have been a perfect creature, but its creator wasn''t up to the task." The scalpel in his hand gleamed with a cold light as Zhao Yi skillfully removed its outer muscle tissue, revealing the spinal nerves and internal organs. "This guy actually has eighteen kidneys. That''s something." Zhao Yi was speechless. Just from the appearance of its elongated head, Zhao Yi knew this monster must have some exceptionally powerful functions. But even Zhao Yi, with his abnormal mindset, couldn''t have guessed that the monster had eighteen kidneys. Who knows what those mad scientists were thinking when they modified and bred this monster? Shaking off the blood from his knife, Zhao Yi led Yang Linlin deeper along the path the monster had taken. At the end of the corridor was a massive petri dish, covered with a disgusting moldy placenta. The nearby control instruments were stained with blood, and many experimental data sheets were scattered around. Zhao Yi bent down and picked up an experiment log from the hand of a corpse whose head had been half-eaten. ... [8.17] [X-163 is in good condition, with all organs growing according to plan. Interestingly, when the experimenter Xiao Hei accidentally injected it with three times the usual dose of male hormones, its kidneys grew even healthier and more robust!] ... [8.24] [The Mayor came to inspect and highly praised our progress. Soon, everyone will receive millions in bonuses, and we might even benefit all of humanity... My name will be recorded in history!] ... [8.26] [The lunatics in the inner courtyard reportedly succeeded in shaping the Quantum State. I don''t know what that is, but I feel uneasy...] sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... [9.3] [During lunch, I asked Alex if they could stop the monster if it went berserk, but Alex seemed to ignore me. He boasted about how perfect their creation was and how it might even allow humans to achieve immortality. When I repeatedly asked about the monster going berserk, he got angry, cursed at me, and knocked over my tray...] ... [9.12] [...Look at what these damn lunatics have created?] ... [9.13] [We paid a heavy price for our stupidity. Everyone will die... including me!] ... ¡¯¡¯~=@¡¯wYb¡¯? Chapter 24 – Haunted School Horror draped in a Human Skin Coat "An unknown riot occurred in the laboratory. The experimental subject they created seems to have gone out of control and then... killed everyone?" Yang Linlin leaned in closer, carefully reading the lab journal in Zhao Yi''s hand. Hmm, she seemed to have gotten quite used to this man by now. Zhao Yi tossed the book to her and started flipping through some data on the instruments. "Neither the riotous quantum state outside nor the bizarre creature we just encountered could have appeared out of thin air." "They must have a ''ground state''." He slowly restored the data on the instruments, while Yang Linlin, holding the lab journal, was lost in thought, not understanding what Zhao Yi meant by ''ground state''. The instrument vibrated gently, restoring much of the data to its initial state. "Can you understand it?" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at the complex data, Yang Linlin felt overwhelmed! "No, I can''t." "But it doesn''t matter." "I just need to restore this data to its original operational state and then see what the most primitive ''ground state'' is..." Zhao Yi muttered to himself, his hands constantly at work. The instrument displayed the image of a monster, and as the data was gradually stripped away, its bizarre appearance was slowly restored... First the head, then the private parts, then the feet... After completely restoring the monster to its original ground state, the two of them were shocked to discover that the monster''s former self... was actually a human! And it was a woman! "Holy crap!" Yang Linlin was stunned! She couldn''t accept that the disgusting monster, with its reproductive organs on its legs as a head, was actually transformed from a cute girl! "The cells of that monster are highly active and adaptable, which means this girl was very young..." "If we dare to speculate further... then this girl might be a student from the high school..." Zhao Yi stared at the projection on the screen, lost in thought. His speculation sent chills down Yang Linlin''s spine and the viewers in the live streaming room! A massive secret experimental base built beneath the high school, with the purpose of transforming students into monsters? Are these people criminals or madmen? "That little girl we saw earlier had eighteen kidneys, each very young... Now it seems this lab is responsible for selling human organs." "If their experiment succeeds, and this girl''s cells can continue to cultivate new monsters, they would have an endless supply of kidneys to sell, especially on the black market..." "That means they''ve created a money-making machine!" As Zhao Yi spoke, he looked down the corridor leading further in, his gaze distant. "This experimental base clearly has more than just this one project." "The lab journal mentioned that the researchers inside seemed to be creating some kind of quantum state construct..." "And they succeeded!" "The shadow we encountered outside might be the riotous monster described in the lab journal!" Zhao Yi had seen two weaknesses of the monster when his data was disrupted in the underground garage. One of them was its true form. Yang Linlin angrily said: "These bastards, building a human experimentation base under the school, turning children into such monsters, it''s utterly inhumane!" Zhao Yi shook his head to correct her: "NONONO." "You''re wrong." "I need to correct you on one point, they didn''t build a human experimentation base under the school." "They built the school on top of a human experimentation base." He pointed to the instruments, speaking to the utterly shocked Yang Linlin: "The complexity of this underground experimental base far exceeds that of the school by tenfold. If they waited for the school to be completed before secretly building the underground base, it would be impossible!" "Clearly, the experimental base was built first." "And in their plan, Rockridge High School is also a part of it." "They need young, vibrant subjects to test various experiments." "Besides the public security bureau, what organization could more legitimately gather statistics on young people and their families than a prestigious high school?" As Zhao Yi finished speaking, Yang Linlin felt a chill run through her body. "Let''s go, we just need some evidence to prove our speculation, and we can complete the hidden quest." The hidden quest required them to investigate the truth behind Rockridge High School. Since it''s an investigation, evidence is needed; mere speculation is not enough to complete the quest. Zhao Yi and Yang Linlin turned back, and along the way, Zhao Yi did something that almost made everyone vomit¡ªhe skinned the monster with eighteen kidneys. "Do you really have to do something so perverted???" Yang Linlin watched as Zhao Yi, as if he had found a treasure, placed the bloody skin into his item inventory, beginning to question life. Live streaming comments: : I''m stunned! I''ve seen all sorts of weird hobbies, but never a skinning fetish, today is truly eye-opening! : So disgusting! I can''t take it, guys, I''m going to puke for a bit... : This is too much to handle! : I often feel out of place for not being twisted enough! ... The two continued down the other end of the corridor. In this maze-like complex experimental base, without a strong sense of direction, one could easily get lost! Passing through the corridor, they unexpectedly arrived at a massive white cafeteria. Apart from the chairs, everything was predominantly pure white. Amidst the glaring white, there was also a mix of scarlet. Peeking through the door crack, they saw countless monsters wandering and feeding inside the cafeteria, and their food... was shockingly the rotting bodies of the experimental staff! "There are... so many monsters?" "How many students is this...?" "Didn''t they investigate when so many students went missing?!" The scene before them was a massive shock to both of them! In this enormous cafeteria, there were at least a thousand bizarre monsters! This meant that at least a thousand students from Rockridge High School had gone missing! Yet none of this had been reported. Not even a trace could be found online! "The person behind the construction of this lab... must have incredible means." Zhao Yi''s expression was grave. "All signs point to the Mayor of City A." "But a mayor alone couldn''t achieve all this." "Behind him, there must be a massive team!" The twisted bodies of these monsters contained the memetic traces of the Evil Deity, and just that was enough to let Zhao Yi''s imagination run wild. "What do we do now? If we go any further, I''m afraid..." Yang Linlin''s voice trembled. The thousands of terrifying creatures behind the door crack made her weak in the knees! Zhao Yi took out the skin he had peeled from the monster from his item inventory, grabbed a scalpel, and his fingers danced like butterflies, quickly cutting the skin and crafting two eerie human skin coats! The coats were adorned with numerous grim, bloody little heads! Zhao Yi''s coat even had a withered tube hanging from the back, making Yang Linlin''s eyelids twitch. "You''re not thinking..." "No, that''s too disgusting..." Yang Linlin, seeing Zhao Yi''s mischievous look, vaguely understood his plan. She turned to run, but Zhao Yi grabbed her by the collar! Come back here! With Yang Linlin''s face twisted in disgust, Zhao Yi directly draped the crude and foul-smelling coat over her. Then he put on the human skin coat with the tube himself. Live streaming comments: : I''m dying of laughter! I''ve already taken a screenshot, Linlin goddess''s meme is going viral! : Wearing something like this is truly anti-human! : Is Zhao Yi trying to blend in with the monsters? This is very risky! : It should be fine, since it seems the monsters aren''t attacking each other... Big brother is indeed big brother, though it''s a bit disgusting, his clever ideas are truly abundant! Chapter 25 – Haunted School Horror: Goodbye Hanging Valley Town At this moment, the two of them looked like wolves in sheep''s clothing... or rather, sheep in wolves'' clothing. Yang Linlin knew that once those monsters discovered their disguise, they would be torn apart in an instant! The strong scent of blood and monster skin masked their body odor. The moment the cafeteria doors opened, thousands of grotesque demons turned their twisted faces toward the sound. They were bizarre and flamboyant. Under the gaze of so many terrifying eyes, Yang Linlin''s legs nearly gave out beneath her! She clung to Zhao Yi''s arm just to stay upright. Some monsters looked at them with confusion, as if they were unsure whether the two were one of them or not. They began to approach slowly, wanting to test them. Seeing these demons approach, Yang Linlin''s legs trembled even more! Unlike Yang Linlin, Zhao Yi seemed unusually excited. He even dragged Yang Linlin forward, right up to the monsters, and mimicked their breathing. These artificially created horror monsters were highly aggressive, but only towards humans. They were quite tolerant of their own kind. "&¡­¡­%@##£¤." S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A girl with bone spikes on her head and half her face rotten made strange sounds, gesturing as if asking Zhao Yi something. "&¡­¡­%@##£¤." Zhao Yi mimicked her sounds and gestures perfectly. After a few exchanges, the girl and her ''friends'' seemed to understand that this fellow was a soulless parrot, and they lost interest in Zhao Yi and Yang Linlin, dispersing. Once they left, Yang Linlin realized her back was drenched in cold sweat! That was truly a close call! Zhao Yi, this guy... he never takes the usual path! She had imagined many ways Zhao Yi might resolve the crisis, but she never expected... Zhao Yi to pretend to be a parrot! And the crazy thing is, he actually pulled it off! It''s just absurd! In some ways, Zhao Yi does have a knack for languages. Being able to memorize and repeat those strange sounds after hearing them once is indeed a skill! With no monsters blocking their way, Zhao Yi led Yang Linlin around the cafeteria for a while. He deliberately observed the monsters'' behaviors and quickly noticed that there were 16 doors in the cafeteria, but one door in the corner was never used by the monsters. Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. Moreover, the other monsters seemed to avoid that door, deliberately steering clear whenever they passed by! These actions piqued Zhao Yi''s interest in that door in the cafeteria! What could be behind that door? What could make these fierce monsters afraid? However, given the current situation, he didn''t approach the door for now. There was still key information in the cafeteria that hadn''t been explored. His gaze locked onto some rotting corpses that had been gnawed on, and Zhao Yi noticed some scattered manuscripts in their clothing. He intended to gather these manuscripts. Some monsters, thinking he wanted to eat meat, kindly made space for him. Zhao Yi didn''t eat human flesh. But to show some respect, he picked up a few maggots and swallowed them. This scene nearly made Yang Linlin vomit from a distance! The audience in the live streaming room was thrilled! Seeing Zhao Yi eat something, the monsters'' remaining suspicions about him vanished, making it easier for Zhao Yi to collect the manuscripts! Most of these manuscripts recorded experimental data, which held little value for the two of them. But Zhao Yi keenly noticed a sheet of paper tucked inside a pink manuscript. It mentioned Hanging Valley Town. Hanging Valley Town again! Zhao Yi''s eyelid twitched as he quickly unfolded the letter. ... [X-2 fusion failed, the department received orders to destroy it.] [Everyone is unwilling to accept this, after so many years of effort, this is the result!] [No one is willing...] [The theoretical data fits perfectly... why... why!] [Could it be... the Rockridge Experimental Base will repeat the tragedy of Hanging Valley Town from years ago?] [We are not afraid of death!] [But... we cannot tolerate failure!] [The Mayor instructed us to evacuate the Rockridge Experimental Base with the experimental data, and they will find a way to destroy everything related to Rockridge.] [But we are unwilling...] [Tonight, we will make one last desperate attempt!] ... As soon as Zhao Yi discovered this paper, a system notification sounded in their ears. [Congratulations to players Zhao Yi and Yang Linlin] [Hidden Quest - Investigate the Truth Behind Rockridge High School Completed!] [Rewards will be distributed after the main quest is completed!] ... The note confirmed Zhao Yi''s suspicion¡ªRockridge High School was built for the experimental base, and those outstanding students gathered from all over City A were merely experimental subjects for the base! Having completed the hidden quest, the two would receive generous rewards. Even if they died and returned to the guild''s base now, it would still be a huge gain! In the past, Yang Linlin would have been so excited she''d be dancing. But now, she only felt cold and numb! The monsters in this cafeteria were once vibrant students, full of dreams, who worked hard to get into this high school, only to find themselves in a terrifying man-made hell! She couldn''t imagine the despair those students felt when faced with cruel experiments! Zhao Yi stared at the note, lost in thought for a moment. He remembered seeing a twisted shadow under an eave just as he was about to leave the dungeon in Colossus Hospital! Based on the note, that shadow might have been X-1? But... why was it in Colossus Hospital? Could Colossus Hospital also be... As Zhao Yi pondered, Yang Linlin leaned in close and whispered almost inaudibly: "Zhao Yi, what about the curse?" She was almost certain now that if they continued to blend into the experimental base, they could easily complete the main quest! But knowing Zhao Yi, this restless guy wouldn''t be content with the status quo. He wouldn''t stop until he turned this dungeon upside down! Moreover, she also desperately wanted to destroy this place filled with sin and blood! Chapter 26 – Clue of the Curse in Haunted School Horror, is it man-made? "The curse and this underground laboratory shouldn''t have much of a direct connection." Zhao Yi spoke with certainty. After wandering around the cafeteria a couple of times, the two of them had become somewhat familiar to most of the monsters. Zhao Yi then led Yang Linlin out of there and back to the outside laboratory. "How can you be so sure?" Yang Linlin pursed her red lips tightly. Every time Zhao Yi spoke, it made her feel like a fool. Even though they were always together and saw the same clues, she could never guess what was going on in Zhao Yi''s mind. "If this were the source of the curse, then why aren''t the monsters here affected?" "Compare it to everything in the teaching building. Don''t you think this underground laboratory is too harmonious and normal?" Yang Linlin''s face was expressionless. Damn it, How is this laboratory harmonious and normal? It''s full of terrifying monsters! Zhao Yi continued: "Based on the current information, the black shadow outside is likely the ultimate creation of this experimental base, [X-2]. It can pass through walls, fly, and its state is quite unstable. I believe you noticed these traits when it was chasing Li Sheng earlier..." Yang Linlin nodded. But her mind was actually blank. The abilities of the shadow... She hadn''t noticed at all! It seemed like it could fly? ...Forget it! If Zhao Yi says it has them, then it does! After all, she''s just a tag-along; following Zhao Yi is the right choice! "It has such abilities, yet it stays by the entrance without wandering around. Don''t you find that strange?" Zhao Yi leaned against the door, fiddling with the human skin coat''s siphon at the back, showing an innocent smile. He looked just like... a pervert. "Maybe it can''t find anywhere to go, so it just lingers outside?" Yang Linlin didn''t bother to speculate on a specter''s motives. Zhao Yi shook his head: "Rather than saying it can''t find a place to go, it''s more like... it''s guarding the entrance." "The monsters inside the base are so terrifying, with combat power comparable to a small army. Ordinary threats are nothing to them." "The only thing that can threaten them is... the curse!" Yang Linlin was shocked: "They''re... afraid of the curse too?" Zhao Yi: "Remember what Li Sheng told us before?" "On the seventh day of the curse, all the teachers and students at the school carried their own heads, searching every corner for their prey..." "Those specters are the real hunters in this dungeon!" When you''re just trying to make great content at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. "And they''re the problems we need to solve in our main and side quests!" Zhao Yi paused, seemingly thinking of something. "Last night, the school was shrouded in ghostly fog." "And besides lowering the spirit of living beings, there are many extremely terrifying ''things'' inside the fog!" "I think the black shadow outside is guarding the vertical shaft to prevent these things from entering the experimental base!" "It''s protecting the monsters inside this experimental base!" Yang Linlin swallowed: "Are those specters even more terrifying than the monsters down here?" Zhao Yi said seriously: "Theoretically, yes!" "And they''re much more terrifying than the monsters in the experimental base!" "These monsters, after all, are just modified creatures. No matter how bizarre and powerful, they''re still within the realm of ''humans.''" "For example, the owner of this human skin coat, its combat power isn''t actually high and it has fatal weaknesses. Even without using that sealed item, we could take it down if we''re willing to pay a price!" "But those specters... are a different story!" At this point, Zhao Yi quickly took out the key note from earlier, spread it on the table, and pointed to a line: "Look¡ªThe Mayor of City A instructed the experiment personnel to evacuate Rockridge Experimental Base with the data, and they would ''find a way'' to help destroy everything here." Yang Linlin covered her mouth, her eyes showing shock! "Are you saying... this curse was also man-made?" "The purpose is to... erase everything here?!" Zhao Yi nodded slowly, his face showing an increasingly eerie excitement. Yang Linlin, seeing his strange expression, couldn''t help but take a step back. Damn, this dungeon is so dangerous... why are you excited?! "The conflict is now established¡ªA group led by the Mayor of City A wants to use the curse to destroy everything related to the experimental base and Rockridge High School, while the experimental base''s rebellious entity X-2 wants to preserve it all." "It clearly has self-awareness." "This is good for us, after all... the enemy of our enemy is our friend!" "If we can find a way to communicate with it, we might obtain key information about the curse from it, and even help us take a shortcut to complete the side quests!" Zhao Yi became more and more excited, his brain working at high speed. Clearly, under normal circumstances, they would need to survive the death trials in the school over the next few days, analyze the source of the curse from the loopholes in some rules, and then find a way to break it! But now, they might be able to take a shortcut and complete the side quests ahead of time. That reward, the substitute doll, just by its name, indicates its preciousness. In such a dangerous and terrifying world, what''s the most valuable thing? Of course, it''s life! Anything that can save a life is extremely precious! Yang Linlin was silent for a while, then suddenly reached out her small hand to touch Zhao Yi''s forehead, muttering to herself: "No fever... why are you talking nonsense today..." Zhao Yi rolled his eyes and slapped her hand away. "You really lack imagination." Yang Linlin pouted, hands on her hips, and said seriously: "This isn''t about imagination. You saw how dangerous that thing outside is... it wants to kill on sight, it''s so fast, let alone communicate, you can''t even finish introducing yourself before..." Zhao Yi was speechless. "Who said I want to communicate with that thing?" Yang Linlin: "Huh???" Zhao Yi: "Forget it, it''s too troublesome to explain to you. Just follow me later." Yang Linlin puffed her cheeks, making an adorable angry face, but didn''t retort. Whether they can complete the side quests now depends entirely on Zhao Yi''s performance. She still wants to tag along with Zhao Yi to get the substitute doll reward! The two waited in the laboratory for a long time. Zhao Yi kept an eye on the time displayed on the instruments. With X-2 guarding the entrance outside the experimental base, neither the ghostly fog nor the specters within it could come in. It was safe here. He occasionally peeked through the door crack to observe the monsters in the white cafeteria. Since these things were created by humans, they would get tired, and when tired, they would return to their rooms to sleep. He wanted to enter the door at the very edge but didn''t want to attract the attention of other experimental subjects. If they all stayed away from that door, and Zhao Yi approached it, it would easily expose him as an outsider. Around 2 a.m., all the experimental subjects left the cafeteria and returned to their experiment chambers. Apparently, they had already claimed those as their territory. Zhao Yi observed for another ten minutes. Once he confirmed there were no issues, he carefully led Yang Linlin out of their experiment chamber. They groped their way towards the door at the very edge. On the door, it read X-2. "Sure enough... behind this door is the experiment chamber of the most powerful experimental subject!" "No wonder the other monsters didn''t want to approach here during the day. With their territorial instincts, they must be afraid of X-2 attacking them, right?" S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi mused to himself, stroking his chin. Then he pushed the door open. The scene inside made Yang Linlin and many viewers in the live streaming room shiver! Chapter 27 – Haunted School Horror: Curse Origin Before the two of them lay a giant tank filled with a transparent green liquid. Inside the tank was a human-shaped network of nerves and blood vessels. Densely packed. At the top of the nerves, it connected to a brain and numerous syringes! The sight was overwhelmingly shocking! Far more terrifying than mere flesh and blood! "This is..." Yang Linlin''s eyes widened, pointing at the giant tank, unable to utter a word! Zhao Yi stroked his chin, looking on with admiration, and said: "This thing is truly a work of art!" "Stripped of all bones and most of the flesh, leaving only the most crucial blood vessels and nerves, maintained with nutrient solution and a suitable environment to keep the cells active, and using external stimuli to replace the heart in completing circulation, channeling all energy to the brain." "Such a full nerve stripping surgery, among the patients I knew before, only one person could complete it." Live Streaming Comments: : Damn, what kind of patients does Zhao Yi have! : Is he bluffing? How could such a surgery be possible in real life? : I graduated from ChuanX Academy, and I can responsibly tell everyone that this surgery is indeed possible in reality, but the academy only used cadavers, never live subjects... : Indeed, I''m also a surgeon, practicing for twenty-three years, and for nerve stripping of this degree, anesthesia is completely ineffective, the process is almost done while the patient is awake, it''s just too cruel! : This is too inhumane, damn it! ... Yang Linlin cautiously approached the cultivation tank, shivering involuntarily. "Zhao Yi... do you mean... it''s still alive?" Zhao Yi nodded. "Yes." "The cost of these nutrient solutions and machines is extremely high, those mad researchers wouldn''t go to such lengths for a dead person!" Yang Linlin turned her face, her expression stiff. The thing inside the tank... is actually... still alive? What kind of feeling would it have now? Cold? Painful? Desperate? Zhao Yi moved to another side of the lab table, where a notebook was placed, recording the related experimental process. He glanced over it, which was nothing more than how to use various inhumane methods to torture this experimental subject, bringing endless pain, yet not letting it die. The first page of the notebook read: [The God Above Says¡ª] [Focus is a necessary quality for concentrating the spirit.] [Kindness is the lock that seals strength.] [Anger and fear are the keys to unlock it.] It seemed to be some theological and philosophical quotes. "Zhao Yi, come quickly!" Yang Linlin exclaimed from the other side of the cultivation tank. Zhao Yi walked over and saw the back of the tank in the direction Yang Linlin was pointing. There was an electronic label stuck on it. ... [X-2] [Original Subject: Chen Qiong (16 years old)] [Adaptability: 96%] [Activity: High] [Brainwave Compatibility: 92%] [Spirit Concentration: Excellent] ... The name displayed made the two of them suddenly freeze. Chen Qiong? The top student expelled from school for teen romance, actually... turned into this mess of nerve endings and blood vessels before them? Yang Linlin felt a wave of nausea, retching a few times, her face turning pale! "Interesting... Chen Qiong was actually used to create X-2." Zhao Yi stroked his chin, his gaze deep. As he turned around, he glanced at the list of experiment participants and suddenly found a few familiar names! "Zhang Ya... Pang Xiao... Li Sheng?" Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow. His mind started racing! "So that''s it... I understand now!" "Pang Xiao isn''t the mayor''s son, and Zhang Ya isn''t the goddess of Class 8, Grade 1!" "They''re experiment personnel disguised as students, helping to select experimental subjects in the school!" "These two deliberately approached Chen Qiong one after the other, aiming to unlock Chen Qiong''s kindness and release the demon within him, as recorded in the notebook!" "Generally speaking, the better a student''s performance, the higher their focus naturally is. It''s hard for someone who is distracted to achieve academically!" "This city''s best school... its real purpose is to screen for those with extremely high focus as experimental subjects!" "No wonder their names weren''t on that roster." "Those two bastards... might have fled long before the curse occurred!" As Zhao Yi finished speaking, a cold voice suddenly came from behind. "You''re basically right." "But those two bastards didn''t run away; they became sacrifices too." The two quickly turned around, only to find Li Sheng, covered in blood and missing an arm, pulling out an MP5 and aiming it at them, his face twisted with rage! There was even a hidden passage under the table behind him! "Didn''t expect that, did you?" "Through all the hardships, I still made it in!" "I''m not meant to die, you little brats... the game ends here!" Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the ]" Li Sheng''s eyes were bloodshot, somewhat hysterical. But his dark lips indicated his current condition was dire! With the black muzzle pointed at them, Yang Linlin immediately raised her hands, while Zhao Yi continued to move nonchalantly. "Stop!" "If you move again, I''ll shoot you dead!" Li Sheng was in poor condition, but he didn''t forget to threaten Zhao Yi, who remained unfazed, shrugging his shoulders. "Go ahead and shoot?" "If you had bullets, you would have shot already; I don''t believe you can hold it in." Bang! Li Sheng fired, hitting Yang Linlin''s left leg! Yang Linlin groaned, falling to the ground, clutching her leg, and said tearfully: "I wasn''t even provoking you, why shoot me!" Li Sheng, somewhat flustered, said: "Ah, sorry!" S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He aimed at Zhao Yi again, his expression ferocious. But his vision was already doubling due to blood loss. Bang! Another burst of blood erupted from Yang Linlin''s leg! "My leg!" Yang Linlin screamed. Li Sheng: "..." Zhao Yi: "..." Live Streaming Comments: : I''m dying of laughter, this shooting is definitely personal (dog head). : Is this gun called ''The Woman''s Woe''? : Although, I admit I laughed so hard I snorted. : A moment of silence for Goddess Linlin three... hahaha sorry hahaha. ... "Alright, you tricked us once, we tricked you once, rounding it up, you owe us a favor now." "Tell us, what can you do to help us?" Zhao Yi spoke eloquently, his shamelessness almost suffocating Li Sheng. Damn it, rounding it up, I owe you a favor! If it weren''t for the fact that you might still be useful, I''d really want to give you a burst of bullets! "Since you''ve made it here, it proves you already have a general understanding of what happened." "Yes... we did it!" "Including the curse on this school!" "To leave here, you must find a way to close the curse!" Li Sheng dragged the gun to the front of the tank. The material of this tank was very special; even armor-piercing bullets couldn''t leave a mark on it! He was about to operate the instrument, but Zhao Yi stopped him! "If you shut down the instrument, X-2 will lose its energy supply, and the specters in the fog outside will soon flood into the experimental base. Do you think you can withstand their attack?" Li Sheng''s eyes darkened, his face turning ashen. "As long as X-2''s life chamber is shut down, the riotous X-2 will die, and the remaining mutants will pose little threat. The organization will soon send people to close the curse and clean them all up!" "I participated in this experiment, holding secret data they don''t have, making me highly valuable. The organization won''t easily abandon me!" Zhao Yi replied: "You''re deluding yourself." "If you were really important to them, they would have sent someone to rescue you long ago." "You''re in the curse, even able to contact them, yet until now, you''re still alone." "Hoping for your organization to save you is less reliable than trusting us." "At least for now... we''re reluctantly on the same boat." Li Sheng was enraged, pressing the MP5 firmly against Zhao Yi''s forehead, his eyes bloodshot, gritting his teeth: "Shut up!" "Say another word, and I''ll blow your brains out!!!" Zhao Yi showed no panic, his lips curling into a sinister smile. "Being abandoned feels terrible, doesn''t it?" "You were loyal like a dog, yet ended up like this!" "They painted a rosy picture when they used you, but discarded you like trash... don''t be foolish, do you want to live or not, just say the word." "Right now, only we can help you... if you kill me, it''s the same as committing suicide!" Li Sheng''s hand holding the gun trembled, his breathing heavy, making Yang Linlin and the live streaming audience extremely tense, fearing he might accidentally fire and blow Zhao Yi''s head off! This dungeon was about to be fully cleared, many mysteries were about to surface, it would be a real shame to lose it here! Finally, Li Sheng closed his eyes in pain. He lowered the gun. Due to exhaustion, Li Sheng slumped to the ground, his ferocity turning into despair. He slowly pulled out a cigarette, putting it in his mouth, and lit it with a lighter. The smell of tobacco eased some of the tension in the air. "Do I look pitiful now?" Li Sheng exhaled a puff of smoke, laughing bitterly. Yang Linlin, clutching her injured leg, walked over, gritting her teeth and scolding: "Do you even have the nerve to call yourself pitiful?" "Those students you tortured and transformed, those families you destroyed, and this heap of nerve endings in the tank... aren''t they more pitiful than you?" Li Sheng sighed deeply, his head slowly leaning against the cabinet, his eyes vacant. After finishing one cigarette, he lit another. In just a short while, his face aged considerably. "My daughter is in their hands." "Seven years ago, my wife died of cancer, and before she passed, she asked me to take care of our daughter." "I failed my wife." "And now... I''m failing my daughter too." Saying this, he laughed maniacally as if he''d lost his mind. Yang Linlin, seeing his pitiful state, felt most of her hatred dissipate, suddenly recalling the letter they saw on the severed hand outside, addressed to his daughter, and asked: "All of your wives and children, are they controlled by that organization?" Li Sheng closed his eyes, his breathing gradually weakening, the gun discarded to the side. "What else?" "Killing a pig is just one cut, but those young students outside, here they''re not even as good as pigs..." "You think we''re unforgivable, but where do we have the right to choose?" "If you had to choose between your family or a stranger to die, would you choose your family?" Yang Linlin fell silent. She despised Li Sheng, seeing him as a heinous villain. But if she stood in Li Sheng''s shoes, she might make the same choice he did. People are selfish. "You managed to infiltrate this school, so you''re probably not ordinary people... if you''re willing to do me a favor, I''ll tell you how to close the curse." Zhao Yi, hands in pockets, smiled: "You''re not asking us to save your daughter, are you?" Li Sheng shook his head, sarcastically saying: "With you guys?" "Save my daughter... if you approach the organization, you''ll be discovered and dealt with in no time." Pausing, he glanced at Yang Linlin. "Of course, if you don''t bring this silly woman, with your little cleverness, you might live a bit longer." Yang Linlin retorted angrily: "You''re the silly one!" "Your whole family is silly!" Li Sheng ignored her. Zhao Yi locked eyes with Li Sheng, hesitating for a moment. "What do you want us to help with?" Li Sheng struggled to get up from the ground, staggering to an inconspicuous corner of the lab, and opened a cabinet. He tore off a wallpaper that was the same color as the rest of the cabinet. Behind it was a small hole. Inside was a metal safe. Li Sheng opened the safe using fingerprint verification and handed a peculiar green reagent to Zhao Yi. "What is this?" "Another project''s product, the method is still immature, but its danger level is no less than... X-2!" Li Sheng handed it to Zhao Yi, his lips growing darker. "The organization won''t let this thing go, maybe in a few months, maybe a few years, once this place becomes a complete ruin, they''ll definitely send someone to search for it!" "This kind of thing, once it falls into the organization''s hands..." He didn''t continue. The dizziness from excessive blood loss was becoming more severe. Li Sheng shook his head, trying to stay awake, breathing heavily: "Regarding the curse... everything comes from a magic box." "As long as you close that box, the curse will disappear!" "That box... is in... the center of the fog..." "The ominous things in the fog... won''t attack things that seem dead, if you can minimize your emotional fluctuations, maybe you can... reach there!" "They... have no eyes, no noses, no ears... they judge their targets through the brainwaves emitted by emotional fluctuations of living beings..." "Remember... no matter what you see in the fog... don''t be surprised... don''t be afraid..." "Once you have significant emotional fluctuations... the nearby demons will... smell the scent of flesh..." Li Sheng, muddled, managed to finish his last sentence before passing out. Yang Linlin hurriedly approached, taking out some bandages to try to stop his bleeding. Zhao Yi shook his head and said: "Don''t waste your effort." "Long-term hunger has already weakened his body to the extreme, and during the escape just now, adrenaline further exhausted his body... now with such blood loss, unless there''s a proper hospital nearby to give him a blood transfusion, not even Hua Tuo could save him." "Put away the bandages, they''re useless now." Chapter 28 – Haunted School Horror: Pandoras Box "Do you think what he said is believable?" Li Sheng, lying on the ground, was gradually losing his vital signs. His body temperature was growing colder, and his face was turning pale. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The blood flowing from his broken arm had already coagulated. Yang Linlin stood beside the giant vat, feeling uneasy. Li Sheng was undoubtedly a villain, but his story made him seem so real that Yang Linlin almost forgot he was just an NPC in the dungeon. Zhao Yi''s attention was still on the pile of nerve endings inside the vat. "From a psychologist''s perspective, I think he''s telling the truth." "But this is clearly not the way the system intended for us to survive." "There must be a simpler way to break the curse. Otherwise, if we follow Li Sheng''s method, even if new players learn this way, ninety-nine out of a hundred would die on this path!" Yang Linlin fell silent at his words. The SAN drop in the ghostly fog was indeed a deadly move! This continuous method of reducing players'' spirit was far more terrifying than any potential ominous presence inside! "So, should we look for another way to break the curse?" Zhao Yi pondered over the events that had transpired and said: "There''s no need. Taking a shortcut is good for us." "A shortcut means fewer unexpected occurrences." He eyed the secret passage Li Sheng had entered with eagerness. Ordinary players couldn''t stay in the fog for too long. But Zhao Yi didn''t mind. Firstly, he wouldn''t lose SAN value due to the mysterious power in the fog. Secondly, as a psychologist who had treated thousands of mental illnesses, Zhao Yi could perfectly control his emotions. "I''m heading out now." Yang Linlin didn''t follow Zhao Yi. She knew she couldn''t maintain her spirit value as steadily as Zhao Yi could. Although she was tempted by the side quest rewards, as a seasoned player, she knew when to take risks and when not to. Following Zhao Yi now would only cause trouble for him and be suicidal. She didn''t want to end up like Zhen Tao, with her spirit value dropping to zero and becoming a specter in the dungeon! Securing an S rating on a hidden quest was already a huge win! Now, all she needed to do was stay in the experiment chamber and wait for Zhao Yi to complete the side quest, and she could clear the dungeon! After navigating the secret passage for a while, Zhao Yi finally saw a glimmer of starlight ahead. This secret passage was deep underground and operated via a vertical shaft elevator, but unlike the one guarded by X-2, this shaft required member authorization, so the specters outside couldn''t enter. After all, they wouldn''t foolishly dig through hundreds of meters of earth. Even as specters, they had a clear sense of self-awareness. They were killers, hunters! Not excavators. Zhao Yi entered the elevator, took out Hedi''s head, and held it up to the facial recognition scanner, which promptly activated the elevator! "What an advanced facial recognition system. It''s so decayed that even its own mother wouldn''t recognize it," Zhao Yi quipped, putting Hedi''s rotting head back into his inventory. The elevator reached the top. As the doors opened, a strong malevolent aura greeted him! The starlight here was particularly dim. Outside the elevator, a blood-soaked woman in red stood with her back to him, head lowered. She was gnawing on something with both hands. Scattered on the ground were numerous bloody finger bones. This must have been Li Sheng''s arm. Zhao Yi wasn''t surprised by the scene before him. Li Sheng had preferred to risk provoking X-2 rather than using this secret passage, likely because something terrifying lurked here! Feeling the bone-chilling cold emanating from the fierce ghost, Zhao Yi remarked on the autumn chill and stepped out of the elevator, sticking closely behind the female ghost. He wasn''t trying to become a ghostly knight. He had no choice; she was blocking the way. As a man with a robust physique, Zhao Yi had to brush past the red-clad fierce ghost to move forward. Sensing the warmth on her back, the fierce ghost turned her head in confusion, her terrifying visage sending shivers down the spines of the live streaming room audience. After a few seconds of eye contact, Zhao Yi gave an awkward but polite smile and slowly walked away. ... [Red-Clad Fierce Ghost: Extremely Dangerous!] [Note: A terrifying spirit cursed by evil, it feeds on fear!] [Weakness: With its senses obscured by rules, it can only feed on the emotional fluctuations of living beings. But encountering someone as indifferent as you, it will only see you as a rock.] [Addendum: Such a beautiful ghost, aren''t you tempted?] ... Zhao Yi sniffed. Damn. Since the strange data update, the notes he saw were becoming increasingly frivolous. This was the storage room of the school''s gymnasium. Opening the door, shadows as terrifying as the red-clad fierce ghost were everywhere in the gym. There was no fog. But a strange nursery rhyme was softly being sung. [August 8, cut your hair, cut your hair and then cut your mom, sew mom into a doll...] Zhao Yi walked up to the child singing the nursery rhyme and patted its head. Hmm, a bit greasy. This ghost must not have washed its hair for days. "Little one, can you tell me how to get to the center of the fog?" The little girl stopped singing and looked up, stunned. She remained silent for a long time before pointing numbly in a direction. Zhao Yi thanked her and walked in the direction she pointed. After he left, the little girl stopped singing and stood there, lost in deep thought... Why would a rock talk? She didn''t understand. Deprived of their senses by the rules, they couldn''t judge living beings by sound, smell, or light. Only emotional fluctuations like fear, horror, and excitement could capture their attention. Even if Zhao Yi attacked them, they likely wouldn''t retaliate. It''s like being hit by a rock; your first reaction is to find the person who threw it, not to pick up the rock and punch it. Last night at the water tower, whether Zhao Yi blocked the basement entrance or not, the outcome wouldn''t have changed. The specters were just patrolling the water tower according to the rules. Of course, Zhao Yi didn''t want to take that risk. Caution was always his top priority. Outside the gym, the thick fog was pervasive. Specters were becoming more numerous. In the depths of the fog, there was a headless female corpse in a ballet dress dancing ballet, a demon playing a piano made of human bones, a butcher dragging a giant cleaver chopping bodies, and a slit-mouthed woman with a mouth torn to her ears... They lurked behind the fog, possibly appearing suddenly, or even colliding directly with Zhao Yi! But no matter what happened, Zhao Yi''s spirit value remained at 101, completely stable. The deeper he ventured into the fog, the more ferocious and terrifying the specters he encountered. A crying infant corpse caused Zhao Yi to bleed from his orifices, nearly killing him! A pitch-black moose merely glanced at Zhao Yi, and his leg began to rot! A paper figure with bright face paint breathed on Zhao Yi, and ghostly flames erupted on his body, burning him beyond recognition! Throughout, Zhao Yi showed no emotional fluctuation, not even a hint of pain on his face! Explore the extended edition on . The live streaming room audience was so tense they barely dared to breathe, fearing Zhao Yi might accidentally perish! Finally, the fog ahead began to slowly dissipate. Dragging his heavily injured body, he reached a clearing where two corpses lay twisted like pretzels! Zhao Yi stopped to examine them, deducing from their clothing that one was likely a woman and the other a man. He suspected they might be Zhang Ya and Pang Xiao. But their identities no longer mattered. Zhao Yi squatted down, pulled a long worm from his rotting leg, and then took out his scalpel, poking the worm''s belly. Soon, black tendrils sprouted from it, tightly wrapping around it! This was a passive ability derived from the Evil Deity Meme¡ªThe Glutton. The worm soon died, its tendrils blooming into vibrant flowers before withering away. Without the worm, Zhao Yi''s leg stopped rotting. He staggered to a fist-sized box on the ground. The box was intricately crafted. Opening it, a small ancient tower slowly rose and rotated inside. The tower emitted music as brilliant as the stars, beautiful and elegant, noble and dignified, captivating the listener. In the midst of this music, Zhao Yi''s gaze was momentarily lost but quickly returned to normal. He grabbed the box and slammed the lid shut. The runes on the box''s surface emitted black mist, gathering slowly in the sky to form a giant, menacing ghostly face. Its eyes, burning with black flames, coldly surveyed Rockridge High School before inhaling sharply, swallowing all the ghostly fog and the ominous presence within, making them vanish. [Congratulations to player Zhao Yi for completing the side quest¡ªBreaking the Curse of Rockridge High School.] [Rewards will be settled after the main quest is completed.] ... [Congratulations to player Zhao Yi for obtaining the hidden item¡ªPandora''s Box] ... Chapter 29 – Task completed The desolate and dilapidated buildings stood in stark contrast to the bustling surroundings, with many of the shops constructed in peculiar ways. For example, between two streets, there was a restaurant with entrances on both sides, allowing pedestrians to walk through the middle while diners sat on either side. Another example was an internet cafe set up in a half-demolished mud villa, with many parts looking precarious, relying on a wooden ladder for access, making it quite challenging. It always made people worry about potential safety hazards while surfing the internet there... The style of the Wasteland City was bizarre. But this was precisely the characteristic of the Chaotic Realm. In a skyscraper hundreds of floors high in the distance, a man in a suit sat, gazing longingly out the window. This man was Yang Tao, the vice president of the Call to Arms guild. He had gone through many hardships, barely finding a job in the Wasteland City, and was now employed here. Of course, finding a stable and decent job in the Chaotic Realm was quite an achievement, bringing enormous benefits to players! There was a knock on the door. "Come in." Yang Tao adjusted the wrinkles on his clothes in front of the semi-transparent glass. He turned around to see his beautiful secretary leading in a disheveled man with a sinister smile. "Vice President, you wanted to see me?" The man spoke, and the secretary left the room at Yang Tao''s signal. "Sit." Yang Tao gestured, not minding the man''s dirtiness. "I called you here to learn about someone." Bal sat on the sofa, crossing his legs. "Who?" "Zhao Yi." A hint of confusion flashed in Bal''s eyes. "Who?" Yang Tao tossed a copy of a report onto the coffee table in front of Bal. "Forgotten Angel." Bal''s sinister smile vanished as he focused on the information in the report copy. The lighting cast shadows on his face. "He''s here too?" Yang Tao nodded. "Yes." "Do you know him?" After a long silence, Bal seemed reluctant to talk about Zhao Yi. He felt uncomfortable. "Vice President, you know our family... has a kind of illness." "But I prefer to call it a talent." "Our blood carries an insatiable thirst for slaughter, unchanged for generations." "That''s why my father became an arms dealer." "Because arms are accompanied by blood and sin!" "His talent was the best I''ve ever seen, involved in numerous battlefields, with his shadow behind many wars. The number of people he killed, whether women or children, was in the tens of thousands..." "Since childhood, surpassing my father has been my ultimate goal in life!" "Until..." Bal''s voice grew somber. Sitting across from him, Yang Tao raised an eyebrow as he sipped his coffee and continued: "Until your father, the arms king Kapal, met the Forgotten Angel, and his bloodlust was cured, right?" Bal''s face remained expressionless. To him, it was a disgrace! Slaughter was ingrained in their genes! How could such a thing be cured? Yet his father Kapal was indeed cured of his bloodlust by the Forgotten Angel. And because of this, he killed his father Kapal! Bal couldn''t accept that the once arms king, the dark hand of war, standing at the top of the world''s food chain, suddenly turned into a kind old man who spent his days fishing and playing chess. He would rather not have such a father! "How much do you know about his treatment of your father?" Yang Tao asked, and Bal pondered seriously for a moment. "Their treatment was conducted in secret." "And although they spent a long time together, the actual treatment time was very short..." "The person cured my father''s bloodlust in about a day, maybe even within an hour... It was because of the short time that I could clearly feel my father had become a different person!" Yang Tao squinted his eyes. "You haven''t had any contact with him?" Bal seemed to recall something shameful, his fingers trembling slightly. "Once." "What was it like?" "Fear." As a murderer, considering himself at the top of the food chain, an extremely cruel madman, he actually admitted to feeling fear! Yang Tao was very surprised, his interest in Zhao Yi growing stronger! "Is he very cruel, making you fear him like this?" Bal clenched his fists tightly. After a long time, he exhaled a breath of foul air. "Vice President, where is he?" Clearly, he didn''t want to recall the various encounters with Zhao Yi. And those not-so-distant memories were strangely becoming blurred. Everything about Zhao Yi was dissolving. The only thing deeply ingrained was the fear that clung like a shadow! "Currently in the ''All Freeloaders'' guild, you know... although this guild has few people and its development is abysmal, but..." Yang Tao stopped halfway, smiling at the contemplative Bal: "Alright, go rest, prepare well, in a month the ''Tide of Demon Spirits'' will appear, hold back your level, and perform well in it, maybe you can make a fortune from the Tide of Demon Spirits..." "I understand... If I have the chance, I will definitely wash away the family''s disgrace with my own hands!" A fierce killing intent appeared in Bal''s eyes! ... Inside the experiment base at Rockridge High School. Zhao Yi sat in the X-2 experiment chamber, trying to operate the instruments. After completing the side quest, he retraced his steps back to the X-2 experiment chamber, using some medical measures there to simply disinfect his wounds and amputate his rotten leg. Yang Linlin, watching from the side, exclaimed that it was quite an appetite booster! Performing a limb amputation on himself without anesthesia, not blinking an eye throughout, was truly ruthless! After finishing these tasks, Zhao Yi began learning how to use the machines. He learned quickly. Especially with the ''God''s Perspective'' activated, even more so. Yang Linlin brought back a meal from the secret passage; there was still plenty of reserve food in the school cafeteria. "The quest is over, why are you still risking communication with it?" Zhao Yi replied while wolfing down his food: "There''s an old saying, ''courtesy demands reciprocity.''" "They laid such a curse on me, if I don''t return the favor with some gifts, it would be too impolite!" Yang Linlin seemed to understand a bit, but not entirely. "You want to use X-2 to deal with the organization behind Li Sheng?" "I think it''s unlikely." "The other side can create such a terrifying curse, the force behind it must be enormous, just a mere riotous experiment subject..." Actually, Yang Linlin hadn''t finished her sentence. X-2 had a fatal weakness. That was its physical body. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No matter how powerful the riotous quantum state outside was, as long as Chen Qiong in the experiment chamber died, it would die too! Zhao Yi operated the machine, revealing a smile that sent shivers down one''s spine. "Yeah, that''s why I want to... teach him." "Teach... what?" "Teach some very ordinary knowledge!" Zhao Yi grinned. ... Three days later, just before the main quest ended, X-2 returned to the experiment chamber! Yang Linlin was almost scared to death, quickly pulling out her small pistol, aiming at the riotous experiment subject, but it completely ignored her, turning to bow respectfully to Zhao Yi! Yang Linlin was dumbfounded. The live streaming room audience was also dumbfounded. Holy crap! Did he really teach the dungeon boss to be a student? Is this for real? This isn''t logical! But it indeed happened. The two figures gradually turned into white light and disappeared, while the corners of X-2''s mouth slowly lifted. Turning around, it revealed a bright smile. This smile was taught by Zhao Yi. "No matter what happens, don''t forget to keep smiling!" ... Outside Rockridge High School, a large group of fully armed troops arrived, carrying a lot of special equipment. After getting off the vehicles, a soldier saluted the officer. "Sir, preliminary investigation shows that the curse at Rockridge High School was indeed deactivated early." "However, according to our equipment, there are no living people inside." A quick look at /2p9emv8w will leave you more fulfilled. The officer standing on the truck''s cargo box took off his sunglasses and gestured. "Very well... have Team A scout ahead." "Once inside the laboratory, report any situation immediately!" "Yes!" Soon, a group of armed personnel moved towards the interior of Rockridge High School. However, they didn''t know what kind of terrifying existence awaited them... ... ¡¾Congratulations, Player Zhao Yi!¡¿ ¡¾Main quest ''Survive Seven Days in the High School'' completed!¡¿ ¡¾Hidden quest ''Investigate the Truth Behind Rockridge High School'' completed!¡¿ ¡¾Side quest ''Break the High School Curse'' completed!¡¿ ¡¾Plot exploration rate 60%¡¿ ¡¾World view exploration rate 100%¡¿ ¡¾Rating: SS¡¿ ¡¾Rewards: 75 Experience, Substitute Doll, 8000 Points (including 544 points from live stream popularity discount)¡¿ ¡¾Items obtained: Pandora''s Box (Fake), T-202 (Solution State)¡¿ ¡¾Titles obtained: Rule Breaker, Mentor¡¿ ¡¾Evaluation: Your every move reveals an extraordinary perversion. Although you took a shortcut to clear the quest, your outstanding performance still earned you a high rating. As for you, Fing Hell (¡ª¡ªdata deleted¡ª¡ª), take care of yourself!¡¿ Chapter 30 – Attributes and Domains [Eternal Night Camp] : An SS rating? No way! : Huh? What''s going on? : A newbie just scored an SS rating! : Damn! Who''s that awesome? : It''s the top newbie on the leaderboard, I think his name is Zhao Yi. This is apparently his second time entering a dungeon! : I watched his live stream. He''s indeed impressive. Getting an SS rating is normal for him; he completed the main quest, side quests, and hidden quests. When you''re just trying to make great content at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. : But wait, why is his world exploration at 100% while the plot exploration is only 60%? : Because he took a shortcut in the side quests, technically ending the dungeon early. : Is that even possible??? ... After Zhao Yi cleared the dungeon, his name quickly spread by word of mouth, and the exciting video clips of the [Haunted School Horror] dungeon were posted on the Bone Zone forum. The video''s views and likes grew exponentially, and Zhao Yi''s name started gaining fame. Yang Linlin browsed through posts about Zhao Yi at her guild''s base, a wry smile on her lips. There''s no denying the gap between people can be quite vast. Both newcomers, yet in the hell-level dungeon, Zhao Yi was at ease while she was just a deadweight. If it weren''t for Zhao Yi, the bug-level monster teammate, they would have likely faced a team wipe! The huge gap stung Yang Linlin''s heart, and she secretly vowed to become as strong as Zhao Yi! ... The light and shadows were weary. Zhao Yi opened his eyes once more, finding himself in the familiar dilapidated world. Everything around was shrouded in darkness, the twilight cold and eerie, with only the distant rundown building emitting light. Zhao Yi walked to the entrance of the guild base and found Liu Ruoqing leaning against the door in a thin silk nightgown, holding a wine glass, her demeanor lazy. Behind her, many people gathered in the small square, seemingly watching something in the center. "Congratulations on successfully completing the dungeon, Zhao Yi." "I watched your live stream, and you did great!" She threw a flirtatious wink at Zhao Yi, making some of the nearby newcomers swallow hard. Without a doubt, Liu Ruoqing''s looks, figure, and aura were all perfectly captivating, making her incredibly enticing to men! Many newcomers were drawn to this mature enchantress. They wanted to conquer her. But they knew they were useless, both in strength and guild power, so they only dared to sneak a peek from behind. Seeing her actively flirt with Zhao Yi, many were green with envy. Zhao Yi gave a completely insincere humble smile, waving his hand: "Oh, come on, such a simple dungeon, anyone can do it." Liu Ruoqing rolled her eyes at him. This brat, always so pretentious. "By the way, Sister Liu, what''s happening over there?" "Why are so many people gathered?" Liu Ruoqing took a sip of red wine, the faint red liquid staining her lips, glistening under the moonlight. "Nothing much, someone died." "Died doing a world quest... You''ll find out eventually, this kind of thing is quite common." She seemed indifferent to the loss of life. They had seen too much of this before. As they grew stronger, their friends dwindled. Strength often comes with loneliness. It''s almost a rule. She stepped aside, making way for Zhao Yi, who walked into the guild base, entered the small square, and squeezed through the crowd, only to see a bizarre male corpse lying on the ground! All ten of his fingers were cut off, his body twisted like a pretzel, with his limbs not only tied but also stretched several meters! One glance and it was clear this wasn''t a normal death but caused by some eerie force. Zhao Yi squatted down, turning over his head. The corpse''s face wore a creepy and eerie smile, making many newcomers shiver and step back! Zhao Yi reached out, pinching various parts of the body, his eyes flashing with intense interest! "There¡¯s a smooth wound on the back, all bones removed without any residue... But interestingly, the other tissues are intact... Such exquisite technique, either a doctor or a butcher, but judging from the bold and broad knife marks, it seems the person is..." He grew serious as he spoke. Turning his head, he asked a young girl beside him: "Do you have any carbonated drinks?" The girl nodded, not knowing what Zhao Yi needed it for, but quickly fetched it for him! "Just carbonated drinks won''t do..." Zhao Yi''s gaze deepened. "Get me an egg, preferably boiled." Another person volunteered, went to their room, and brought a boiled egg to Zhao Yi. Liu Ruoqing seemed curious about what Zhao Yi was up to, so she came over to observe closely. In front of everyone, Zhao Yi opened the carbonated drink and placed it aside, then skillfully peeled the egg. Everyone grew more curious, wondering what special help an egg and carbonated drink could provide in solving a case? Zhao Yi slowly turned the peeled egg in front of him, confirmed there were no shell fragments, and then... popped it into his mouth! He chewed a few times, then grabbed the carbonated drink and gulped it down! S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Gulp, gulp, gulp¡ª Swallowing the egg, Zhao Yi stood up, and under everyone''s watchful eyes, left with a clear conscience. "Damn... After eating potatoes for days in the dungeon, that idiot Yang Linlin can''t even fry potatoes properly, making them taste like pangolin! Boiled eggs are still the best!" Everyone: "..." Damn! We thought you were solving a case. Turns out you were just here to scam food and drink? Everyone sighed at Zhao Yi''s shamelessness. Zhao Yi returned to his room, locked the door, and collapsed onto the bed. He opened his system panel. ... [Character: Zhao Yi] [Level: 3] [Experience: 25/100] [Items: Old Liu''s Property Deed, Pandora''s Box (Fake), Substitute Doll, T-202, Crusher (Shotgun)] [Life: 20/20] [Strength: 16] [Spirit: 101 (100+1)] [Luck: 0] [Title: Ghostbane, Sharp Edge, Rule Breaker, Teacher at Heart] [Soul Weapon: Bloodstained Scalpel (Entangled)] [Points: 8000] [Rating Achieved: S+, SS, S] [Domain: Not Activated] ... "System, I have some questions." "Why doesn''t leveling up increase strength?" Zhao Yi looked at his attributes, feeling puzzled. Every time he leveled up, only his life increased. [Player''s level only affects the unlocking of different dungeons and does not increase strength] [Strength attribute encompasses the player''s physique, self-healing, combat, stamina, speed, and other aspects] [If the player wants to increase their strength attribute, there are three ways¡ªfirst, complete major world quests to gain talent points and add them to your attributes; second, unlock the mid-tier store to exchange for bloodlines, specter limbs, abilities, techniques, etc.; third, receive special gifts in dungeons, like the T-202 in your hand.] Zhao Yi realized. So level doesn''t correlate much with strength. "What about domains?" With this level-up, Zhao Yi noticed a new ''Domain'' update in his character info. [Domains are specialization types used to increase the player''s limit in a certain aspect] [Currently, primary domains include Spirit Domain, Firearms Domain, Elemental Domain, and Body Strengthening Domain] [Domain levels are divided into F, E, D, C, B, A, S, Z] [More advanced branches can be unlocked after reaching D-level in a domain] Chapter 31 – Extremely dangerous guiding mission About Domain Specialization. The Bone Zone forum has many posts with comprehensive analyses. Newbies can''t view the later domain branches due to permission restrictions, but the posts still provide some basic summaries for newcomers to reference. The firearms domain is at the forefront of mechanics and is also the most suitable choice for newcomers. After all, early-stage newbies can hardly access the mid-tier store, and the most powerful weapons in the low-tier store are mostly firearms. Firearms, of course, require accuracy. Without accuracy, a gun is no different from a stick. Moreover, the firearms domain can eventually evolve into mechanical mechas. It can be said that although not very strong in the later stages, it is definitely not weak. Because of this, a large portion of newcomers choose the firearms domain. [Detected high spirit level, would you like to choose the Spirit Domain?] The system eagerly recommended a match for Zhao Yi. The Spirit Domain can later evolve into telekinesis. This domain becomes harder to advance as you progress, but like the Body Strengthening Domain, once you reach above S-level, your power will far surpass other domains of the same level! Zhao Yi didn''t rush to agree but instead asked the system: "Can a player only choose one domain?" [Yes.] [With your spirit level, you will surely excel in the Spirit Domain!] Zhao Yi nodded slightly. "Sounds good!" "In that case, I''ll choose the Body Strengthening Domain!" [¡­] In the eyes of the system, Zhao Yi was completely squandering his talents! Wasting his exceptional gift. It seemed that ever since Zhao Yi chose his guild, he had been wasting the great opportunities before him! If he had joined one of the other major guilds, with his SS-level rating this time, he would surely be nurtured as a core member and receive abundant resources! However, now, even though he is so outstanding, the bosses of the ''All Freeloaders'' guild have no intention of nurturing him. A rough gem, thrown to the ground, left to fend for itself. But Zhao Yi didn''t mind. He successfully activated his Body Strengthening Domain, which meant he could start increasing his strength attribute through training and combat! After activating the domain, his strength reached 18 points! Read the most updated version of this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at "pawread dot com" Clenching his fists tightly, Zhao Yi clearly felt an explosive power that didn''t belong to his frail body! He threw a punch into the air, even hearing a loud whooshing sound! Bang bang bang! As Zhao Yi was furiously punching the air, there was a knock at the door. Zhao Yi put on his clothes, went to the door, and opened it to see a cute Chubby Kid dressed simply, carrying a small worn cloth bag. "Hello, are you Brother Zhao Yi?" His mouse-like eyes were filled with shrewdness. Zhao Yi stepped aside and invited him in: "Please come in." Chubby Kid walked into the room, sat on the soft sofa, and extended his hand to Zhao Yi. "Hello Brother Zhao, my name is Fang Bai, I''m a newcomer like you, and I''m now level 3." After shaking hands, Zhao Yi took out a bottle of mineral water and handed it to Fang Bai, asking: "What brings you to me?" Fang Bai''s small eyes darted around. "Nothing much, just wanted to ask if you could lead us in a major world quest." Zhao Yi didn''t respond. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So Fang Bai quickly added: "We will pay you a certain reward!" "Players can trade with each other, and the trade items can be points, items, or player promises!" "If Brother Zhao is willing to help us complete the main guiding quest, we will pay you points!" Zhao Yi squinted: "How many points?" Fang Bai gritted his teeth: "1000 points per person!" Zhao Yi was surprised: "There are others?" Fang Bai gulped down two sips of water, closed the cap, and patiently explained to Zhao Yi: "It''s like this¡ªthe bosses of the ''All Freeloaders'' guild don''t care about anything, and the middle group is always thinking about jumping ship. The guild''s cohesion is very poor, and everyone basically forms their own factions." "And more and more newcomers are joining, with more likely to come later. A leaderless chaotic group in an environment without clear laws can be extremely chaotic, as you can imagine." "To survive better, I had to form a small group for mutual support." Zhao Yi curiously asked: "Isn''t internal guild killing prohibited?" Fang Bai chuckled: "It''s only prohibited if it''s obvious." "You know, if you really want to kill someone, there are countless ways." "And even if the strong can''t directly kill the weak, it''s easy to suppress them." "We came to you partly because we think you can strengthen our team, and partly because we hope to complete the world quest together... After all, the rewards for world quests are very generous, and the difficulty is high. We don''t want to let others have it." Zhao Yi unscrewed the cap of his drink: "I''ve been back for three hours since entering the dungeon. Shouldn''t many people have already attempted the world quest?" "Why is the world quest still stuck at the guiding quest?" His system panel showed that the current world quest was still the guiding quest. ¡­ [World Quest: Guiding Quest] [Quest Objective: Gather food and water at the train station] [Recommended Level: 1-3] [Quest Reward: 3 Free Talent Points (only for participants)] [Description: ...Suddenly, you wake up and find yourself in the terrifying land of eternal night, and your goal is to escape this dangerous place. But before that, you need to find a way to survive...] [Attachment: Map] ¡­ Fang Bai''s face showed slight embarrassment. "The first quest is absurdly difficult. So far, six groups have attempted the guiding quest, totaling 27 people... none survived!" They checked some strategies for the world guiding quest on the forum. Most guilds have relatively simple quests, but the rewards are almost negligible. A guiding quest with 3 talent points like the ''All Freeloaders'' guild is extremely rare. Naturally, with generous rewards comes extraordinary difficulty! "Originally, we thought no one was doing the guild''s world quest because everyone was slacking off, but now we know that many people probably attempted this guiding quest, but they all died." Zhao Yi put down his drink, his eyes filled with interest. "Was that guy outside killed during the guiding quest?" Fang Bai nodded. "The guiding quest requires us to gather food and water, and to complete this quest, you need to play two games with the Clown Ghost and Butcher Ghost at the train station''s General Store and Butcher Shop." "If players win, they can unlock these two scenes, and the Clown Ghost and Butcher Ghost will become allies of the guild, and the General Store and Butcher Shop will provide unlimited food and water to players." "The guy outside lost the game and was turned into soup by the Butcher Ghost. His teammates brought his body back." Zhao Yi rubbed his chin, his eyes gleaming. "How many people do you have, and when are you planning to set off?" Fang Bai: "Our small team currently has five people." "Besides you and me, there''s a cute girl named Tian Tian who''s a bit mentally unstable, a former underground prostitute beauty Bai Shuiji, and an honest middle-aged man Liu Han." "As for the quest, they can set off anytime, depending on when you''re available." Zhao Yi: "Then notify them, let''s head over now and check out the situation." Fang Bai nodded: "Alright!" Chapter 32 – Clown game, Rock-Paper-Scissors? It''s not uncommon for guilds to have internal factions. Chubby Kid Fang Bai might seem ordinary, but he''s actually quite skilled at interacting with people. And that honest-looking middle-aged man... his face appears calm, but his eyes reveal a hint of unease, as if he''s not yet fully adapted to this place. After a brief introduction among the group, they left the guild''s base. Outside was a long winding mountain road. Since the guild''s base was established on a flat area in the mountains, the environment here was particularly desolate and cold. Occasional streetlights lined the dilapidated road, but their dim, yellow light only added to the eerie atmosphere. In the distant mountains and forests, unknown shadows occasionally flickered by. Clearly, these dangers were beyond the current players'' reach. However, bound by the rules, they wouldn''t deliberately enter low-level areas, so players were relatively safe on this road leading to the abandoned station. In the mist at the end of the road, a few figures could occasionally be seen, all players attempting to complete the world quest. After walking two kilometers along the road, a shabby and desolate small platform appeared in the distance. The canopy overhead was full of holes, surrounded by wild grass and mold, and the walls at the entrance were covered with sinister scratches, as if they had been given special attention by some unknown, ominous force. The mist was cold and damp. Players arriving here felt anything but comfortable. On the green stone steps at the entrance stood a young man with multicolored dyed hair, smoking a cigarette, his gaze gloomy, surrounded by several underlings. These people looked pale, some clearly having just vomited, with the ground still showing traces of it. "Xiang Weishan, how''s the situation inside?" Fang Bai stepped forward with a sly expression. The dyed-hair man with a murderous aura glanced at him but ignored him. However, when his gaze landed on Zhao Yi, his eyes suddenly narrowed. "Oh, isn''t this the top-ranked player?" "What? You want a piece of the action too?" Zhao Yi''s presence heightened the alertness of many nearby, drawing them closer. After all, Zhao Yi''s reputation as the top player was well-known here. Some had seen highlights of his live streams and knew this guy was not only strong but also somewhat... crazy. Having someone like him competing for rewards made them nervous. "I know the reward is generous, and no one wants to give it up... but have you considered that this is just a guiding quest? There are many more quests and rewards ahead. If everyone gets stuck here, no one will get anything later." "Are we going to get rich together or starve together?" Zhao Yi flashed a friendly smile. His words about getting rich together or starving together subtly shifted the mindset of many. Xiang Weishan flicked away his cigarette butt, his expression changing slightly. "Alright." "If you want to go, I''ll give you a chance." "But let me remind you, many people have already died inside." "Also... I can tell you the rules of the clown''s game ahead." "The clown''s game requires at least three people to play rock-paper-scissors with it, taking turns. Each person plays ten times, and the loser has to cut off a finger. Winning three times out of ten is considered a victory, otherwise, the player will be thrown into the storeroom behind it, where something terrifying lurks. No one who has entered has ever come out." "After a player fails and is killed by the clown, the next player in line continues the game, resetting and starting over!" "Additionally, we''ve discovered that the clown''s third and sixth moves are fixed. It will definitely play scissors on the third move and paper on the sixth." Fang Bai curiously asked: Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the "[pawread.c????m]" "If that''s the pattern, shouldn''t the ninth or tenth move also be fixed? Why haven''t you completed the task yet?" Xiang Weishan sneered, looking at Fang Bai as if he were an idiot. "So, are you willing to risk your life to figure out the fixed moves for others to benefit?" Fang Bai fell silent. Indeed. If the initial trial and error gave people hope and made many eager to try, the final trial and error would leave no one willing to do it. Their initial excitement had cooled, and they were unwilling to risk their lives for others. People are selfish. Why should they take the hit while others enjoy the spoils? At Xiang Weishan''s signal, the underlings made way for Zhao Yi and his group. After all, someone had to take the risk. Whether Zhao Yi succeeded or not, they would benefit. It was just a matter of how much they would gain. After entering the station, a young man with a nose ring and earrings approached Xiang Weishan and asked: "Boss, did you tell them the wrong thing?" "I remember the clown''s fixed moves aren''t..." Xiang Weishan glanced at him, and the young man''s face twitched slightly, but he obediently took out a cigarette and lit it for him. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xiang Weishan took a drag and looked inside the station with a sinister and vicious gaze. "Mo Yao, are you stupid?" "Who is he?" "The top of the newcomer rankings!" "Didn''t you notice the way Liu Ruoqing was looking at him in the lobby earlier?" "As long as he''s alive, do you think the guild''s management will let us rise?" Mo Yao suddenly realized, looking at Xiang Weishan with a hint of fear. This guy is truly a twisted killer, so cunning! It''s better if Zhao Yi dies! That way, there''d be one less strong competitor for rewards and women in the future! Heh heh... Those rich women in the guild are strong and beautiful. If he could win their favor, wouldn''t that be a meteoric rise? ... Inside the station entrance, the darkness was filled with a pungent smell of blood. Tian Tian hugged her ragged teddy bear, curiously looking around, while the slightly gaudy Bai Shuiji walked over to Zhao Yi and kindly reminded him: "Brother Zhao, that guy''s eyes were off. I think he might have lied." Zhao Yi replied: "There''s something off about him." Seeing Zhao Yi was aware, Bai Shuiji said no more. Soon, they headed towards a brightly lit, exquisite general store not far away. Scattered around the entrance of the store were blood-stained... fingers. Like crawling insects, they were a chilling sight. A clown, dressed in a comical and eerie manner, waved enthusiastically at Zhao Yi and his group. "Welcome to the Clever Ghost General Store!" "Are you here to shop or play a game?" The clown was short, about 1.5 meters tall, wearing a large floral cotton jacket sewn by a grandmother, with a very friendly smile on its face. Zhao Yi approached the counter, placing a hand on it, and asked: "What are the benefits of playing the game?" The clown clapped its hands happily and said: "Oh! My dear guests, if you''re willing to play rock-paper-scissors with me and win three out of ten rounds, I will provide you with unlimited free access to everything in the general store." Zhao Yi nodded, speaking slowly: "And if we lose?" The clown smiled politely and said: "If you lose, you''ll have to pay a small... price." "After all, you know¡ªif a game loses its stakes, it becomes too boring!" It explained the game rules, which matched Xiang Weishan''s description. "Additionally, I must emphasize... do not attempt to disrupt the game by killing me or cutting off my fingers, otherwise..." The clown paused, revealing a chilling smile. The door to the storeroom behind it slowly opened a crack. Inside, countless pairs of terrifying green eyes stared greedily at the group... Chapter 33 – Game Start "Players who win the game will receive three talent points, while others who join the team but do not get the chance to participate will receive one talent point." "If you all decide to join the game as a team, please sit at the round table inside the shop. Our game is about to begin." Zhao Yi stepped into the general store. The space was actually quite large, almost like a medium-sized supermarket. In the middle were some entertainment facilities, and the shelves were filled with various cards. Those cards were unopened, clearly showing that no one had played with the clown. After all, those who played with him ended up dead. Zhao Yi sat down, and the cute girl Tian Tian, holding her teddy bear, sat next to him, looking around curiously at everything. The remaining three in Fang Bai''s group exchanged glances, hesitating. Participating in the game meant that if they didn''t win... they would die! And it would be a complete death, with no chance of revival! But if they joined the game and Zhao Yi happened to win, they could gain a talent point for free. These points were precious, especially in the early stages, where every point of strength brought visible improvement! To go, or not to go? That was the question. Fang Bai took out a bronze fate disk and did a divination. "How is it?" Liu Han asked. Fang Bai replied, "The worst omen." Liu Han''s face turned pale. Bai Shuiji glanced at Zhao Yi, gritting her teeth, "I''m going to take a chance!" Fang Bai scratched his head, "Are you sure?" Bai Shuiji raised her willow-like eyebrows, "For a woman like me to stand firm in this place, I must make some investments." "That''s obvious." "Besides, I''ve already spent 1000 points. If I don''t go, wouldn''t it be a huge loss?" She also stepped to the round table, took a deep breath, and sat down. Fang Bai and Liu Han exchanged a look, a fierce light flashing in their beady eyes. "Damn it!" "Let''s go for it!" "Whether to be the master or the underdog, this is the moment!" In the end, all five of them sat at the round table, and the clown came to face them. At this moment, people outside could no longer see the inside of the general store, as everything was shrouded in darkness. They knew that either everyone inside would complete the game, or they would all die. Only after the game ended would the general store reopen. Moreover, this process... wouldn''t last long! ... In a quaint and elegant room. The warm yellow light was dim, with surveillance cameras in the corners. On the round table, a strange machine stained with fresh blood appeared at some point, resembling a sewing machine, but instead of needles, it had blades. No need to guess, it was clearly a tool for cutting fingers. The clown took off his grandmother''s floral cotton jacket and put on a very formal suit, resting one hand on the back of a chair, smiling at everyone: "Well, gentlemen, the game is about to begin." "To prevent you from doing anything foolish, I''ll repeat the important game rules." "During the game, you have three minutes each round to think about what to play, and you can discuss among yourselves." "But during the game, do not attempt to escape this room, or try to cut off my fingers or kill me, or it will be considered a violation of the game rules, and you will be executed." "Also, you can only decide on one hand to play rock-paper-scissors, no matter how many fingers are left on that hand, you cannot switch hands midway." "If we play the same move three times in a row, then I win." Saying this, the clown took out a remote control from his pocket and turned on the surveillance. On the hanging TV, it played the tragic deaths of players who previously violated the rules, with piercing screams echoing in their ears, sending chills down their spines. The spirit values of the other three were slowly decreasing, while Zhao Yi and Tian Tian''s spirits remained stable. In fact, the cute little girl Tian Tian even giggled after seeing the players on TV being dismembered alive! Zhao Yi glanced at the girl in surprise but said nothing. "Alright, now... who wants to play with me first?" The clown extended an invitation to everyone, but after what they saw on TV, Fang Bai and the others were too psychologically scarred to take the lead. Tian Tian seemed completely unconcerned, just continuously squeezing her teddy bear. So, in this situation, Zhao Yi raised his hand and smiled: "Mr. Clown, I''ll play with you." The clown let out a joyful laugh. "You are truly a straightforward person. To be honest, I like you." With a wave of its hand, the seats of the others naturally moved to the sides, while Zhao Yi sat directly across from the clown at the round table. "Then... the game has begun." "For the next three minutes, you can discuss among yourselves to decide what move to play." "Once decided, you can place your hand in the black bag in front of you, and then the machine will simultaneously open the bag... Of course, I can assure you, there are no surveillance devices in the bag, and I disdain doing such things." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi nodded, "I believe you." Then he looked at Fang Bai beside him and asked: "What should I play?" Fang Bai didn''t react for a moment, stunned for a few seconds. "Huh?" "You''re asking... me?" Zhao Yi nodded slightly. Fang Bai fell into silence. Starting by asking for outside help, this wasn''t Zhao Yi''s style, was it? Could he have some special meaning? It couldn''t be just to confuse the opponent, right? After hesitating for a moment, he stammered: "I''ll tell you, but if you lose, don''t blame me!" Zhao Yi: "Of course!" Fang Bai glanced at the clown with a strange smile on its face, gritted his teeth, and whispered: "Play scissors." Zhao Yi put his hand into the black cloth and said to the clown opposite: "I''m ready." Hearing this, the clown also put its hand into the black cloth. They decided on their rock-paper-scissors. The mechanical arm above descended, gently grasping the black cloth on their hands, and lifted it sharply! Zhao Yi played scissors. And the clown played rock. Everyone''s face turned pale, and the clown said to Zhao Yi with great regret: "I''m sorry, sir, you seem to have had a bit of bad luck." "Then..." Zhao Yi said nothing more, directly inserting the index finger of his left hand into the cutting machine beside him. A flash of blood, and Zhao Yi''s finger, which had accompanied him for over twenty years, picking his nose and scratching cats, bid him farewell! "Fang Bai, what should I play for the second round?" Zhao Yi turned his head, smiling at the Chubby Kid, whose face trembled with soft flesh. He was already dumbfounded! The teammates beside him also had no idea what Zhao Yi intended to do. "I-I-I don''t know, you decide for yourself!" Fang Bai was completely at a loss and dared not speak further. Zhao Yi nodded and said to the clown with a smile: "Next, I''ll play rock." The clown looked at Zhao Yi with a hint of curiosity. To be honest, it felt that this man in front of it was different from its usual prey. Zhao Yi gave it a feeling of... unease. The clown certainly knew Zhao Yi couldn''t harm it, and precisely because of this, it was even more curious about where this unease came from. The two were ready. In the second round, Zhao Yi played rock, and the clown played paper. Once again, Zhao Yi cut off his own finger. Throughout, Zhao Yi didn''t even blink. Clearly, Zhao Yi never intended to win against the clown in the first two rounds. A faint red light flickered in his eyes. To access the premium content, go to [ pawread dot com ]. No one saw it. Not even the clown sitting directly across from him. Chapter 34 – Zhao Yi... victory [Clown: Touch-Activated Neutral] [Note: If you lose a game to him, you will die... unless he can''t beat you!] [Weakness: Not obvious.] [Objective: Wants to revive his family business.] [Known Ability: Has wallhack when eyes are open.] ... This is the data on the Clown. Zhao Yi understood why the Clown could always perfectly predict others'' rock-paper-scissors moves. He wasn''t relying on guessing at all. He was cheating with his ability. Zhao Yi didn''t expose the Clown because it wouldn''t help to do so. The third round of rock-paper-scissors began. According to Xiang Weishan''s information, this time, the Clown would definitely choose scissors. So if Zhao Yi wanted to win, he had to choose rock. The teammates beside him clearly knew this too, but none of them voiced their opinions. They knew very well that words from Xiang Weishan''s mouth weren''t necessarily reliable. Maybe Xiang Weishan was telling the truth, but it was also possible he just wanted to get Zhao Yi killed, so he casually gave false information. Since they couldn''t be sure, they couldn''t speak up and influence Zhao Yi''s judgment. In the eyes of the four, Zhao Yi was their greatest survival guarantee in this game. If even a freak like Zhao Yi couldn''t figure out the Clown''s weakness, then they were basically doomed! Zhao Yi didn''t rush to play rock-paper-scissors but instead stared at the Clown Ghost across from him and said: "Someone told me on the way here that you''ll choose scissors in the third round, is that true?" The Clown Ghost smiled and said: "I wasn''t supposed to tell you the rules of this game." "But I like you, so I can give you a little hint." "In the third and sixth rounds, I will choose a fixed move, and it won''t change, but I can''t tell you exactly what it is." Zhao Yi nodded. "That''s enough." He placed his hand into the black cloth. The Clown also placed his hand into the black cloth. Everyone held their breath, focusing intently on the situation on the field. They were so tense that they could even hear their own heartbeats! This was Zhao Yi''s perfect opportunity to defeat the Clown Ghost! So, what did Zhao Yi choose? Was it rock? The mechanical arm slowly descended, gripping the two pieces of black cloth. And it gripped everyone''s hearts. Suddenly, the black cloth was yanked up! The Clown chose paper, while Zhao Yi chose scissors! Zhao Yi wins! "Congratulations, Mr. Zhao Yi!" The Clown seemed very happy and extended his left hand''s fingers, placing them into the cutter. The blade fell, and his fingers, along with black blood, splattered out! "It seems... the guy outside deceived you." This novel is available on ". The Clown took out a handkerchief from his pocket and elegantly wiped the blood from his hand. Zhao Yi nodded and said: "Yeah! I''ll definitely repay... him later." The few people beside him couldn''t help but roll their eyes at his words. You let it slip, big brother! The Clown curiously examined Zhao Yi, and even now, with two fingers cut off, Zhao Yi''s face showed no sign of panic. "Are you so sure... you can walk out of here alive?" Zhao Yi shook his head and asked in return: "And how are you so sure that I can''t walk out of here alive?" The Clown chuckled. Zhao Yi extended his right index finger, a faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth. "Mr. Clown, you like gambling, don''t you?" The Clown hesitated for a moment and nodded. Zhao Yi continued: "Why don''t we add a new twist to this game?" "What kind of twist?" "Well... I''ll tell you in a bit." The two continued with rock-paper-scissors. In the fourth round, Zhao Yi lost. In the fifth round, Zhao Yi lost. In the sixth round, the Clown lost. In the seventh round, Zhao Yi lost. In the eighth round, Zhao Yi lost. In the ninth round, Zhao Yi lost. By the tenth round, Zhao Yi had only his middle finger left on his left hand, and his right hand had only the index and middle fingers remaining. Looking at Zhao Yi''s bloodied and miserable hands, the Clown showed a regretful expression. "Mr. Zhao, it seems you''ve made a mistake in choosing which fingers to cut." "With the fingers you have left, you can only choose scissors or rock." Everyone looked at Zhao Yi''s hand and fell silent. The Clown wasn''t wrong. If Zhao Yi had chosen to keep three fingers on his right hand for rock-paper-scissors, he could still choose paper. But now, his right hand only had the index and middle fingers. When Zhao Yi spread his fingers, it was scissors; when he clenched them, it was a fist. He had lost the option of paper. This meant the Clown was now invincible! According to the rules, if the two players tied in rock-paper-scissors three times in a row, the Clown would win. In other words, as long as the Clown chose ''rock'' three times in a row, Zhao Yi would definitely lose! Fang Bai and Bai Shuiji, sitting beside him, were pale, and Liu Han was sweating profusely! If Zhao Yi died, the next one... would be them! Tian Tian was still playing with her ragged teddy bear, occasionally letting out some laughter. She hadn''t looked up the entire time, seemingly unconcerned about the outcome of the game. Zhao Yi''s face still bore that same smile, showing no sign of panic. Only his face was a bit pale from blood loss. He leisurely said to the Clown: sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Mr. Clown, do you remember I said... I wanted to add some fun to this game?" The Clown: "Of course I remember!" "Mr. Zhao, this is the last rock-paper-scissors game. Although I like you very much, rules are rules... However, if you have an idea that doesn''t break the rules and adds fun to the game, I will let you choose a way to die that you like after the game!" Zhao Yi spoke slowly: "Let''s make a bet." "What bet?" "I bet I''ll win the next round." The Clown chuckled. "Sorry, Mr. Zhao, I think you may not understand your current situation..." "In your current state, it''s impossible for you to win against me." Zhao Yi continued: "This bet comes with a condition... I want you to close your eyes." "If I win... you owe me a favor and have to do something within your power for me." "If I lose, not only is my life yours, but I''ll also give you something!" With that, Zhao Yi took out Pandora''s Box from his inventory, which he had brought from the previous dungeon! ... [Item: Pandora''s Box (Fake)] [Quality: Blue] [Description: Ta-da! This is a Pok¨¦ Ball, you can use it to capture your own little Pok¨¦mon... Haha, I''m just kidding! This is actually a gift, and although it''s just a replica, many specters still love its craftsmanship. If you give it to a non-human entity, it will greatly increase their favorability towards you!] [Note: The specter inside has been cleared by the system, and reopening the magic box will have no effect.] ... Seeing this box, a glint of possessiveness flashed in the Clown''s eyes. After a moment of silence, the Clown replied: "No problem, Mr. Zhao." "I''m willing to take this bet with you." Zhao Yi smiled and tapped the table, saying: "You can only open your eyes after the black cloth is lifted." "Is that okay?" The Clown nodded. A free treasure, why not take it? Given Zhao Yi''s current situation... even without his wallhack ability, he couldn''t possibly lose. "Then Mr. Clown... please decide your rock-paper-scissors move first this time, then put your hand into the black cloth and close your eyes." The Clown didn''t hesitate and immediately clenched his hand into a fist, placing it into the black cloth. Then he closed his eyes. After waiting quietly for three seconds, Zhao Yi''s voice sounded again. "I''m ready too, Mr. Clown, please have your machine lift the black cloth." The Clown snapped his fingers. The mechanical arm lifted the black cloth covering their hands. Then, the Clown slowly opened his eyes. His gaze fell on Zhao Yi''s hand, and the eerie smile on his face froze. "Sorry, Mr. Clown." "I won." Zhao Yi grinned. The three teammates beside him shivered. The hand lying quietly on the table, covered in blood... had no fingers left! Because there were no fingers, Zhao Yi''s move was paper! And the Clown''s move was rock. In the tenth round, Zhao Yi... wins! Chapter 35 – Nose picking The room was silent. Strictly speaking, Zhao Yi was cheating. But he hadn''t broken any game rules. Outside the window, shadows seemed to be stirring, but without the clown''s command, they couldn''t come in. After a long pause, the clown slowly placed his left hand into the guillotine. With a crisp sound, his finger was cut off! Everyone''s faces were filled with excitement. The clown''s action meant he admitted defeat in the tenth round of rock-paper-scissors! They... didn''t have to die! Looking up, the clown watched Zhao Yi, who was wrapping his bloody hand with gauze, with great interest. "Mr. Zhao, I want to know... when did you start plotting against me?" Zhao Yi shrugged. "From the moment I cut my third finger." "As everyone knows, rock-paper-scissors is a game of luck." "Since it''s a game of luck, there can''t be a constant winner. Your continuous victories over me clearly indicated you had your own cheating method." "So in the fifth, seventh, and eighth rounds, I deliberately changed my hand sign inside the black cloth." "But I still lost, as expected." "That''s when I guessed... you must have wallhack." These were actually fake moves Zhao Yi made to cover up his ability. He wouldn''t reveal his ability to see NPC data. "At that moment, I suddenly realized, to win the last time, I had to set a trap, strip you of your wallhack ability, and force you to make a fixed hand sign... Do you understand what I''m saying?" Zhao Yi explained his thoughts, and the clown couldn''t help but clap in admiration: "So, when you cut your seventh finger, you deliberately chose the thumb of your right hand for rock-paper-scissors, making everyone think¡ªyour last move could only be scissors or rock." "So when I closed my eyes and couldn''t use my wallhack ability, to ensure a win, I would definitely choose rock." "In the end, you cut off your own finger in advance, turning your scissors and rock into paper..." "I have to say, Mr. Zhao, your maneuver was truly brilliant!" "This was the most interesting game of rock-paper-scissors I''ve ever played!" The clown stood up, placed his hand on his chest, and bowed to the group. "I will keep my promise." "From now on, this general store will provide unlimited free supplies to you and your guild." "And I owe you a personal favor..." "Additionally, after you leave the general store, I will grant Mr. Zhao three talent points according to the game rules, and one talent point to each of the others... this is also personal!" A personal gift, meaning these three talent points are not part of the world quest. Everyone clenched their fists in excitement! The clown went to the door and personally opened it for Zhao Yi and the others. As they left the room, they were enveloped in a warm, pure white light! ... [Congratulations to Zhao Yi, Fang Bai, Bai Shuiji, Liu Han, and Tian Tian for successfully unlocking the guild''s new scene¡ªthe General Store. The area within a ten-meter radius inside the station will be a safe zone, where players will not be harmed!] ... The announcement caused a stir among all the players in the guild! "Someone actually unlocked the General Store?" "Damn! Wasn''t that place said to have killed thousands?" "Yeah, I remember you had to play some rock-paper-scissors game with the clown... and everyone who went died!" "Are this year''s newcomers that impressive? They actually took down that damn clown?" "Damn... that Zhao Yi is this year''s top newcomer, no wonder he''s so awesome!" "Finally, we don''t have to eat the stuff from the guild warehouse anymore... I was sick of it!" "..." Outside the station, Xiang Weishan stared at the General Store inside, his expression extremely cold! He clenched his fists tightly, unable to understand. Why didn''t Zhao Yi die?! He had given him false information... so how did he win?! Could it be... he saw through his scheme? For a moment, all sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind. After hesitating for a moment, Xiang Weishan immediately called over an underling, whispered a few words in his ear, and the underling nodded and headed towards the distant crowd. Zhao Yi and the others reappeared inside the General Store. Bai Shuiji touched her body, trembling with excitement! She... had won the gamble! Not only did she survive, but she also gained an extra talent point for no reason! She didn''t hesitate to add it to her strength attribute! Don''t underestimate that one point of strength. It enhances all attributes related to constitution! Liu Han and Fang Bai were equally excited, having latched onto Zhao Yi, it was like flying high! "Brother Zhao, shouldn''t we head back to the guild base now... your hand injury is serious!" Fang Bai wasn''t someone who forgot kindness for profit. His first thought wasn''t to complete the butcher game but to have Zhao Yi return to the guild to heal his injuries. Whether from world quest injuries or dungeon injuries, as long as they weren''t accompanied by some mysterious forces, they could be healed at the guild base. However, Zhao Yi didn''t seem to mind his hand injury. He stood at the General Store''s entrance, looking at a butcher shop in the distance on the second floor, marked by a dim red light, appearing eager. "It''s just a bit of blood, it''s not a big deal." The clown appeared beside Zhao Yi at some point, watching the butcher shop with him, his tone somewhat meaningful. "A madman lives there." "He''s not as rule-abiding as I am." Zhao Yi pondered. "Does he have something he wants to do?" The clown smiled slightly at the question, patting Zhao Yi''s shoulder. "The butcher is looking for his daughter." With that, the clown turned and went back into his shop, sitting at the counter and greeting a few players who came over. Zhao Yi headed towards the butcher shop, with Fang Bai and the others following closely. Having tasted the benefits of the clown''s game, they had more confidence in Zhao Yi and naturally wanted to follow him. But as Zhao Yi approached the elevator to the second floor, he was blocked by a dozen players. "Zhao Yi, you''ve already completed one game and received the rewards. Shouldn''t this task be left for others?" A young man with green hair spoke with a provocative tone. To be honest, he didn''t dare to take on this task himself. After all, more people had died in the butcher game than in the clown game! So the butcher game''s danger level was only more terrifying! But they didn''t want to do it themselves, nor did they want others to do it. After all, everyone was still on the same starting line, with no significant gap. Once the snowball started rolling, it would be harder for them to catch up with the leading players in the future. The leader of the idle guild didn''t care about anything, which led to fierce and cruel competition within the seemingly chaotic and loose guild! Not long ago, they had seen a lone player get his leg broken and thrown to the butcher! sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In this world of rampant specters, humans were no kinder than ghosts! "What nonsense are you spouting?" "If we don''t go... will you?" Fang Bai wasn''t intimidated by the number of people on the other side. His usually round face was now full of ferocity! He knew that without the constraints of law, people had no bottom line. These guys, unable to strive for strength themselves, wanted to weaken others to gain an advantage, truly selfish and disgusting! "Heh, the world quest is for everyone, and you want to hog the rewards, how selfish!" This Green Hair wasn''t easy to deal with either. He pulled out a sharp dagger, his face fierce, and the group of players behind him gathered around, pulling out some cheap weapons from their inventory, clearly not planning to let Zhao Yi pass. Zhao Yi didn''t retort, just raised his remaining middle finger on his left hand towards Green Hair, flashing a bright smile. "You know, I only need one finger to take your life." Green Hair was infuriated by Zhao Yi''s smile. After all, he was a small leader, with many subordinates watching. Zhao Yi''s words left him with no face! "WCNM!" Green Hair angrily charged forward with his knife, wanting to teach Zhao Yi a lesson, but he didn''t know Zhao Yi''s strength had reached 21 points! And he... was still in the single digits! As he raised his knife, Zhao Yi had already used a swift step to appear in front of Green Hair, turning and bending down to deliver an elbow strike to Green Hair''s liver, turning him into a bent shrimp, his eyes bulging! The next moment, Zhao Yi executed a rising dragon punch, accurately inserting his middle finger into Green Hair''s nostril! Splat! Blood splattered, and in an instant, Green Hair experienced a bizarre and wonderful sensation. Sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy emotions surged in his heart in a flash. It felt like when he was a child, his beloved grandmother, wearing a bright floral cotton jacket, carried a basin of feces looking for him, wanting to feed him. The mystery of it was indescribable to outsiders. He instinctively dropped his knife, covering his face, trying to pull Zhao Yi''s middle finger out! However, the next moment, he found himself lifted into the air, thrown far towards the stairs by a tremendous force! His large, bleeding nostril suddenly felt an unprecedented emptiness. Bang! He crashed hard onto the ground, dazed, and only then did the excruciating pain spread from his nasal cavity to his brain. He clutched his nose, wailing, looking at Zhao Yi with eyes full of fear! The others who had gathered couldn''t help but take a few steps back! Zhao Yi looked at his blood and snot-covered middle finger, unable to resist wiping it on Fang Bai''s clothes. Fang Bai was stunned for a moment, then finally reacted, jumping up and shouting: "Damn! That''s too much, Zhao Yi!" "I respect you as the top player, but you can''t just wipe such disgusting stuff on me!" "I have tissues!" Zhao Yi looked at his middle finger and chuckled: "No worries, I''ve already wiped it clean!" Fang Bai: "..." Chapter 36 – Butcher Game "We''re all in the same guild, so we know what each other is thinking." "Even if you stop us from doing the guiding quest now, can you stop us forever?" The one speaking was Bai Shuiji, who had always been cautious and prudent. Having been through the ups and downs of the social scene, she was used to seeing disgusting people and things. Unlike the Chubby Kid, Fang Bai, her calm demeanor intimidated many. The people blocking their way were already showing signs of retreat, but a cold gaze from afar forced them to surround Zhao Yi again. "Stop talking nonsense. If you don''t want to die, get lost, or we''ll break your legs and feed you to the Butcher!" Someone in the crowd shouted loudly! As the standoff continued, a voice came from a distance. "What are you doing?" Zhao Yi and his group turned to see Xiang Weishan approaching with a group of about thirty or forty people. Seeing this, Fang Bai and the others'' expressions changed! If Xiang Weishan decided to join forces with the others against them, they wouldn''t be able to participate in the Butcher''s Game today and would have to stay in the safe zone near the Clown''s General Store! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Xiang Weishan''s next words surprised them. "Is this how you handle things?" "Not doing it yourself and not letting others do it either?" With a righteous expression, Xiang Weishan suddenly turned into a justice advocate, helping Zhao Yi and his group. If he hadn''t tricked them before, they might have believed he was a good person! Seeing Xiang Weishan''s large group, the opposition lost their momentum and silently made way. "Brother Zhao Yi, don''t be afraid." "I''ll take you to the Butcher''s Game. They won''t dare stop you!" Xiang Weishan patted his chest with a heroic expression, as if saying, "You''re under my protection now." A disdainful and disgusted look was cast at him. It came from Bai Shuiji. She knew this was just one of Xiang Weishan''s clumsy tricks. First, he incited trouble, then appeared to resolve the conflict, gaining favor, and finally volunteered to take Zhao Yi to the Butcher''s Game, thus joining Zhao Yi''s team. Clearly, Xiang Weishan had seen Zhao Yi''s skills and was eyeing the quest rewards! She tugged at Zhao Yi''s sleeve. Though she also wanted to follow Zhao Yi for rewards, at least she felt she wasn''t being hypocritical. She despised people like Xiang Weishan, who wanted to play both sides. Moreover, this person... could stab you in the back at any moment! Perhaps her tug was too gentle, as Zhao Yi seemed completely unaware, and he gratefully grasped Xiang Weishan''s hand with his bandaged and bloody hand, saying: "Brother Xiang is the best!" "Come with us, Brother, so we can look out for each other!" Xiang Weishan was delighted, thinking Zhao Yi was easy to deceive! The others exchanged glances, constantly wary of this cunning and treacherous guy! He enthusiastically led them to the butcher shop on the second floor, already plotting how to deal with Zhao Yi after getting the rewards! This guy indeed had some skills, but precisely because of that... he couldn''t be left alive! After they left, the gangster Mo Yao spat in the direction of Xiang Weishan''s back. Pah! What a piece of work! Risking life and limb together, but hogging all the benefits! The group arrived at the butcher shop, where a tall man stood at the entrance, wielding a cleaver and furiously chopping at a human leg! He had antelope-like horns and terrifying red eyes. His muscles were as solid as rocks, and with each swing of the cleaver, bones were severed, the sound making one''s scalp tingle! "Hello, Butcher." "We''re here to participate in the Butcher''s Game." Zhao Yi stepped forward to face the Butcher''s devilish eyes. The Butcher glanced at them, his mouth stretching to his ears, revealing rows of sharp teeth, with glimpses of flesh and hair inside. It was unclear what creature''s remains they were. "My game has three options." "The first is to deliver food for me. I have a few orders from customers... whoever''s the fastest wins, and the winner will receive a bowl of my exclusive meat soup. The loser... hehehe..." The Butcher''s laughter almost lifted their skulls! "The second... is to cook a dish for me. If I''m satisfied, the game is passed. If not, I''ll personally teach you how to cook..." "The third game is to collect ingredients for me from the Valley of Hundred Graves deep in the wilderness." "So, what game do you want to play?" After hearing this, they looked at each other, seeing the apprehension in each other''s eyes. The bloody smell in the air and the corpses hanging on hooks in the butcher shop reminded them that this Butcher was an extremely dangerous character! Especially Xiang Weishan, who had witnessed the Butcher skinning a player alive, a scene so brutal it became a lifelong psychological scar for many! Since they were already a team, they had to choose the same option to start the game. "How about... we go for the second game..." Fang Bai hesitated for a moment and suggested. "We can help each other, and there''s no need to kill each other!" His reasoning was simple: the first game clearly had only one survivor, and the third game, judging by its name, was a place of certain death! So the second game seemed most suitable for them. Xiang Weishan, however, sneered from the side: "The second game?" "Taste is subjective, and we don''t know what it likes. Besides, if it wants us dead, it''s an impossible game to complete!" Fang Bai frowned. "Then what do you suggest?" Xiang Weishan replied: "Of course, the first task is the simplest!" "Delivering food is just a race of speed. If you''re slow, you can only blame yourself, not others!" In Xiang Weishan''s view, this was the most advantageous game for him. First, he was physically fit. Second, he had learned close combat and fought in underground boxing matches, with rich combat experience. He could easily call on his underlings to deal with others once the task began! They didn''t need to kill; just incapacitate or hold them back. Once he completed the task, the Butcher would naturally deal with the other players in the games! After all, the Butcher only specified rankings, not a specific time! In an instant, a malicious plan had taken root in his mind! A meaningful smile played on Xiang Weishan''s lips... Chapter 37 – Game? Ill just trade directly "Zhao Yi..." Fang Bai looked anxiously at Zhao Yi, hoping he would make a decision. Among their group, Zhao Yi was undoubtedly the man with the most authority. Zhao Yi glanced at Xiang Weishan, who was determined to win, and said, "I think Brother Xiang makes a lot of sense." "Let''s play the first game!" "Delivering food isn''t so bad." "In such a cruel world, competition is inevitable. Let''s leave it to fate!" As soon as he finished speaking, Fang Bai and the others were stunned, looking at Zhao Yi with inexplicable expressions. Could it be that there was no special way out of this Butcher''s game? Even someone as calculating as Zhao Yi decided to leave it to fate? Only Xiang Weishan was secretly delighted. Everything was proceeding as he had planned... Perfect! Next, as soon as the Butcher confirmed the game started, he would immediately betray them! Zhao Yi and the others would have nowhere to go! They would die in this dark, sunless butcher shop, hung on iron hooks like pork! "Alright." The Butcher turned and walked into the shop, bringing out six dishes from the steamer and placing them in front of everyone. Next to the dishes were packaging materials and the specific delivery locations! "Go quickly and come back... I only recognize the first person to complete the task!" The Butcher''s deep voice rumbled in his chest. The group quickly packed their meals, except for Zhao Yi, who didn''t move. He only had one finger, making it impossible to pack his delivery. The others saw this but were racing against time, so no one helped him. Fang Bai, who was quick with his hands, hesitated for a moment after finishing his own and then clumsily helped Zhao Yi pack his share! Bai Shuiji and Liu Han watched without saying anything, but secretly mocked him in their hearts! Fang Bai clearly hadn''t adapted to the survival rules of this place! Helping Zhao Yi at this time was harming himself! By then, Xiang Weishan had already rushed out with the food! Liu Han and Bai Shuiji followed closely behind! Fang Bai watched the figures of Xiang Weishan and the others running away, feeling a bit anxious, and said to Zhao Yi: "Damn it! Zhao Yi, you''re on your own now, I''ve helped you as much as I can!" S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He grabbed his delivery and dashed towards the station! Zhao Yi looked at the messily packed delivery in front of him and then at Tian Tian, who hadn''t moved and was just holding her teddy bear, and curiously asked: "Tian Tian, aren''t you going to do the task?" Tian Tian shook her head, her cute ponytail swaying. "No, Tian Tian doesn''t want to do the task." Her eyes had a certain sparkle, making her endearing. "Not doing the task... means you''ll die, you know!" Zhao Yi made a ghostly face, trying to scare the girl. But Tian Tian was unfazed, pouting: "Hmph! You''re lying to me!" "Winnie said I''ll be fine!" Zhao Yi stroked his chin, his eyes filled with interest. "Oh? And who is Winnie?" The girl raised the teddy bear in her hand. "Winnie is the first friend I made in this world!" Zhao Yi reached out, gently stroking the teddy bear in the girl''s arms, a strange light flashing in his eyes. ... [Winnie: Touch-activated Neutral] [Note: It will be alert if you try to harm the girl; if you leave a wound on her, it will go berserk!] [Weakness: Unknown.] ... "What a cute teddy bear, I''ve never seen such an adorable teddy bear!" Zhao Yi said with delight. The girl also showed a bright smile and her white teeth. "Thank you, Brother Zhao Yi!" "You''re praising it so much, Winnie''s a bit shy!" Zhao Yi smiled slightly, walked into the butcher shop, sat down, and said to the Butcher: "Do you have beef?" The Butcher turned around, his devil-like eyes icy cold! "Get out!" "You''re not my customer!" Zhao Yi didn''t mind. "The Clown told me you have a... daughter." The Butcher stopped chopping meat. He turned around and walked towards Zhao Yi. Suddenly, a bone-chilling shadow completely enveloped Zhao Yi! Zhao Yi remained calm, crossing his legs, examining his remaining middle finger under the shop''s red dim light, as if admiring a piece of art. "How long have you been looking for her?" The Butcher coldly asked: "What does that have to do with you?" Zhao Yi smiled: "I have a deal, concerning your daughter." "You obviously can''t leave this butcher shop for long. Even a madman like you who doesn''t like rules has to follow some, right?" The Butcher was silent. He gripped the boning knife tighter! "I can help you search for your daughter in places farther away... like Hanging Valley Town." "I can go to many places you can''t, maybe find some clues." The Butcher: "Do you think that way, I''ll spare you?" Zhao Yi lazily said: "Of course you''ll spare me." "I completed the Clown''s game, proving my ability to you." "Killing one more person or one less, what difference does it make to a Butcher like you who''s washed your hands in a sea of blood?" The Butcher''s hand holding the cleaver trembled slightly. That was a sign of too much force. A momentary lapse seemed to remind him of something long ago. About three to five breaths later. His hand holding the cleaver relaxed. Turning around, he went into the kitchen, soon bringing out a large bowl of steaming braised beef, specially sliced. "Find my daughter, bring her back to me, and you''ll receive a handsome ''reward''!" The Butcher said flatly. With that, he turned back to the bloody counter, chopping bones fiercely! ... [Congratulations on accepting the Hidden Quest of the Big World¡ªFinding the Butcher''s Daughter] [Quest Reward: ???] ... Seeing this quest, Zhao Yi knew that his other guiding quest in the big world was also secured! The Clown had mentioned not long ago. The Butcher was different from it. The Butcher didn''t like following rules. This meant that even if they completed the Butcher''s game according to his rules, he could still kill the player who completed the game if he was in a bad mood! Therefore, Zhao Yi''s first thought was to ask the Clown about the Butcher''s weakness. Zhao Yi just asked in a different way. From the Clown''s mouth, Zhao Yi learned that the Butcher''s weakness was his daughter. Rather than gambling on a possibly meaningless game, Zhao Yi preferred to make a deal with the Butcher. Next, he would quietly wait for the task-doers to return. Across from him, Tian Tian picked up a piece of beef and fed it to Zhao Yi''s mouth, her big eyes forming little moons. "Hehe!" "Brother Zhao Yi, Winnie said your hand is inconvenient, so let me help you eat the beef!" Zhao Yi liked her teddy bear. She also liked her teddy bear. So now... she liked Zhao Yi too. Chapter 38 – Why are you bothering me if you said youre fine? At the entrance of the station, Fang Bai and his two companions were blocked by a group of men. They looked fierce, with cruel and malicious smiles on their faces. Find the original at "pawread dot com". Holding weapons, they trapped the three of them tightly within the safe zone of the General Store! Seeing this, Liu Han, usually so honest and simple, showed a face full of anger! "Xiang Weishan!" "You fucking dared to set us up!" Xiang Weishan, holding a takeout in his hand, stood behind the crowd and sneered coldly at the three of them: "What else?" "Wait for you to complete the task first, and then I die?" "If you want to blame someone, blame Zhao Yi. After all, this Butcher task was approved by him!" Liu Han clenched his fists tightly, wanting to rush forward, but was held back by Fang Bai. "If you rush over now, you''ll just get your legs broken!" Fang Bai was also furious, but he still managed to keep his composure. With so many people on the other side, they had no way to pose any threat to Xiang Weishan! "Stop them, don''t let them leave the station!" Xiang Weishan ordered his underlings, then leisurely left the station himself. Looking at the players around them, who were eyeing them like tigers watching their prey, Bai Shuiji glanced at the terrifying Butcher on the second floor, who was crazily chopping human bones with a knife. Her smooth forehead was covered in nervous sweat. "Are you all idiots?" "Helping Xiang Weishan do his dirty work!" "Can''t you see what kind of person he is?" "Today he can stab us in the back, tomorrow it''ll be you!" She tried to provoke the crowd with her words, her gaze sweeping over many faces. Bai Shuiji could tell that these people weren''t genuinely willing to follow Xiang Weishan. They were helping Xiang Weishan out of fear! This man was ruthless, vicious, and had connections in the Guild, so no one dared to betray him! They had seen Xiang Weishan kill many players before, and naturally, they feared him! So even though they knew Bai Shuiji was telling the truth, no one was willing to make way. Bai Shuiji was desperate and suddenly dashed towards a gap in the crowd, trying to break through the encirclement while they were in a daze. However, she was quickly caught by the hair and subjected to a flurry of punches and kicks! Among them were some perverts who tore off her clothes and groped her. At first, Bai Shuiji let out a piercing scream, but soon she couldn''t scream anymore, collapsing to the ground amidst the beating, her food spilling everywhere! She desperately protected her head, letting out weak whimpers. Her clothes were tattered, her body covered in bruises and bloodstains, blood oozing from her mouth and nose. "Enough! Stop it!" "Don''t kill her!" "You''ll increase your slaughter points, do you want to end up in the Slaughter Arena?" Seeing that Bai Shuiji was almost done for, the kind-hearted Fang Bai shouted angrily, and the crowd surrounding Bai Shuiji suddenly woke up from their trance and quickly dispersed. Looking at the bloody and miserable woman on the ground, they broke out in a cold sweat! They had been so focused on venting their frustration and fear that they almost beat Bai Shuiji to death! Fang Bai stepped forward, carefully dragging Bai Shuiji back to the safe zone under the watchful eyes of the crowd. "Th-thank you..." Bai Shuiji said weakly. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing her in such a state, Liu Han sat down on the ground, muttering in a daze: "It''s over..." "We''re all going to die..." "Xiang Weishan was right... it''s all Zhao Yi''s fault... if he had insisted on the second or third game, maybe we wouldn''t be dying..." Fang Bai frowned at his words: "What nonsense are you talking?" Liu Han turned his head, his eyes bloodshot! "Am I wrong?!" "If he hadn''t said to leave it to fate, would we be in this situation now?!" "If he hadn''t agreed to let Xiang Weishan join our team, would we have been set up by him?!" Fang Bai replied coldly: "You''re fucking crazy!" "Used to bullying the weak?" "Xiang Weishan wronged you, and you don''t dare to touch him, so you take it out on your own people?" "Forgot who led you to get rewards in the last Dungeon?" As if his sore spot had been hit, Liu Han suddenly erupted, grabbing Fang Bai''s collar and shouting maniacally: "Say that again?" Fang Bai looked at the murderous intent in Liu Han''s eyes and shut his mouth. "I''m going to kill Zhao Yi... as long as I kill Zhao Yi, Xiang Weishan will definitely let me leave here... he will definitely!" "Then, I''ll use the excuse of delivering takeout to escape back to the Guild''s base... even if the Butcher is powerful, he can''t kill me in the apartment... yes... I''ll go kill Zhao Yi now!" Driven by fear and having lost his sanity, Liu Han muttered to himself and stumbled towards the second floor. The others, seeing that Liu Han hadn''t left the station, didn''t bother with him, and many even followed him to watch the spectacle! "Zhao Yi!" "Zhao Yi, come out here!" Liu Han took out his Soul Weapon¡ªa crowbar made of bone¡ªand stared crazily at Zhao Yi, who was enjoying his meal in the Butcher Shop! He wanted to kill Zhao Yi but lacked the courage to enter the Butcher Shop! The tall, terrifying Butcher exuding a menacing aura made Liu Han''s limbs weak! Zhao Yi looked up at Liu Han and smiled: "Want to join me for some beef?" At this moment, Liu Han was a stark contrast to his usual honest self, his expression twisted and ferocious, clearly on the verge of a mental breakdown. He pointed the crowbar at Zhao Yi and growled: "Come out here!" Zhao Yi, seeing Liu Han''s state, knew exactly what he was thinking. After chewing slowly, he said to Liu Han: "I''ve talked it over with Mr. Butcher, I can take a few people with me." In an instant, Liu Han''s rage subsided. He was stunned for a moment, appearing somewhat at a loss, but his eyes were filled with immense joy! "Are you... are you serious?!" Zhao Yi: "Of course, I''m serious." "Otherwise, how could I be sitting here eating so leisurely?" "Oh, right... you were looking for me earlier, was there something you needed?" Liu Han hid the crowbar in his hand, stammering: "Uh... I wanted to ask if you had any ideas on how to complete this task..." Zhao Yi squinted and smiled: "Is that so!" "I thought you wanted to kill me to curry favor with Xiang Weishan!" Liu Han''s expression stiffened, but he quickly put on a smile. "How could that be... you''re my benefactor, how could I do such a thing?" "I''m counting on you to get me out of here later!" He awkwardly put away the crowbar in his hand. From the distant staircase, Fang Bai helped the weak Bai Shuiji up to the second floor. Seeing Zhao Yi unharmed, he let out a sigh of relief. "Want some meat?" Zhao Yi asked loudly. Fang Bai glanced at the terrifying Butcher at the door and quickly waved his hand, but then seemed to think of something, so he braced himself and dragged the half-dead Bai Shuiji towards the Butcher Shop. In fact, many players were lingering at the second-floor staircase, but they didn''t dare approach the Butcher Shop or any of the other dark specialty stores. In the pitch-black darkness inside, it seemed as if there were pairs of sinister eyes coldly watching them! Passing by Liu Han, Fang Bai gave him a disdainful look and brought Bai Shuiji to sit across from Zhao Yi! "Zhao Yi... have you found a way to complete the Butcher''s game early?" Seeing Zhao Yi eating so calmly, Fang Bai asked in a low voice. Zhao Yi shook his head. "No." Seeing him like this, Fang Bai''s heart sank. So... is Zhao Yi just waiting to die now? Looking at the meat in front of him, Fang Bai felt a wave of sadness. This might very well be his last meal! Even at Jesus'' table, there were a few dishes, but here he could only have some braised beef. Thinking of this, Fang Bai grabbed a piece of braised beef from the table and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing fiercely! Damn it! If I''m going to die, so be it! I''ll die a full man! Outside, Liu Han saw that Fang Bai and Bai Shuiji were fine after entering the Butcher Shop, yet he still hesitated. After about half an hour of this stalemate, a hoarse laugh echoed from the first floor of the station! "Hahaha!" "I won!" "I won!" "You''re all going to die!" "Die, all of you!" Fang Bai and Liu Han turned around, their faces turning pale. It was Xiang Weishan! He was back! The disheveled figure appeared at the staircase a hundred meters away, missing an arm, his body covered in bloody wounds! Clearly, the process of delivering the food wasn''t easy! With a face full of blood and a sinister grin, he stumbled into the Butcher Shop, looking at the people eating inside, and sneered: "What kind of bullshit rookie ranking number one?" "Competing with me, Xiang Weishan?" "Do you fucking deserve it?" "I just used a little trick, and you really fell for it, you stupid pig!" "Do you think trash like you deserves to be my brother?" Zhao Yi nodded, indicating that he agreed with what Xiang Weishan said. "Indeed." Xiang Weishan snorted coldly. For some reason, seeing Zhao Yi''s calm demeanor made him particularly annoyed. Facing death, and still pretending to be calm? Let''s see how long you can keep up the act! "Butcher!" "I''ve successfully completed your game and was the first to deliver your food. Now... give me my reward!" The Butcher, who was chopping bones, bent his head slightly, holding a cleaver full of minced meat, and slowly approached Xiang Weishan. At the distant second-floor staircase, a group of Xiang Weishan''s underlings watched this scene with excitement! Although they didn''t have any particular fondness for Xiang Weishan, they worked under him, and if he became stronger, their status among the newcomers would naturally rise! Xiang Weishan looked up, staring at the Butcher, a wicked and exaggerated smile forming on his lips. He knew that once he completed the task, the NPC wouldn''t harm him! At this moment, he felt like the Dragon King returning! Come on! Come on! Announce it to the whole district! I, Xiang Weishan, will be the brightest star among the newcomers! I want everyone to know that what you can''t achieve, I, Xiang Weishan, can! And that flirt Liu Ruoqing... haha, she''ll definitely look at me differently, right? In the future, when we get into bed, won''t she just become my plaything? ... In this brief moment, countless scenes of his future glory flashed through Xiang Weishan''s mind, and his smile grew more and more wanton! Until a piercing pain spread from his stomach to his internal organs, jolting him out of his daydream! He slowly looked down. His gaze landed on a massive iron hook that had pierced through his flesh, entering his abdomen! Blood stained his clothes. Fear spread. "No..." Xiang Weishan''s lips trembled, his eyes vacant. He couldn''t understand. He was the first to complete the task, he had done everything the Butcher asked, so why did the Butcher choose to kill him? The ones who should die were Zhao Yi and the others! It was them! They should be the ones to die! Not me! Why? Why! All these questions flowed through his mind like streams, eventually converging on a single point. ¡ªZhao Yi. Xiang Weishan slowly turned his head. Zhao Yi, who was eating beef, was also smiling at him. Polite, elegant. Charming. But it filled Xiang Weishan with an overwhelming sense of despair! He understood that he had ultimately been outsmarted by Zhao Yi! Xiang Weishan reached out towards Zhao Yi, his eyes wide, struggling to utter two words: "Save me..." Zhao Yi approached the Butcher, looking at the dying Xiang Weishan, lazily flicking his remaining middle finger through his bangs, and said: "Why did you have to mess with me?" "Regretting it now?" Xiang Weishan had long lost his previous ruthlessness, the fear of death spreading through every corner of his body, making him look utterly pathetic! He trembled, begging like a dog: "I... I didn''t recognize greatness..." "Please... spare my life..." Zhao Yi didn''t answer, raising his hand to give him the middle finger, his smile radiant! In the next moment, under Xiang Weishan''s horrified gaze, the Butcher''s cleaver came down! The world lost its light. Chapter 39 – Using a knife to kill, Liu Han is in danger The butcher''s knife was swift. From top to bottom, it sliced Xiang Weishan''s upper body in half, blood gushing out violently, the internal mess making one''s whole body go weak! The most terrifying thing was¡ªeven like this, Xiang Weishan wasn''t dead! He made strange noises from his mouth, his hands clawing at the air like seaweed, and a bizarre smile gradually appeared on his face. This smile was identical to the one on the boneless corpse everyone had seen earlier at the guild''s headquarters! Finally, the butcher tossed the chain he held, and Xiang Weishan was immediately hooked and hung upside down from the butcher shop''s ceiling! The body swayed without wind. Xiang Weishan''s underlings stood frozen in place, their faces pale! "What happened?" "Didn''t Xiang Weishan complete the game?" "Why is he dead?" They were too far away to know exactly what happened; they only saw Xiang Weishan shouting, then suddenly attacked by the butcher, and then... he died. At this moment, the three people inside the butcher shop looked equally grim. The butcher... had started killing! Who would be next? Would it be Zhao Yi, standing beside him? They held their breath, their minds blank with fear. But soon, they realized... the butcher didn''t seem to have any intention of continuing the slaughter. He turned back into the butcher shop, brought out a bowl of soup from the kitchen, and handed it to Zhao Yi. "You completed my task, this is your reward." Zhao Yi took the soup from the butcher, a flash of information about the soup appearing in his eyes. ... [Item: The Butcher''s Carefully Cooked Soup] [Quality: Consumable] [Description: Though a butcher, his culinary skills are impeccable, yet for some reason, his food always contains resentment and anger!] [Effect: Overdraw part of your life in advance to gain immense strength, falling into a frenzy where you recognize no one, lasting five minutes. After the frenzy ends, you will lose all combat ability for twelve hours!] [Note: Do you want to be a coward for a lifetime or a hero for a moment?] ... "Thank you." Although this item had significant side effects, its effects were remarkable and could be a lifesaver in certain situations! He accepted the butcher''s soup, and the system began broadcasting news about Zhao Yi. [Congratulations to player Zhao Yi for unlocking a new guild scene¡ªthe Butcher Shop. This scene remains neutral, and players can purchase meat food from the butcher shop, but there is no protection near this scene. Also¡ªdo not attempt to anger the shop''s owner, the butcher.] [World guiding quest completed. Based on participation, player Zhao Yi receives three talent points, players Fang Bai, Bai Shuiji, and Liu Han receive 1 talent point each.] [The world quest has been updated to ''Unravel the Resentment on the Train.'' Please check the system for details.] ... [Guild Chatroom] S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. : The butcher shop is unlocked too? : Damn, this guiding quest that hasn''t been completed in three years is finally done, my youth is over! : Damn, this newcomer really has something! : In the last dungeon, Green Wolf was talking about wanting to recruit Zhao Yi into the guild! : Unfortunately, this world quest is now marked with Zhao Yi''s tag, and even players with higher levels can''t do this map''s world quest... unless he dies. : The person above, your thoughts are dangerous! : If we don''t kill him, we can only wait for him to open the next big map, and the world quest is fully released with NPC side quests, then we have a chance to do it. : Just wait... although the bosses above don''t really care, I think if you really try to kill someone like Zhao Yi, they probably won''t sit idly by, because the value of such a person to the guild is hard to measure! ... The chatroom was filled with various discussions. Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the ]" They were all envious of the rewards, but due to some special rules, they couldn''t take on some recent tasks. So, some had sinister thoughts. They wanted Zhao Yi dead. The All Freeloaders guild was different from other guilds because there was no clear prohibition against players killing each other, so they had many ways to kill each other. The brutal competition made many newcomers in the guild want to switch guilds. But changing guilds was troublesome. It required passing a deadly assessment. The terrifying death rate of that thing deterred many players who wanted to switch guilds. Meanwhile, Zhao Yi, after the system announcement, didn''t leave immediately to heal at the guild''s base but instead asked the butcher about his daughter. "Do you have any information about your daughter?" The butcher paused his work, stood in place thinking for a few seconds, then turned back to a resting room, took out a key, opened the door, and brought out an old recorder and a damaged ID card. "I can''t remember much about things before I died." The butcher said. The recorder was stained with fresh blood, never drying, never to dry. The love the butcher had for his daughter in life turned into endless hatred and murderous intent after his death, attached to the recorder! One could imagine something must have happened back then. Zhao Yi took the ID card from the butcher''s hand and glanced at it. The butcher''s daughter''s name was Sun Baibai. She was a very beautiful, slender girl. Putting these two items into his storage space, Zhao Yi said: "I''ll do it as soon as possible." "Also... I need to take a few people with me." The butcher coldly replied: "You can take them all." The guiding quest was complete, and now it was a neutral entity, no longer holding obvious hostility towards players. Moreover, Zhao Yi was going to help it find its daughter. So the butcher had no reason to refuse Zhao Yi. The few people in the shop were overjoyed upon hearing this, trembling with excitement! The butcher''s words clearly meant he wouldn''t kill them! Not only did they survive, but they also gained two talent points for free! Bai Shuiji, who was initially weak, could now walk without Fang Bai''s support after gaining a point of strength! Zhao Yi glanced at the people inside, showing his signature smile. "No... actually, I didn''t plan to take them all." "There are some things I can''t do, but you can help me with." "After all, you''ve done this many times before." The crowd''s expressions froze upon hearing this, then they suddenly realized, Zhao Yi was going to borrow a knife to kill! The butcher straightforwardly asked: "Who do you want to kill?" Zhao Yi''s gaze fell on Liu Han, whose face turned deathly pale! "No..." "Zhao Yi... you have no reason to kill me!" "I haven''t done anything to wrong you... I''m just like them!" Liu Han, sweating profusely, frantically explained. Zhao Yi gently flicked his hair with the middle finger of his left hand, smiling as he replied: "I never mind sharing meat with others." "But there are two things I can''t tolerate..." "First is someone eating the meat from my bowl." "Second is someone who relies on me to eat meat... wanting to eat the meat off my body!" "I have no interest in killing, but that doesn''t mean I won''t kill." "You should have understood this long ago... but it''s okay..." "Be careful in your next life." Chapter 40 – Butchers recording The Butcher, in front of everyone, skinned Liu Han alive. With one hand, he grabbed Liu Han, and with the other, he tore at Liu Han''s face. Amid Liu Han''s piercing screams and terrified eyes, he ripped off Liu Han''s skin entirely! Blood splattered everywhere. The hellish scene almost made Fang Bai and Bai Shuiji vomit! Even some guild members in the distance, though obscured by the dark curtain, could vaguely make out the scene, sending chills down their spines! Under the dim red light, Zhao Yi suddenly turned around and smiled at them. Half of his face hidden in the shadows looked as terrifying as a fierce ghost! They shivered and stumbled as they fled downstairs! "The guiding quest is completed. Do you want to go back?" Looking at the terrified Fang Bai and Bai Shuiji, Zhao Yi said earnestly: "Don''t worry, I''m not the kind of ruthless person. Killing is quite difficult for someone as kind and soft-hearted as me." Fang Bai cautiously glanced at Zhao Yi. Kind? Soft-hearted? Killing is difficult for you? Are you kidding me? If he hadn''t seen Zhao Yi casually kill two people just now, he might have been fooled by Zhao Yi''s harmlessly handsome face! "Anyway, these two attribute points are thanks to you, so I must thank you!" "As long as it''s not my life, everything else is negotiable!" Fang Bai gritted his teeth as he spoke. The situation had developed to this point, and he roughly understood that Zhao Yi was no ordinary person! He should have realized it earlier. How could the strongest person who emerged from thousands be someone kind-hearted? But Zhao Yi''s previous dungeon live stream, where he always brought along Yang Linlin, made all the viewers think he was a pushover. The four of them headed towards the guild''s base. On the way, they saw many players already starting to transport supplies. Fang Bai and Bai Shuiji walked behind Zhao Yi in silence for a while. Fang Bai looked up at Zhao Yi and Tian Tian ahead and suddenly said: "Zhao Yi..." Zhao Yi turned back. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What''s up?" Fang Bai''s expression was a bit conflicted. "You killed Xiang Weishan, and that might... cause some trouble!" "I heard from a friend before that Xiang Weishan has an older brother, also a member of the rogue guild. He joined early and is part of the core group. Although no one saw you personally kill Xiang Weishan, you completed the Butcher''s game, so his death is inevitably linked to you!" "I''m worried he might retaliate against you... In this matter, we really can''t help you, so be careful!" Fang Bai''s small team didn''t have much backing. Precisely because of this, someone like Zhao Yi was a rare find for them! Explore the extended edition on pawread dot com. Having gone through the Clown quest and the Butcher quest together, he saw Zhao Yi''s abilities and showed Zhao Yi his sincerity. Fang Bai, even under competitive conditions, helped Zhao Yi pack his food, proving he was completely different from ungrateful, cowardly people like Liu Han. "I''ll be careful." He wasn''t surprised that Xiang Weishan had a backer. Anyone with a bit of sense could guess that. In a world without legal constraints, gathering a group of people in such a short time couldn''t rely solely on not-so-impressive strength. Zhao Yi returned to the guild base, entered his room, turned on the computer, and began searching for the name Sun Baibai. The Hell Game forum recorded many things about the Chaotic Realm, so maybe he could find some clues in the posts! But after going through almost all the posts about ''Sun Baibai,'' Zhao Yi found nothing. Those named Sun Baibai were either NPCs from other places or players. Rubbing his temples, Zhao Yi fell into deep thought. Thinking is the fastest way to solve his doubts and calm himself down. Tasks issued by NPCs are usually designed. This means the Butcher''s daughter couldn''t have died inexplicably in an unknown gutter. Even if she did die in a gutter, she would definitely turn into a fierce ghost causing chaos! Zhao Yi pondered for a while and took out the recording device given by the Butcher. He clicked play. A noisy conversation came through. [Baibai, has the train arrived at Hanging Valley Town?] [Dad... it''s so cold here...] [Cold? Baibai, are you in Hanging Valley Town now?] [I''m... I don''t know... I can''t see, sob sob...] [Baibai! What happened? Don''t cry, tell Dad, Dad will figure something out!] [Sob sob Dad... I... they... I don''t want to go to Hanging Valley Town...] [What''s going on, Baibai, tell Dad clearly.] [Dad... Baibai is so cold... can you come and take Baibai home?] [Okay, Baibai, where are you? Dad will come get you now!] [I''m at... at...] [Hello? Baibai? Where are you? Baibai! Speak up! Don''t scare Dad! Baibai?!] [...] The two voices were urgent. Even from the recording, a few useful pieces of information could be gathered. 1. Sun Baibai boarded a train to Hanging Valley Town. 2. The Butcher wasn''t with his daughter, Sun Baibai. 3. Something must have happened during the train''s journey. Zhao Yi opened the system map. Most of the map between their guild area and Hanging Valley Town was undeveloped and blacked out. Those areas needed to be unlocked through quests. So he couldn''t go there now. It seemed the Butcher''s quest had to be put on hold for now. Thinking of this, Zhao Yi opened the system again to check the latest world quest. There were still a few days until the next month''s dungeon update, so he decided to see if this quest was something he could get involved in. ... [World Quest: Liberate the Resentment on the Train (Dungeon)] [Recommended Level: 3-6] [Recommended Players: 6] [Quest Reward: 2 Free Talent Points (only for participants)] [Description: You''ve arrived at an abandoned train station. After some searching, you discover a small train with six short carriages and a locomotive. Excited, you enter the train to inspect it, hoping to see if it can be started, only to find some strange figures in the carriages...] ... Chapter 41 – Trouble comes to the door This quest is marked for levels three to six. And Zhao Yi is currently at level three. The quest is in dungeon mode, which means once a player decides to take on this quest, they must complete it! Either complete the quest... or die! This isn''t like the previous Butcher game, where players could run back to the guild headquarters and act like a coward while helping the Butcher deliver takeout. There, players were absolutely safe. Even if the Butcher really wanted to kill the players, it was impossible! But this quest is different. Any quest that appears in dungeon form will inevitably transport the player into an independent space-time! Players have no way to escape! Liu Ruoqing had already warned Zhao Yi that the world quests in the Chaotic Realm are far more dangerous than dungeons. Moreover, since players only have one life in the world quest, unless they have special items like a substitute doll, death means real death, with no chance of revival. He wasn''t in a hurry. Zhao Yi closed the computer, leaned back in his chair, and gently rubbed his hands. His hands, which had lost fingers, itched intensely. Tearing off the bandage with his teeth, he saw his severed fingers regenerating at a speed visible to the naked eye! First the bones, then the nerves, capillaries, and finally the muscles. In about three to five minutes, his hand was as good as new! It was miraculous, but in this bizarre world, it didn''t seem so hard to accept. Bang! A heavy knocking sound came from outside the door. To be precise, it sounded more like a kick. Zhao Yi went to the door, opened it, and found a group of menacing-looking people standing outside! They looked fierce, with cold and mocking eyes fixed on Zhao Yi. "Who are you looking for?" This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV. Zhao Yi asked knowingly. "For you." The tattooed man leading the group, smoking a cigarette, had his nostrils flared arrogantly. If the situation weren''t so inappropriate, Zhao Yi would have liked to ask him what brand of shampoo he used to make his nose hair so shiny and robust! "Although I know saying this might make me seem childish, not styling your lush and flowing nose hair into an interesting hairstyle is really a disservice to your nostrils, which are bigger than dermatitis." As soon as Zhao Yi spoke, the tattooed man''s blood rushed to his head! What a sharp tongue! He clenched his fists, wanting to enter Zhao Yi''s room, but it was clearly futile. Not even Uncle Quan, the guild leader, could get in if he wanted to! "You''ve caused a big mess and don''t even realize it, yet you dare insult me here?" "I think you''re tired of living!" The man pressed against the air wall at the door, eyes blazing with anger! Seeing the man look like he wanted to tear him apart, a light bulb went off in Zhao Yi''s head. He immediately grabbed a large durian from his coffee table and placed it on the floor by the door. "This thing was a gift from Sister Liu. I wanted to eat it, but couldn''t find the tools. Since you''re all just standing around, why not help me open the durian?" The people outside paused in their breathing, looking at Zhao Yi as if he were an idiot, wondering what was wrong with him. Anyone with eyes should know they were here to cause trouble. And this guy actually wanted them to help him open a durian? "You don''t seem to understand your current situation... but I can be merciful enough to tell you..." The tattooed man pressed against the air wall tried to make his expression as fierce as possible to intimidate Zhao Yi. "No need." Zhao Yi decisively interrupted him, took a step back, and revoked the permission. The air wall disappeared, and the tattooed man, caught off guard, stumbled forward onto the floor! "Shit!" He yelped, eyes wide as he watched his forehead slam into the spiky durian! Splat! The durian split open. With a bit of blood. Zhao Yi squatted on the floor, looking at the durian smashed into pieces, and patted the tattooed man''s head like he was petting a dog, praising: "Your forehead is impressive!" "Have you practiced Iron Head Kung Fu?" The tattooed man, lying on the floor, had never been humiliated like this by a rookie. He trembled all over, his anger clouding his mind! "I practice your mom!" He roared like a mad beast, slapped the ground, and jumped up, ready to punch Zhao Yi to vent his anger. However, in the next moment, he was thrown out of the room by a terrifying force! Like throwing out the trash. It turned out Zhao Yi had closed the room''s shared permissions! Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Thanks for opening the durian for me." Zhao Yi took a bite of the durian fruit and smiled at the tattooed man outside, whose eyes were ablaze. The tattooed man hammered the air wall at Zhao Yi''s door, sneering: "If you have the guts, stay inside forever..." Bang! Before he could finish his threat, Zhao Yi had already closed the door, leaving him with a large 404 room number. The smile on the tattooed man''s face froze as he looked at the room number, feeling like his lungs were about to explode! This rookie... this rookie named Zhao Yi... Damn it! Damn it! Damn it! How dare he? How dare he be so disrespectful to him?! As his face turned dark and stormy, inappropriate laughter came from the side. "Pfft!" The tattooed man turned his head slowly at the sound, facing a skinny underling with his durian-covered face. "What are you laughing at?" He asked coldly. The underling immediately wiped the smile off his face, shivering all over. "I... just thought of something happy!" The tattooed man approached step by step, his presence so oppressive that the thin underling couldn''t breathe. "What happy thing?" "Speak!" The underling wore a mournful expression. "Before we came in..." "My wife... died in childbirth!" "Old Wang next door cried harder than I did!" "Do you think he''s stupid?" Everyone turned to him with a look of brotherly solidarity. The tattooed man no longer blamed him, choosing to forgive, and walked downstairs with a belly full of anger. "Keep an eye on this brat 24/7 for me, I don''t believe he won''t come out!" "This guy is someone the boss wants, don''t be sloppy or careless!" "Yes!" A group of underlings bowed, holding their weapons and keeping a close watch on Zhao Yi''s door. ... That evening, as usual, Zhao Yi was caught while going out for a walk after dinner and taken to room 511 of the guild headquarters. A middle-aged man, who looked gentle and refined, sat in the room, slowly brewing tea. He exuded a strong aura of authority. "Was Weishan with you during the Butcher game?" The middle-aged man asked slowly. Zhao Yi replied: "Yes." The middle-aged man put down the purple clay teapot, glanced at Zhao Yi, and said calmly: "How did he die?" Zhao Yi: "I killed him." "Why did you kill him?" Faced with the middle-aged man''s question, Zhao Yi fell into thought. After a long time, he looked up with a chilling smile. "If you ask me who killed Xiang Weishan, I''ll honestly tell you it was me." "But if you ask me why I killed him, I really can''t answer right away." "Maybe because... it was fun?" As he said this, the people around him instinctively took a small step back. Even though they were all players above level ten, they shouldn''t have reacted this way to a rookie like Zhao Yi. But at that moment... they inexplicably felt a chill down their spines! Chapter 42 – Liu Ruoqings visit In extreme survival environments, it''s not uncommon for people to kill each other out of selfishness, and such occurrences have become routine. But there''s a small group of people whose killings aren''t for survival. Clearly, Zhao Yi is part of this small group. And he''s a particularly dangerous part. He kills because he finds it fun, which isn''t a suitable reason¡ªor rather, there''s no reason at all. That''s why such people are extremely dangerous. One moment he might be joking with you, and the next, he could pull out a shotgun and blow your head off like a watermelon. You never know when you''ve landed on his hit list. Unlike the other underlings, the middle-aged man drinking tea appeared very calm. He looked at Zhao Yi seriously and asked: "Do you know who I am?" Zhao Yi replied: "No idea." "Let me guess... you''re Xiang Weishan''s brother?" The middle-aged man nodded. "That''s right. Since you''ve heard of me, you should understand what kind of person I, Xiang Babang, am..." Before he could finish, Zhao Yi interrupted him. "No, actually, I haven''t heard of you." "And I seriously doubt you''re your father''s biological son... If not for Old Wang''s interference, your father really shouldn''t have given you such a personally vindictive name." Zhao Yi said this very seriously, not just slandering. If it weren''t for Old Wang''s meddling, how could a father give his son such an outrageous name? The underlings in the room turned pale, occasionally casting sympathetic glances. Having served Xiang Babang for so long, they knew well how ruthless he was! And they understood that as the leader of the Fierce Charge Gang, Xiang Babang hated people making jokes about his name the most. Zhao Yi was courting death! "You think you''re funny?" Xiang Babang''s eyelids drooped slightly, a hint of murderous intent in his tone! "Not bad, I do consider myself quite humorous." "Describing me with just ''handsome'' seems a bit lacking." Zhao Yi boldly sat on the sofa in Xiang Babang''s room, crossed his legs, and opened a bottle of water. Xiang Babang had been navigating this bizarre world for years, finally climbing to his current position, barely becoming a local tyrant in the guild. Usually, rookies would go to great lengths to flatter him, but Zhao Yi was a bold and audacious maverick. The tattooed man from earlier pulled out a gun and aimed it at the back of Zhao Yi''s head, his gaze sharp. As soon as Xiang Babang gave the order, he would blow Zhao Yi''s head off. Although players wouldn''t die in the guild''s base, precisely because they wouldn''t die, they had countless ways to torture Zhao Yi until he went mad! "You dare kill the boss''s brother, you should pay the price!" The tattooed man''s face was extremely ferocious, vividly recalling Zhao Yi''s earlier humiliation! As a veteran in the Hell game, being humiliated by a rookie, how could he hold his head high in front of his underlings in the future? "I understand, he can kill me, but I can''t kill him." Even with a gun to his head, Zhao Yi remained unfazed. "Because he has a good brother, and I don''t." Xiang Babang squinted his eyes, coldly saying: "Since you understand this principle, you shouldn''t have killed my brother!" Zhao Yi drank some water and placed the bottle on the coffee table. Then he made a gun gesture with his hand, aiming at Xiang Babang. "Do you know what I''m thinking?" Xiang Babang coldly replied: "I don''t need to know a madman''s thoughts, but soon... you''ll know what I''m thinking..." Zhao Yi interrupted him, his expression suddenly becoming extremely fierce and unwilling! "I''m thinking, if I had a shotgun right now, I could blow your head off with one shot!" Seeing Zhao Yi''s expression, Xiang Babang wasn''t angry but pleased, feeling like he had regained some ground, his demeanor returning. He brushed off the dust from his clothes, lit a cigarette, and sneered: "Look at you, pathetic like a worm, so poor you can''t even afford a gun!" "I..." Bang! Before he could finish, a shotgun appeared in Zhao Yi''s hand, and he pulled the trigger, blasting Xiang Babang''s head to pieces! Blood and flesh splattered everywhere! A wisp of smoke slowly rose from the dark muzzle of Zhao Yi''s gun. Everyone in the room was stunned, silent as the grave! In the guild''s base, even if a player was burned to ashes, they could resurrect, but that wasn''t important... What was important was that a level-three rookie player had just shot a level-twenty-two player in his own room! "Did you think he should have dodged that shot?" Zhao Yi smiled, putting away the gun under the shocked and hostile gazes of everyone. He had done what he needed to do. Zhao Yi knew it would be difficult to leave this room on his own today. But before these people could kill him, he decided to do something first. He knew that with the other party on guard, he had no way to harm Xiang Babang. So, he once again used his words and acting skills to divert Xiang Babang''s attention, creating the illusion that he didn''t have a gun, and finally, unexpectedly, pulled out the gun and took him down. Perhaps Xiang Babang''s strength was high, but clearly, he hadn''t exchanged for any powerful bloodlines or strong ghostly limbs, so his body couldn''t withstand the shotgun Yang Linlin had given Zhao Yi. He shattered Xiang Babang''s head. The next moment, the tattooed man, who had come to his senses, also shot Zhao Yi''s head to pieces! ... Zhao Yi was no stranger to death. Not long after he lost consciousness, he found himself in a familiar dark cage. Inside were thousands of bizarre and terrifying monsters, chained tightly to bronze pillars, roaring madly at Zhao Yi! Zhao Yi was a regular here. He wasn''t afraid of these terrifying monsters; on the contrary, they were afraid of him. Because they were the ones Zhao Yi had captured from the outside world and imprisoned here. ¡ªFrom Zhao Yi''s patients. In their eyes, Zhao Yi had no form. He was an unknown secret. An unreadable truth. The master of this unknown edge! Anger, jealousy, obsession, brutality, bloodlust... Zhao Yi could clearly call out the names of these monsters he had locked up here. As soon as he approached, those monsters that roared angrily at him would bow their heads and play dead. As Zhao Yi patrolled his world, a crack suddenly appeared in the gray sky, letting out a beam of light. Zhao Yi looked up. "Revived so soon?" He sighed. ... When he opened his eyes again, Zhao Yi was tied to an electric chair. The bright light made Zhao Yi somewhat uncomfortable. In front of him was a group of vicious people, looking at Zhao Yi with mocking and cruel smiles. Xiang Babang had already cleaned the blood off himself, changed into a clean and tidy suit, his face so dark it seemed like it could drip water! To be honest, Zhao Yi''s shot earlier hadn''t harmed his body, but it had severely damaged his spirit! With so many underlings watching, a level-twenty-two veteran player being shot in the head by a level-three rookie in his own room¡ªwhat a humiliation! What a disgrace! If word got out, where would he put his face? Xiang Babang couldn''t accept it! He decided not to waste words with someone like Zhao Yi and went straight for the torture devices! First, let Zhao Yi experience extreme pain, make him scream and beg for mercy, regain his dignity, and then, once Zhao Yi left the guild''s base on his own, they''d find a way to deal with him! "Do you know what this is?" Xiang Babang raised his right hand, holding the controller, and asked fiercely. "Ah, the electric chair... Well, for ordinary people, it''s indeed a hard-to-bear punishment. However, for me... it''s obviously not very effective." Zhao Yi''s face still bore that creepy smile. Seeing this smile, Xiang Babang was suddenly infuriated, veins bulging on his neck, the cultivated demeanor disappearing, replaced by madness! He slammed the button on the controller, and a strong electric current instantly coursed through Zhao Yi''s body! S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zzz! Zhao Yi convulsed violently, his hair exploding into a mess, his skin sparking under the strong current, quickly turning white. Within seconds, everyone could clearly smell the aroma of cooked meat in the air... Zhao Yi hung his head, motionless. About a minute later, Zhao Yi''s injuries began to heal, and he gradually regained consciousness. "How does it feel?" Xiang Babang sneered. Zhao Yi replied: "Not bad. Strong electric shocks can bring immense pain in a short time, but if you can get used to it... it''s actually quite pleasant." "Why don''t you give it a few more tries?" Xiang Babang''s smile froze. Everyone felt their breath catch. Pleasant? This Zhao Yi... could he have a masochistic tendency? Damn! How do you deal with this? The group, at a loss, looked to Xiang Babang for guidance. Xiang Babang stared at Zhao Yi, bloodshot eyes. "You must be in pain... why pretend?" "If it hurts, scream!" "Don''t hold it in!" Zhao Yi lowered his eyes, glanced at the controller in his hand, and said: "Can I have that?" Xiang Babang, hearing this, mocked: "What?" "Acting tough earlier, now you''re scared?" Zhao Yi replied: "No, I think the product experience was pretty good. If you don''t press it, I can do it myself." Xiang Babang: "???" The group stared at Zhao Yi, speechless for a moment. This guy... definitely has some issues! Seeing them silent, Zhao Yi continued on his own: "Actually, just playing with the electric chair is a bit dull. You could add some variety!" "Like boiling a frog in warm water, roasting quail eggs... Do you know what''s the most extreme?" The group shook their heads numbly. Zhao Yi shook the electric chair violently, moving forward a few steps, startling Xiang Babang! He quickly drew his soul weapon, a large electric baton, aiming at Zhao Yi, tense all over! In the past, he would have found his behavior shameful. A level-twenty-two veteran player, facing a rookie, yet still on high alert! But now, after Zhao Yi had blown his head off, he was worried Zhao Yi might pull another trick and kill him again when he wasn''t looking! If that happened again, he''d truly lose face! But this time, Zhao Yi clearly had no intention or ability to harm him again. Seeing Xiang Babang''s wary expression, Zhao Yi excitedly said: "The most extreme method was told to me by a patient before¡ªskinning!" "You prepare a pot of mercury, then cut a cross on my head, and pour the mercury in. The weight of the mercury will separate my skin from the muscle tissue, all the way down... Finally, a complete human skin is made!" "Usually, at this point, I should still be alive, and I can jump out of my skin... and dance for everyone, for entertainment!" As Zhao Yi spoke, he became more and more excited, animatedly! The group watched Zhao Yi, saliva flying, feeling a chill, instinctively moving away from him... This guy... is he even human? Seeing him like this, Xiang Babang slumped into the chair behind him, lighting a cigarette with a troubled expression. This was probably the first time he had been so troubled about how to torture someone. In the guild''s base, a safe zone, they couldn''t kill Zhao Yi, nor could they drag him out of the guild''s base. So torture and threats were their only way to make a player quickly admit their mistakes. But now... this method was completely ineffective on Zhao Yi! This guy... might not only be a masochist but also an extremely twisted madman and pervert! After a long time. Xiang Babang extinguished the cigarette. Before he could speak, a crisp knock came from the door. An underling, under Xiang Babang''s signal, opened the door. A beautiful and enchanting figure appeared. Fiery red lips, eyes full of allure. "Zhao Yi, come with me." Liu Ruoqing spoke lazily. Zhao Yi shook the electric chair violently, trying to turn around, then, while tied up, used his gluteal muscles skillfully to inch like a snail to the door. None of the fierce underlings dared to stop him. Their eyes, filled with blatant desire, held an indelible fear when looking at Liu Ruoqing. "In my territory, taking someone without notifying me, isn''t that against the rules?" Xiang Babang, already in a foul mood today, had his day ruined by Zhao Yi, losing face! Now Liu Ruoqing came and directly ignored him, wanting to take Zhao Yi away, almost as if throwing his face on the ground and stomping on it. How could someone as arrogant and domineering as him tolerate this? As Zhao Yi moved out of the room, Liu Ruoqing flicked her fingers, and the ropes on Zhao Yi fell off! Then Liu Ruoqing looked up at Xiang Babang, a hint of confusion in her beautiful eyes. "And who are you?" Those three words froze the air. Xiang Babang clenched his fists, veins bulging on his forehead, but he still tried to keep his expression from collapsing. He wanted to rush out and kill Liu Ruoqing. But he knew... he wasn''t a match for Liu Ruoqing! The difference in their strength... was too great! This seemingly seductive mature woman was one of the top combat forces in the Bone Zone! No matter how angry he was... he had to endure! Chapter 43 – World Quest Dungeon Opened "I haven''t seen you on the seventh floor." Liu Ruoqing''s tone carried a hint of indifference. The seventh floor was where the top-tier veterans of the All Freeloaders guild resided. Only those recognized by these veterans were qualified to move in. This created a stark contrast in status between players on the seventh floor and those below, a gap that became more pronounced as players grew stronger. This was why many newcomers coveted Liu Ruoqing''s beauty, but the longer they survived and the stronger they became, the more they feared her. "Also..." "I can''t control what happens in the dungeon, but if you dare to cause trouble at the guild''s base..." Liu Ruoqing flashed a playful smile at Xiang Babang. His face turned from anger to pale in an instant, his clenched fists trembling, and cold sweat broke out on his back. Liu Ruoqing turned and led Zhao Yi away. Xiang Babang sat in silence for a long time before instructing the tattooed man beside him. The latter''s expression was peculiar, a sinister grin hidden beneath his icy demeanor. We are "pawread dot com", find us on google. "Go, and keep it clean. Don''t cause me any trouble," Xiang Babang said coldly. The tattooed man nodded and left the room. ... Bang. The woman closed the door, rolling her eyes at Zhao Yi, who was peeling a mandarin on the sofa. "You''re quite at home." Zhao Yi replied, "The view from the seventh floor is nice." Liu Ruoqing plopped down on the sofa opposite Zhao Yi, crossing her legs. Her silk robe slipped, revealing a tantalizing pair of long legs. "What''s so great about it? It''s the same as below." Zhao Yi ate the mandarin, wiped his hands with a tissue, and looked at Liu Ruoqing, who was studying him with interest. "You saved me. What do you want me to do for you?" Liu Ruoqing propped her delicate chin with one hand, her tone playful. "Can''t it be that I just wanted to stand up for you?" Zhao Yi laughed. "It could be, but I don''t like owing people favors. Besides, I think a woman like you must be more ruthless and cunning than most, which is why those scoundrels fear you so much." Liu Ruoqing covered her mouth and laughed. "You''re interesting... So, guess why I saved you?" Zhao Yi thought for a moment. "I don''t know, but it''s definitely not because I''m handsome." Liu Ruoqing rolled her eyes, poured herself a small glass of red wine, and sipped it. "You look like someone I know." Zhao Yi chuckled, "An ex-boyfriend?" Liu Ruoqing blinked her big eyes, "Exactly." Zhao Yi was taken aback. Liu Ruoqing continued, "I still have some unresolved issues with him." "Then why not just find him?" "He''s dead." "How did he die?" ... "Is Sister Liu your informant?" Fang Bai smiled wryly, opening a beer and handing it to Zhao Yi. "I saw you being taken away and got worried. I don''t have any connections or abilities, so I went to the guild''s top brass. Uncle Quan and the others seemed busy, so only Sister Liu and an old player who wouldn''t open his door were on the seventh floor. Luckily, Sister Liu is kind-hearted, or you''d be in trouble!" Zhao Yi smiled without saying anything. After a few bites, he changed the subject. "How many died in the new quest?" "Six teams went, six teams died. Six people per team, thirty-six in total." Fang Bai explained to Zhao Yi, looking a bit hesitant and worried. "I''m not sure I dare take on this quest. It might be beyond our capabilities!" Zhao Yi bit into a spicy lamb intestine, oil dripping from his mouth. "How will you know if you don''t try? If you guys don''t go, I''ll go alone." Fang Bai glanced at Zhao Yi, feeling increasingly conflicted. He wanted to be as bold and reckless as Zhao Yi, but he couldn''t bring himself to gamble with his life. Two talent points. One life. They couldn''t afford to lose! "The bodies of the dead were left to rot at the station, in a horrific state, almost unrecognizable. It seems they suffered immense fear and pain before dying." "The most troublesome part is that no information has come from the dungeon, and no one knows what it''s like inside." Bai Shuiji also coveted those two talent points, but the terrifying death rate of the quest made her hesitate. Zhao Yi turned to Tian Tian and asked, "Are you going, Tian Tian?" Tian Tian, who was busy eating, seemed not to understand what Zhao Yi was saying but agreed anyway. This girl, like before, seemed indifferent to everything around her, including her own life. After dinner, Fang Bai and Zhao Yi clinked bottles and drank two beers. During this time, Bai Shuiji changed her mind and decided to go with Zhao Yi. The events of the Butcher game made Bai Shuiji realize the importance of strength in this world. "Good luck!" Fang Bai saw them off at the guild''s base. The three of them headed once more to the abandoned station. Entering through the station entrance, they greeted the Clown and proceeded to the platform through the ticket gate. The dim platform was littered with broken bodies, but fortunately, many players were around to help clean up. Otherwise, the gruesome scene would be enough to scare off some timid newcomers! Beside the platform stood a short train on the overgrown tracks, its rusty exterior bearing the marks of time. Not far from the locomotive''s door, a mysterious glowing circle shone. Most players kept their distance, seemingly wary of it. It appeared to be the dungeon''s entrance. "Don''t run away! Just because many have died doesn''t mean you shouldn''t do the quest!" "Two talent points!" Four people stood near the circle, trying to recruit others. The dungeon required a minimum of five and a maximum of nine players to open, but no one was willing to join them. Zhao Yi and his group approached, introducing themselves briefly. The four were a greasy middle-aged man with a receding hairline named Wang Xu, a quiet girl named Li Miaomiao, a muscular young man named Wen Long, and a white-haired old lady leaning on a cane named Qin Xiufang. When they heard Zhao Yi was in the team, their expressions changed subtly. The middle-aged man even warmly chatted with Zhao Yi. Li Miaomiao shot a look of disgust at the greasy man, seemingly repulsed by his clumsy attempt to cozy up to Zhao Yi. "Since everyone is ready, shall we go in?" The first to speak was the old lady, Qin Xiufang. The others exchanged glances. Wang Xu said, "Alright, given how many have died, there must be unimaginable dangers inside. We must stick together!" He extended his hand in the middle, signaling everyone to join in. Li Miaomiao hesitated but reluctantly placed her hand on top. "Good luck, everyone!" Wang Xu shouted, rallying them. Then, they stepped into the circle, a white light enveloping them, and they lost consciousness... ... Boom¡ª A loud thunderclap sounded, and after being shrouded by dark clouds for so long, the rain finally unleashed its fury on the ground! Zhao Yi opened his eyes to find himself in the sixth carriage of the train. He surveyed his surroundings. Outside, it was dark and stormy. The platform was in ruins, devoid of life except for raindrops, and the players'' fragmented bodies were nowhere to be seen. The carriage was filled with a mix of dust and rust. It was vast and empty, the lights flickering incessantly. The atmosphere was cold and deathly silent, with no other players in sight. It seemed they had been scattered. Slowly rising, Zhao Yi moved to the aisle, ready to explore, when a creepy laugh echoed behind him. "Hee hee hee..." Zhao Yi heard the laugh but didn''t turn around. Instead, he continued to explore ahead, collecting important items like a box of scattered pencils and an old, graffiti-covered metal pencil case. Since the dungeon''s task was to unravel these grievances, Zhao Yi needed to understand what had happened here. "Hee hee hee..." The eerie laugh sounded again, closer this time. It was a little girl''s voice, but Zhao Yi still didn''t turn around. He examined the pencil case carefully. It was sturdy, not easily deformed by a single hand... but the one Zhao Yi held was twisted from side pressure. Zhao Yi glanced to the corner of the carriage, where a tattered backpack and a small black suitcase lay. He pondered for a moment. Putting away the pencil case, he approached the backpack. Inside were elementary school textbooks and notebooks, covered with children''s colorful doodles. They held little value. The notebooks were neatly written, with a parent''s signature on every page, indicating the child''s parents cared about their child''s... academics. Zhao Yi''s gaze shifted to the small black suitcase in the corner. ... [Luggage: High-level danger] [Note: You have enough curiosity, but... never try to open it!] ... Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi seemed to understand something and walked directly to the suitcase. As he reached it, the eerie laugh came right behind him, almost whispering in his ear! "Hee hee hee... Open it..." "Open it!" "Open it!!" "Open it!!!" Chapter 44 – It will keep staring at you The voice lingering in Zhao Yi''s ear possessed a magical power. It seemed to have some control over the player''s actions. Zhao Yi''s fingers involuntarily touched the zipper of the suitcase. The eerie voice kept urging Zhao Yi to open the black suitcase, but his hand remained still on the zipper. Gradually, the voice grew impatient, but Zhao Yi was as stubborn as a dead pig unafraid of boiling water. Eventually, Zhao Yi even stood up, ignoring the voice entirely, and walked towards the fifth carriage. Behind him, a small, twisted black shadow watched Zhao Yi''s back with extreme resentment in its eyes! Its shadow slowly dissipated, but before long, Zhao Yi unexpectedly returned to the carriage in reverse! His hand, once again as if guided by some unseen force, touched the black suitcase. The eerie shadow reappeared as expected, a delighted smile on its pale, cold face, standing behind Zhao Yi, tilting its head and shouting: "Yes, just like that! Open it!!!" "Op¡ª" The voice abruptly stopped mid-sentence. The development of the situation seemed to differ somewhat from its expectations. In front of it, Zhao Yi''s left hand gently caressed the black suitcase, while his right hand suddenly pulled out a gleaming scalpel! He flashed a bright smile and then stabbed fiercely into the suitcase! Squelch! With the first stab, he clearly felt it sink into a pile of sludge, and then putrid blood began to seep out through the seams! The black suitcase thumped and struggled violently! Zhao Yi gripped the scalpel tightly and began to stab precisely and frantically along the small gap! With a strength of 21 points, his hand speed was faster than many homebound novelists'' phase rush, and each stab of the scalpel hit the same spot accurately! For other players, this kind of attack would have little effect on specters or monsters with strong vitality. But Zhao Yi was different. His Soul Weapon had slight chaos damage! Although he didn''t know the exact value of this damage, judging by the amount of blood splattering with each attack, this slight chaos damage was already enough! Since this specter couldn''t come out on its own... Zhao Yi had no reason to hold back! After over a thousand stabs, Zhao Yi finally heard the system notification in his ear! [Congratulations on killing the Vengeful Ghost, Soul Weapon has been enhanced] [Attempting to reconstruct Evil Deity Meme... 0.02%... Reconstruction failed, insufficient energy, please keep trying...] [From this meme reconstruction, you gained 4 Strength, and your Soul Weapon acquired a slight chaotic power] "Is it finally dead?" From the black suitcase, a large amount of putrid blood seeped through the seams, staining Zhao Yi''s body and face. The eerie voice in his ear had disappeared at some point. The ghostly shadow close to him cautiously retreated, seemingly afraid of disturbing the silent Zhao Yi... However, it accidentally made a small noise. The ghost shadow instantly tensed up! It held its breath, not daring to exhale. Yet Zhao Yi, holding the scalpel, slowly turned around. His blood-stained face bore a strange smile, and his eyes glowed red. He looked like a fierce ghost crawling out of hell! The floating black shadow was so frightened by Zhao Yi''s expression that it fell to the ground, scrambling backward! "You... you, don''t come any closer!" The ghost retreated frantically, its heart leaping to its throat as Zhao Yi approached step by step! Damn it! What kind of person is this? Damn it, why is he so fierce! Is he going to kill me? Finally, it was cornered by Zhao Yi into a dead end of the sixth carriage, its back pressed tightly against the wall, trembling! As Zhao Yi got closer, he finally saw the ghost''s appearance. It was a little girl. She looked very cute, but also a bit not cute. "Woo woo woo..." She curled up in a corner, sobbing softly. "I didn''t mean to harm you, I was forced..." Zhao Yi stepped forward, put away the scalpel, and patted her head, comforting her: "Don''t be afraid, I''m a good person." The little ghost girl looked up with tearful eyes, her pale, decaying face appearing so aggrieved at that moment. "Really, uncle?" A vein popped on Zhao Yi''s forehead, and he suddenly grabbed the ghost girl''s neck. "You damn... call me brother!" The little ghost girl quickly corrected herself. "Brother!" Zhao Yi immediately wore a loving expression, released his grip, and gently patted her head. "That''s better. Let me ask you, what happened on this train before?" The little ghost girl bit her lip, her face pale. "I... I can''t say!" "It... it watches me, if I say anything, it will sense it immediately!" Zhao Yi squinted his eyes. "Who is ''it''?" The little ghost girl shook her head, trembling violently! "The textbook on page thirty-eight of ''Teacher''s Talk'' taught us that secrets shouldn''t be casually told to others." "I''m a good child, I can''t speak ill!" Zhao Yi glanced at the graffiti-covered textbook beside the suitcase, patted the little ghost girl''s head. "Brother understands, if you don''t want to say, brother won''t ask." He turned around, approached the black suitcase, tossed the textbook into his storage space, and packed other items into the tattered backpack, placing scattered pens into the pencil case. Then Zhao Yi stood up, returned the backpack to the little ghost girl, and smiled: "Don''t throw your things around, or you''ll cry when you can''t find them later." The little ghost girl froze for a moment, awkwardly accepting the worn backpack Zhao Yi handed her, hugging it to her chest. She lowered her head, her hair covering her face, lost in thought. Zhao Yi turned to leave for the fifth carriage, the little ghost girl called out as she watched his back: "Thank you, brother!" Zhao Yi turned back, smiling slightly. "You''re welcome." The little ghost girl looked conflicted, but finally gritted her teeth and said: "Brother, go to the first carriage!" Zhao Yi paused for a moment, then waved at the little ghost girl. "Got it!" Watching Zhao Yi leave the sixth carriage and enter the black mist of the fifth carriage, the little ghost girl''s gaze returned to the black suitcase, hugging her worn backpack tightly, tears of blood streaming down... ... Between the sixth and fifth carriages, there was a short walkway. Old green trains were like this. After leaving the sixth carriage, Zhao Yi took out the little girl''s textbook and turned to page 38. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sure enough, there was an article titled "Teacher''s Talk." Support us at . It was covered with dense notes in four different colored pens. At first glance, it seemed like nothing, but after scanning it several times, Zhao Yi discovered the hidden message. The circled words in the same color could be pieced together to form a sentence. ... [The control room has the latest morning paper and map.] [Starting the train requires diesel.] [Do not go to the driver''s cabin.] [It will keep watching you!] Chapter 45 – Do you long for freedom? As Zhao Yi stepped into the pitch-black fog, his vision blurred for a moment before it cleared again. Inside the fifth carriage, the players were a greasy middle-aged man named Wang Xu and a pale, cold woman named Li Miaomiao. They were huddled in a corner by a pot of eerie blue flames, shivering and whispering to each other. The sudden appearance of another person in the carriage naturally drew attention. The two players and three specters all turned their eyes to Zhao Yi, staring blankly. The two players were visibly thrilled and excited! Clearly, they had encountered some insurmountable difficulty, and Zhao Yi''s arrival instantly gave them hope! "Great! Zhao Yi, you''re here!" "Come save us!" Wang Xu waved at Zhao Yi, his face covered in sweat. His hand was trembling, whether from excitement or fear was unclear. Zhao Yi approached the three specters. They had pale faces, devoid of any color, and their gazes were icy cold. "Outsiders are forbidden from participating in the game!" It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from "pawread dot com". "Unless you''re willing to wager your life!" As soon as the specters finished speaking, the expressions of the two players changed dramatically! Seeing Zhao Yi hesitate, Li Miaomiao frowned and said: "Zhao Yi, what are you hesitating for?" "We''re all in the same boat now. If you just stand by and watch, isn''t that a bit too selfish?" The middle-aged man hurriedly waved his hand upon hearing this: "This game isn''t difficult. With your abilities, you should be able to complete it easily." Zhao Yi glanced at Li Miaomiao and raised an eyebrow. "Playing a game, huh?" "Alright, what''s the game?" Seeing Zhao Yi agree, Wang Xu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Li Miaomiao, this woman, who knows which family princess she is from, raised to be so delicate, always acting superior when talking to others. A simple sentence could be said nicely, but she had to stand on the moral high ground and point fingers at others. He was really afraid that Li Miaomiao would offend Zhao Yi, and Zhao Yi would just leave them behind! Luckily, this rookie ranking leader seemed to have a good temper... quite easy to get along with. While he was lost in his own thoughts, Zhao Yi had already joined the game. The specters reiterated the rules to the three of them. "This game is called Guess Guess Guess." "Within ten minutes, you must find out how we died." "You can ask a total of three questions. We won''t lie in response, but you can''t directly ask about our cause of death." "If you fail the task, we will take one arm from each of them." "And you... will die!" After the evil spirit finished speaking, Zhao Yi glanced at the two players. Li Miaomiao maintained her aloof and arrogant demeanor, arms crossed. In her eyes, it seemed only natural for Zhao Yi to risk his life to save her arm! The middle-aged man also showed no shame, wearing a sycophantic smile. "Moreover, they''ve already used up their questions, leaving only one." "Think carefully before you ask." The three specters wore greedy smiles, their ghostly green eyes examining Zhao Yi''s flesh. This was like a piece of pork falling from the sky¡ªwhy not eat it? Zhao Yi stroked his chin, pondering seriously for a moment. "Well... since I have to ask a question..." "Alright, let me ask you... do you long for freedom?" As soon as Zhao Yi opened his mouth, everyone, human and ghost alike, was stunned. Damn it! Who the hell told you to ask such a useless philosophical question at this time? Li Miaomiao finally couldn''t suppress her displeasure, her eyes blazing. "Great, the only good opportunity wasted." She was so angry she threw up her hands, her expression as if she had eaten something foul. "First, Wang Xu wasted two questions, and now you''ve wasted one. Ha, with your attitude, I really don''t know how you got to the top of the ranking!" "Men are indeed useless breeding tools. If this were a matriarchal era, you wouldn''t even be fit to handle our waste!" Zhao Yi ignored her, looking seriously at the three specters, repeating his question. "Do you long for freedom?" "Answer me." The three specters fell silent. They had said they would answer any question truthfully, without lying. The word "freedom" seemed to be a distant past for them... a precious thing they could no longer hope for. "We long for it." "Desperately long for it." "But freedom is beyond reach!" One of the specters even sighed. But it was only for a moment before its expression returned to its icy state. "Alright!" "You''ve asked your questions!" "Now, it''s time to guess our causes of death." "Guess correctly, and you''re temporarily safe. Guess wrong, and you''ll be dealt with according to the rules!" As the specter finished speaking, Wang Xu''s shiny bald head glistened even more, cold sweat trickling down his forehead as he swallowed nervously. He was scared. Li Miaomiao was equally pale, her fear momentarily silencing her sharp tongue. Under the watchful eyes of the three specters, her body shook like a leaf, inching towards the corner! Their hearts pounded loudly, and at this moment, besides stalling for time, they had no idea what else to do! At the critical moment, after sneaking a peek at the data of the three specters, Zhao Yi suddenly spoke. He pointed at the fat specter on the far left, which had obvious strangulation marks on its neck and pieces of flesh hanging from its body, and said: "You were murdered. Someone strangled you to eat your flesh." Then, he turned to the hunched, thin specter in the middle and said: "You died of asthma, suffocating to death on the train without medication." Finally, he looked at the closest specter, the one with the most twisted body, the most ferocious face, and the greatest resentment, and said: "You died by suicide." A strange silence ensued. The three specters scrutinized Zhao Yi for a long time before slowly speaking: "You have completed the game." "For now, you are safe." Zhao Yi extended his hand to the three specters, shaking each of their hands, and smiled amidst their cold stares: "I am like you. I also long for freedom." "And... I''m willing to give everything for it!" The three specters exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with a faint light. In the corner, Wang Xu and Li Miaomiao were basking in the joy of surviving a disaster, not fully recovered yet. Wang Xu habitually echoed: "Yes! Yes!" "I like freedom too!" "We''re actually all the same!" "There''s no need to tear each other apart!" But no one paid him any attention. Zhao Yi looked at the path leading to the fourth carriage, as if he had thought of something, and tentatively asked the three specters who had returned to their seats: "What happened on this train?" The three specters'' expressions were subtle, and they said nothing. Zhao Yi had already anticipated this outcome. He just wanted to confirm his suspicions. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a brief silence, the specter who had died by suicide suddenly spoke: "There are no answers for you on this train." "You have to go outside to find them." "But the outside world is dangerous. You need to find a Ghost Candle to survive out there..." ... PS: 1. Thank you all for reading. 2. I''m a merciful author. Some characters you may not like, but I''ll still give them a good (complete) ending (corpse). 3. The author is a slow writer, sorry! Chapter 46 – The first carriage When the Ghost Candle was mentioned, the first thing that popped into Zhao Yi''s mind was the first carriage. It was also the carriage that the little ghost girl, Xuanxuan, had directed Zhao Yi to. Xuanxuan was a name from the textbook. Zhao Yi thanked the three Evil Spirits and headed towards the third carriage, only to have his arm grabbed by a middle-aged man. "Hey, hey, hey!" "Brother Zhao Yi, where are you going?" Zhao Yi replied earnestly, "To pursue my freedom!" Seeing Zhao Yi determined to leave, the middle-aged man hurriedly said, "I''ll go with you!" Although the three Evil Spirits had promised they were temporarily safe, Wang Xu still believed that following Zhao Yi was the safest option. Even if it meant he had to do something, as long as it wasn''t too dangerous, he had no problem with it. But Li Miaomiao wasn''t having it. "If you all leave, what about me?" A flicker of displeasure flashed in Wang Xu''s eyes, but he didn''t voice it. "You can come with us." Li Miaomiao glanced at the two of them and sneered. "Go with you to court death?" "I finally found a temporarily safe place, do you think I''m stupid?" To read the uncut version, go to pawread dot com. At this point, Wang Xu couldn''t hold back anymore and frowned, "We''re all in the same dungeon task, do you really think you can just sit back and reap the benefits without lifting a finger?" Li Miaomiao retorted sharply, "Oh, oh, oh, the old oil field is getting anxious!" "I''m telling you, you brought me in, so you have to take me out!" "Besides, since Zhao Yi is so capable, can''t he complete the task on his own? It''s not like you''re doing the task for me!" "If the task isn''t completed, everyone will die!" Even Wang Xu, as smooth and cautious as he was, was truly infuriated by Li Miaomiao. But since they were all in the same boat, he didn''t want to stir up trouble for himself. He couldn''t afford to burn bridges. "We have no obligation to protect you. If you want to follow us, then come. If you don''t, you can stay here and wait for us to finish the task. It''s up to you!" He left those words angrily and went after Zhao Yi. Li Miaomiao''s face, which was somewhat pretty, was filled with coldness and resentment as she watched their backs for a moment before reluctantly following. She didn''t want to do this, but she knew that staying in the fifth carriage would be even more dangerous! The safety promised by the three Evil Spirits was only temporary. There was no specific time. When the two men she considered lowly and insignificant left, she would be left to face the danger alone. So, even though she was unhappy, she followed behind the two. Entering the fourth carriage, the scene before them was quite eerie. Unlike the others, the fourth carriage seemed to have no trials. In the flickering light of the chandelier, six Evil Spirits huddled in a corner, trembling as if they were afraid of something. In front of them, on a hard seat, sat a cute girl humming an unknown nursery rhyme. As the three of them approached, they realized it was Tian Tian holding a worn-out teddy bear. Seeing Zhao Yi, Tian Tian happily jumped off her seat and threw herself into his arms. "Brother Zhao!" "Winnie just told me you''d come to save us, and here you are!" Zhao Yi patted her head and glanced at the corner where the Evil Spirits were. Their eyes were filled with fear when they looked at Tian Tian. It seemed that Tian Tian had done something to frighten them! "Ha, let me introduce you. These uncles are passengers of this carriage. They were so enthusiastic earlier, wanting to play games with me... but they stopped halfway, how annoying!" Tian Tian made a face at the trembling Evil Spirits in the corner. This scared one of the female ghosts so much that she wet herself! The scene was shockingly intense! If Zhao Yi hadn''t pulled Tian Tian away quickly, they would have been sprayed all over. Behind them, Li Miaomiao looked at the ghosts and said sarcastically, "Lucky you!" "Ran into a bunch of cowardly wimps." She felt particularly unbalanced. Why did she encounter vicious ghosts while this seemingly delicate girl ran into a group of scaredy-cat ghosts? But still, no one paid her any attention, as if she were invisible. Zhao Yi scanned the area and confirmed there was no way out of this carriage. The door was covered with a membrane that couldn''t be broken by force. It seemed the task didn''t want them to take shortcuts. Or perhaps the system rules were protecting them. The outside world was filled with unimaginable dangers, and they needed to get the Ghost Candle before considering leaving the train! So, they had to go to the first carriage. "Alright, stop trembling. I''m taking Tian Tian to the first carriage. You guys can play here." Zhao Yi spoke, and the six Evil Spirits immediately kowtowed to him in gratitude. "Woo woo!" "Great benefactor!" "We bow to you!" These guys were clearly terrified of Tian Tian. Zhao Yi ruffled Tian Tian''s hair and led her towards the third carriage. Wang Xu followed closely behind Zhao Yi, staying cautious and deliberately avoiding the Evil Spirits as he passed them. Even though these Evil Spirits seemed quite lowly, he remained vigilant. As for Li Miaomiao, who was walking at the back, she even spat at the six ghosts. She looked smug, as if she had finally turned from a victim to an aggressor, but when the ghost she spat on raised its head, its icy green eyes made Li Miaomiao''s legs go weak! She shivered in fear and stumbled towards the third carriage, accidentally twisting her high heel and taking a big fall, her cold face landing right on Wang Xu''s sweat-soaked and mysteriously scented backside. The bizarre smell almost made Li Miaomiao vomit. She pushed Wang Xu away and leaned against a seat, dry heaving, her face turning green and white. Everyone looked at each other, unsure of what had happened. Li Miaomiao''s face was pale, and her gaze towards Wang Xu was filled with increasing disgust. The second and third carriages were the starting points for Wen Long, Bai Shuiji, and Qin Xiufang. By the time Zhao Yi arrived, they had successfully completed their ghost games in their carriages. From their accounts, the ghost games in the carriages weren''t too difficult and didn''t pose a deadly threat. Except for Zhao Yi''s sixth carriage. But as a player with a luck stat of 0, Zhao Yi didn''t have high expectations for himself. All seven of them were still alive, with no losses. They entered the first carriage one by one. Here, there were no seats. Only a blood-stained wooden table blocked the path to the driver''s cabin. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On it were six bloody human heads, their expressions eerie, with their scalps and skulls sliced open, and six green-glowing candles burning in the center of their brains! The crew member turned around, her neck broken, hanging by a layer of skin, and she cackled at them: "Welcome, everyone... to the D19 train!" Seeing this woman, Zhao Yi realized that the task had finally reached its main point... Chapter 47 – Elementary mistake "So, what game are we playing?" The muscular young man, Wen Long, seemed eager to prove himself. He was the first to speak and took a step forward. He cast a provocative glance at Zhao Yi, as if wanting to see who was better suited to survive in this harsh world. But Zhao Yi didn''t notice his provocation; he simply scratched an itch inside his pants. Then he sniffed his hand. Time for a wash, he thought. "There are no games in this carriage." The train crew member gave a smile she thought was charming, unaware of how terrifying it appeared to everyone else. "Earlier, you were all separated into five carriages. Once you complete the game, you''ll be able to uncover some hidden clues." "Next, you can use the clues you''ve gathered to do more." "There are six Ghost Candles here. Each candle, once removed from the ghost''s head, can burn for an hour. During this hour, the holder of the Ghost Candle will not be attacked by other specters on the train." For the full version, visit [ ]. "Moreover, the Ghost Candle can disperse the darkness outside the train to some extent, making the aggressive specters in the dark see you as one of their own... Of course, that doesn''t mean they won''t attack you!" "When all the Ghost Candles burn out... the seal on the driver''s cabin behind me will be opened!" At this point, the crew member''s lips curled into an eerie smile. "What happens if the seal is opened?" Wen Long asked. The crew member shrugged, her decaying head wobbling on her shoulders, making everyone''s skin crawl. "Nothing much, just that the conductor and another... unspeakable passenger will come out." The players present felt a chill run down their spines. Though they didn''t know what the conductor and the unspeakable passenger were, it was easy to deduce that once they came out, the players would face extreme danger! "Additionally... I must remind you all that the door of the first carriage is the only door on the G19 train that can be opened." "Once you choose to open it, you can go out... but those things outside can also come in." After saying this, the crew member stood quietly, smiling at all the players present. Bai Shuiji looked at the six Ghost Candles on the table, suppressing her fear and disgust: "There are seven of us, but only six Ghost Candles. How do we divide them?" As soon as she spoke, the atmosphere became subtly tense. Seven people, six candles. Those with a Ghost Candle could enjoy its protection, while the others could not. In other words... they had to abandon one person. Many eyes quietly turned to the oldest among them, Qin Xiufang. The kind-faced old lady seemed to have guessed what they were thinking. She slowly pulled out a small handgun from her clothes and took a few steps back to create some distance. "I want a Ghost Candle. If I don''t get one, I''ll kill everyone who has one." Straight to the point. Though her body wasn''t as strong as the other players, the power of the gun and her fierce determination made everyone wary of her. As the saying goes, beyond seven steps, the gun is fast. Within seven steps, the gun is both fast and accurate! At this distance, no one dared to risk provoking the old lady! "What are you doing... Aren''t we all discussing this together?" "Even though you''re older, you''re still part of this team. How could we abandon you?" Wen Long, seeing the gun pointed at him, quickly waved his hands to change the subject. If it came to close combat, he was confident he was better than most players present. But the small, black gun in the old lady''s hand deterred him from confronting her. However... no one wanted to give up a Ghost Candle. The team gradually fell into a stalemate. Everyone was wary of each other, harboring various malicious thoughts. At this moment, Bai Shuiji gently nudged Zhao Yi: S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Zhao Yi... do you have any good ideas?" Seeing everyone''s eyes on him, Zhao Yi shrugged: "Why are you looking at me?" "Do you expect me to magically produce another Ghost Candle?" Bai Shuiji rolled her eyes. "I''m asking if you have a good way to distribute them." Zhao Yi clicked his tongue: "No matter how you divide them, someone will end up without a Ghost Candle." "But if we do it the other way around, it''s much easier." "No matter how the remaining Ghost Candles are distributed, those who leave the carriage to search for clues must each have one." His suggestion immediately gained Wang Xu''s support. "I think Zhao Yi''s suggestion makes sense," "Those who contribute to the team should have priority in getting a Ghost Candle." Li Miaomiao crossed her arms and sneered: "Who knows if he''s contributing to the team or just taking a candle to hide outside?" "I think he just wants to take a candle for himself and is making excuses!" Zhao Yi nodded. "Indeed." Without warning, he pulled out the Crusher and fired six shots in front of everyone. He broke both of Li Miaomiao''s legs on the spot! Everyone watched Li Miaomiao writhing in agony on the ground, feeling a chill run through them! Zhao Yi... had a gun too! And it was a shotgun! Did he buy it from the store? That thing must cost thousands of points, right? "Oh dear!" "My goodness!" "Look at you... so careless, you broke your own legs!" Zhao Yi hurried forward, under the horrified gaze of everyone, and with a face full of concern, pulled out his... scalpel. Li Miaomiao''s face turned pale with fear. She screamed and pointed at Zhao Yi: "He wants to kill me!" "He wants to kill me!" "Aren''t you going to stop him?" However, those behind Zhao Yi remained unmoved. From another perspective, even if Zhao Yi really killed Li Miaomiao, they wouldn''t intervene. With one person dead, the Ghost Candles... could be divided! "Shh¡ª" "Don''t scream, I''m just going to perform a little surgery, not kill you... If you struggle too much and I accidentally cut something else in your mouth, and you bleed to death, don''t blame me!" Hearing the words "bleed to death," Li Miaomiao struggled even more, but her feeble strength was no match for Zhao Yi. He pried open her mouth, knocked out her teeth, and cut off her tongue. Smooth and swift, all in one go. Zhao Yi was disturbingly skilled at these tasks. Skilled as if he were eating or drinking. It even possessed a kind of breathtaking beauty! In the eyes of everyone, it seemed as though he was completing a piece of art, rather than mutilating a woman. Without a tongue, Li Miaomiao could no longer speak. Of course, she wouldn''t die. The neurogenic shock caused by excessive pain was resolved by Zhao Yi''s exquisite massage techniques. Though the blood loss left Li Miaomiao utterly exhausted, it wasn''t enough to kill a healthy woman. Looking at the woman sobbing on the ground, Zhao Yi smiled and elegantly put away his scalpel. Turning around, he noticed the subtle change in the way everyone looked at him. It was fear. "What a pity, just now, a lovely young girl accidentally lost her tongue, teeth, and legs." "Such a simple mistake, don''t make it, everyone!" Zhao Yi winked at the crowd, sending shivers down their spines! Chapter 48 – Alright, lets give it a break today Everyone felt an indescribable sensation, and at that moment, they even had the urge to stay far away from Zhao Yi! This guy is damn dangerous! When others make a move, there''s usually some warning, some reasonable buildup and release of emotion. Even if you''re going to pee, you at least have to unzip first, right? But Zhao Yi just silently pees his pants. And only tells you after he''s done. Who can handle that? God knows what someone might do next to displease him, and while happily chatting, their head might suddenly get blown off! Behind him, the old lady, Qin Xiufang, looked at Zhao Yi with a complex gaze, recalling the message she received at the guild''s headquarters earlier. A hint of murderous intent flashed in her eyes but was quickly suppressed. In front of everyone, Zhao Yi walked up to a head and picked up a Ghost Candle. As soon as the Ghost Candle was pulled from the person''s brain, it began to slowly drip blood-red wax tears! The countdown had begun. Seeing Zhao Yi about to open the door and leave, Bai Shuiji hesitated for a moment, then hurriedly stepped forward to grab a candle. "I''ll go with you!" She took a deep breath. Even though she knew the outside world would be dangerous, Bai Shuiji didn''t want to hide in the carriage. She firmly believed that being by Zhao Yi''s side was the safest! Wen Long, not wanting to be outdone, also picked up a candle. "Let''s explore the three of us, the remaining three candles... you guys can distribute them yourselves," he instructed. The adorable young lady crew member opened the door for them, and a bone-chilling wind immediately blew in, making everyone in the carriage shiver! The outside world was... exceptionally dark. Without the Ghost Candle, they couldn''t even see a meter ahead. Now with the Ghost Candle, their vision barely extended to about ten meters. Even so, the eerie environment made them shiver involuntarily. "Brother Zhao, what do you think about this mission?" Bai Shuiji followed behind Zhao Yi, completely unsure of what she should be doing. Zhao Yi, while observing the surrounding environment, said: "Didn''t you find any clues in the carriage?" Clues? What clues? Bai Shuiji carefully recalled. She was just playing jump rope with a bunch of little ghosts, and in the end, she used her wits to win, and the little ghosts spared her organs, but it seemed... there were no special clues. "Ahem..." Wen Long coughed lightly beside her, glancing at Bai Shuiji, hinting that he actually knew some clues. Bai Shuiji turned her head, curiously looking at Wen Long. "Is your throat uncomfortable?" Wen Long: "..." Failing to show off, he seemed a bit frustrated, but still said: "I do know a useful clue... it seems we need to go to some... control panel." Zhao Yi corrected him: "It''s the control room." "Inside is the full map of the train station... Our Chaotic Realm train station is an abandoned station from who knows how many years later, many places have long collapsed and changed." "Moye Village isn''t a small village, there are many people, so the train station isn''t small either. Our Ghost Candle only lasts for an hour of burn time, so to avoid wasting time, we must first find the map." The little ghost girl in the sixth carriage left him several key pieces of information. Besides the map, there was also the Moye Village morning newspaper. It might record something. The road was shrouded in thick black fog, and occasionally, some inexplicable eerie shadows flickered in the distance, disappearing in an instant. They were tense all over, carefully avoiding them, exploring the station platform for the exit. It wasn''t much different from when they entered. This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV. "But once we find the map, what can we do?" Bai Shuiji tried to learn something from Zhao Yi, constantly speculating on Zhao Yi''s intentions. The Clown Game and Butcher Game made her trust Zhao Yi completely. "I think the way to complete the task should be outside the station." It was Wen Long who spoke. He cautiously observed the surroundings, as if afraid something would suddenly rush out from the darkness! Zhao Yi added: "The task requires us to resolve grievances. Since we need to resolve grievances, we first need to understand what grievances exist on the train and where they originated." "Only by understanding what happened here back then and the conflict relationships can we possibly complete the task." "I''ve asked several specters inside the carriage, and they all seem to be afraid of something, unwilling to mention the past." "This indicates that somewhere on the train, there''s an invisible, terrifying presence watching them and us!" "So, we can''t learn anything from inside the train; we can only come out to find clues... like recordings, notes, newspapers, or direct accounts from specters..." Zhao Yi laid out his thought process simply, and the two immediately felt enlightened and clear. Even at this moment, part of Zhao Yi''s attention remained on the information the little ghost girl in the sixth carriage left him. ¡ªIt will keep watching you. Who is this ''it''? Is it a hidden specter on the train? If so, where is it hiding? If not, then what is watching them? They ascended the stairs, returning to the station interior. The station in the dungeon was complete. It was even larger than they expected. Some specters wandered within, seemingly not very aggressive. Upon seeing the Ghost Candles in Zhao Yi and the others'' hands, they continued to roam indifferently. They arrived at the control panel, a large office mostly enclosed by glass, with a burly security ghost standing outside the door, its eyes wide like copper bells, holding a meter-long baton, staring dead ahead! Its body was conveniently obscured by the corner of the wall, so it wasn''t until they approached from the side that they discovered it! Wen Long and Bai Shuiji, being close, were almost scared out of their wits! ... [Security Ghost: Extremely Dangerous!] [Weakness: None!] [Note: Don''t be fooled by its open eyes; it''s actually asleep. Unless it suffers a significant impact or injury, it won''t be forced to wake up. Most specters nearby are very afraid of it! If it discovers you... run as fast as you can!!!] ... Zhao Yi looked at the information about the security ghost and surprisingly showed a bright smile. Seeing Zhao Yi smile, Bai Shuiji''s heart skipped a beat. This guy... what is he planning now? "Careful!" "This ghost is very fierce and might attack us!" Seeing Zhao Yi walk towards the security ghost, Wen Long warned. Although he saw Zhao Yi as a rival, they were all in the same boat now, and someone like Zhao Yi was definitely a valuable ally. He didn''t want Zhao Yi to get into trouble. Zhao Yi casually replied: "No, it won''t." Bai Shuiji cautiously followed behind Zhao Yi, asking: "How do you know?" Zhao Yi raised his hand and plucked a nose hair from the security ghost: "See, it''s asleep." Achoo! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as Zhao Yi finished speaking, the security ghost suddenly sneezed, scaring Bai Shuiji and Wen Long into retreating several meters, rolling and crawling, until they confirmed the security ghost hadn''t moved, then they tiptoed back. Seeing Zhao Yi''s calm demeanor, Wen Long couldn''t help but say: "How the hell are you so brave?" Zhao Yi seriously examined the terrifying fierce ghost before him: "Don''t talk nonsense, I''ve been timid since I was a child, that''s why I''m so cautious." Wen Long almost choked on his own saliva. How are you cautious?! Who just plucks someone''s nose hair like that?! Sighing, Wen Long approached the control room door. He tried to open it. Failed to open. The door was locked. He turned to Zhao Yi and said: "Zhao Yi, the door is locked... what the hell!" "What the hell are you doing?!" Wen Long was dumbfounded as he watched Zhao Yi... frantically stripping the security ghost''s clothes! "Can''t you see? I''m taking off its clothes!" Zhao Yi said excitedly. Wen Long panicked. He quickly stepped back a few paces, ready to run at any moment. Zhao Yi was going all out, truly unafraid of waking up this fierce and evil ghost! Bai Shuiji was dumbfounded. Initially, she tried to learn from Zhao Yi''s thought process to become stronger. But now she suddenly realized... she couldn''t understand what Zhao Yi was thinking at all. Zhao Yi stripped more and more enthusiastically, his eyes shining, tossing the Ghost Candle aside, stripping the security ghost''s clothes and then its pants. In just a minute, the security ghost was left with only a pair of floral boxers. Embroidered with a sparrow. Seeing Zhao Yi had no intention of stopping, Bai Shuiji grabbed Zhao Yi''s waist and pulled him back, panicking: "Brother! Brother! That''s enough! Let''s spare it!" "We still have important things to do!" Even though it''s a ghost, the sparrow must still be sensitive, and with Zhao Yi being so heavy-handed, she was really afraid the security ghost would wake up! Zhao Yi wiped the sweat from his forehead, picked up the Ghost Candle beside him, and panted: "Alright, let''s spare it for today!" Not far away, Wen Long cautiously approached, looking at the security uniform on the ground, and said with a wry smile: "We only needed the key; you didn''t have to strip it completely!" Zhao Yi chuckled, his eyes shining, and kicked the security uniform to Wen Long''s feet. "Put it on." Wen Long''s expression froze. "What... what?" "Put it on." Zhao Yi retrieved the key from the security uniform. "Put it on!" "From now on... you''re the security ghost!" Chapter 49 – Zhao Yis ominous premonition From some other new players, it was already known that Zhao Yi was quite the twisted player, but seeing it firsthand was a whole different story! No matter how hard Wen Long tried, he couldn''t imagine Zhao Yi would strip a sleeping fierce ghost of its clothes. And he was damn excited about it! This guy had no limits! Yet, the ghost security guard was quite carefree, snoring and blowing snot bubbles even after being stripped naked. As Zhao Yi peeled off the clothes, the ghost''s face even showed a lewd smile, dreaming of who knows what. "That''s what you call sleeping like a baby." Wen Long sighed. For a moment, he didn''t know whether to be envious or jealous. Picking up the security uniform from the ground, the stench of decay made him gag twice. "Why don''t you wear it?" Wen Long complained discontentedly. After seeing Zhao Yi''s performance on the train, he didn''t dare to offend him too much. After all, Zhao Yi not only had a gun but was ruthless and crazy. While unlocking the door, Zhao Yi replied: "I''m too skinny, it won''t fit, and I''d be spotted immediately." "You''re about the same size as the ghost security guard. Wear its clothes, and with its smell... Here, take this baton and hit whoever you see!" Zhao Yi snatched the baton from the ghost security guard''s hand and shoved it into Wen Long''s hand. The baton was heavy. ... [Item: Foul-Smelling Fierce Ghost Baton] [Quality: ¡ª] [Description: It was just an ordinary baton, but this ghost security guard loved using it to poke other specters'' butts. Every time it saw their pained expressions, it felt immense satisfaction, as if it alleviated its inferiority complex about its small size.] [Effect: 500% damage bonus when hitting the buttocks, guaranteed tenfold critical hit when striking the rear!] [Note: A serious warning to some mentally unstable players, do not attempt to store such a foul item in your inventory and take it out of the dungeon.] ... Wen Long saw the system''s item identification and showed a disgusted expression. Damn, such an awe-inspiring weapon... turned out to be a shit-stirring stick! Creak¡ª Wen Long put on the security uniform, grabbed the ghost security guard''s baton, and the three of them pushed the door open. Under the light of the Ghost Candle, they saw over a dozen specters in station staff uniforms staring at them menacingly in the control room! "What are you looking at!" "The boss is here for inspection, all of you squat in the corner, pants down, butts up!" Just as Wen Long was considering whether to make a run for it, Zhao Yi was already fiercely shouting at the specters in the room. Wen Long and Bai Shuiji, thinking this guy must be crazy, watched in disbelief as the specters actually lined up against the wall, took off their pants, and raised their butts! "Holy crap..." Wen Long''s mouth hung open, dumbfounded. "What are you staring at! Hurry up and smack their butts!" "Don''t blow our cover!" "Remember, hit hard and aim steady!" Zhao Yi gave him a push and then started wandering around the control room with Bai Shuiji. Wen Long looked at the row of dark, shadowy butts against the wall and couldn''t help but swallow. This... doesn''t seem right? Hitting a ghost''s butt? Wen Long''s hand trembled as he gripped the baton. After a pause, he gritted his teeth and swung hard at the first staff member''s butt! Smack! "Ah!" The staff ghost''s brow furrowed slightly, letting out a sound that was hard to tell if it was pain or pleasure. All the other specters turned to look, with expressions of anticipation on their faces. Wen Long felt a chill under their gaze. Damn it! What are you all expecting! What''s enjoyable about this! ... Meanwhile, Zhao Yi and Bai Shuiji quickly found the station''s map on a running computer. A top-down view. With detailed height data of different building interiors marked. But surprisingly... the electronic map couldn''t switch to a frontal view. "The designer of this map must be crazy." "Preferring to mark a dense string of numbers rather than make a frontal map." Bai Shuiji couldn''t help but complain. Beside her, Zhao Yi squinted, memorizing all the values on the station map and within the facilities. But one underground warehouse''s data was missing. That underground warehouse was the only building at the station without marked data. And it was the only place with a basement level, as if the basement was specifically built for this warehouse. But this seemed completely... unnecessary? "Something''s not right." He muttered to himself. Hearing this, Bai Shuiji immediately perked up. "What''s not right?" Zhao Yi was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "Go find some newspapers, all of them." Bai Shuiji nodded, didn''t ask further, and quickly ran off to search for newspapers. Zhao Yi sat in front of the computer, studying the map intently, his expression growing serious. He had a bad feeling. It seemed he understood where the real danger in this game lay... Bai Shuiji was quite reliable, soon gathering all the newspapers from the office. Zhao Yi then got up and headed for the door. "Let''s go." He patted Wen Long, who was immersed in the thrill of beating specters, signaling him to leave quickly. But Wen Long was clearly on a high. After being bullied by these ghostly things for so long, today he finally got to turn the tables, he had to savor it a bit more! Thinking of this, he set his sights on the last butt. With a fierce expression, he raised the baton high! Screw you! He swung down with all his might, using his strongest move ever! Splat! ... Feeling the stench all over him, for a moment, Wen Long wanted to restart everything. That''s right, he hit the ghost so hard it pooped. No exaggeration, it really pooped! Sprayed all over him! He kicked the ghost, stumbled towards the door, gagging, and said to Zhao Yi and Bai Shuiji: "I''m filthy!" Looking at the poop-covered Wen Long, Zhao Yi gave a thumbs up, praising: "Quite the haul today!" Wen Long, suppressing his nausea, cleaned the filth off himself and asked: "What about you guys?" sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I sacrificed so much, did you find any useful clues?" Zhao Yi nodded. "Let''s discuss it somewhere else first..." Chapter 50 – Watcher In the dark crevice, an empty corner. The pungent smell of ammonia. A faint hint of blood lingered in the air. The eerie green glow of the Ghost Candle illuminated three sneaky figures. At this moment, a muscular man, drenched but still reeking of feces, raised his right hand. "Question!" "Why are we in the women''s restroom instead of the men''s?" Zhao Yi glanced at him and nodded, saying: "Good question." "Don''t ask again next time." Under Wen Long''s awkward gaze, Zhao Yi took out a textbook and placed it in front of the two. "This is a clue I found in the sixth carriage." He read the four sentences aloud to them. [The control room has the latest morning paper and map.] [Starting the train requires diesel.] [Do not go to the driver''s cabin.] [It will keep watching you!] The short four lines gave the two an eerie feeling. "Strange..." "Why mention starting the train?" Wen Long frowned. "Isn''t our goal to resolve the grievances inside the train?" "Could it be a trick by the system to divert our attention?" Zhao Yi said nothing. He spread out the newspaper, illuminating it with the Ghost Candle''s light. The newspaper recorded fourteen days of events in Moye Village. In July of a certain year, they routinely refurbished the station''s facilities and checked the train parts for wear, preparing for the village children to return to Hanging Valley Town after the holidays. But before school started, a terrifying disaster struck! After a sudden black storm swept through Moye Village, the next day, monsters appeared all over the village! They were cruel, bloodthirsty, and bizarrely shaped, always accompanied by inexplicable black fog. Those dragged into the fog would be transformed into terrifying monsters like them! By the time people received the news, the riots had already become severe. Fortunately, their station still had three trains, which could carry most of the carless people away from Moye Village to Hanging Valley Town! The morning paper and electronic reports gathered most of the villagers, who rushed to the station to catch this last train out of the dreadful place! "So, the station originally had three trains, but now only this one remains." "This means two trains safely reached Hanging Valley Town." "And this one encountered an accident." Wen Long analyzed very seriously. A rather useless analysis. Zhao Yi remembered Sun Baibai''s situation; evidently, Sun Baibai also left on this last train! Although that train successfully escaped Moye Village, it eventually met with an accident! As everyone fell silent, a shadow drifted into the women''s restroom. The three slowly turned their heads to look at her. It was a janitor lady. Of course, she was no longer human. Seeing two men in the women''s restroom, she seemed a bit confused. Did she enter the wrong place? Especially one of the muscular men, whose clothes seemed somewhat familiar. It seemed like... Suddenly, she froze. She turned to run, but Zhao Yi''s voice came from behind, laughing: "Do you see who''s sitting next to me?" "The new security team captain!" "Try running, and believe me, he''ll beat the crap out of you with his baton!" Wen Long also raised his baton, looking fierce! His expression, combined with the stench, was evidently very convincing! The janitor lady, with a tearful, rotten face, cautiously sat down beside the three. For a moment, Bai Shuiji actually felt sorry for her. Scared by ghosts when alive, now scared by people as a ghost. "What do you need?" This janitor lady was at the bottom of the specter''s combat power, so she was very timid and dared not offend anyone. Zhao Yi patted her shoulder, making her shiver. "It''s nothing, don''t be so nervous." "This new security team captain isn''t clear about the situation and wants to ask you a few questions... Answer seriously." The janitor nodded like a pecking chicken. "What exactly happened at this station back then?" Zhao Yi pointed to the date on the newspaper. The janitor glanced at it, then shivered violently, shaking her head frantically. "I don''t know... I don''t know... I don''t know..." "I know nothing..." "Don''t ask me..." Seeing this, Wen Long felt they had touched a key point, so he waved his baton, looking fierce. "Not talking?" "Do you want to be beaten until you crap?" The janitor steeled herself and gritted her teeth: "Even if you beat me, I can''t say!" After a pause, she whispered: "It... It keeps watching us!" Hearing this, Wen Long and Bai Shuiji immediately got goosebumps! They looked around secretly. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No sign. But precisely because of this, Wen Long and Bai Shuiji felt even more terrified! "Who... Who''s watching us?" Bai Shuiji swallowed. The janitor still shook her head. Seeing her like this, she was determined not to speak. Zhao Yi, deep in thought, looked up and said to the janitor: "Auntie, one last question... Where is the diesel storage?" Generally, there should be a place on the platform to store a large amount of diesel, and it should be close to the tracks, but there was no indication on the map. The janitor replied: "The original station had a diesel point, right up ahead, but it was dismantled during station repairs for some reason..." "But I remember there are still a few barrels of diesel in the basement, though the basement manager has a bad temper. If you want to get diesel from him, it might be quite troublesome..." Zhao Yi nodded, thanked her, and let her go. "You''re just letting her go like that?" Wen Long frowned, thinking the janitor still had value. But Zhao Yi said: "The basic line of this mission is already clear." "Huh?" The two looked puzzled. "Wha... What basic line?" Zhao Yi: "The grievances inside the train come from the passengers who died in it, and what they want to do... is leave here..." "To resolve their grievances, we need to start the train." "And starting the train requires at least three necessary conditions¡ªthe first is that the train conductor must be able to operate the engine in the driver''s cabin." "The second is some diesel." At this point, Zhao Yi''s expression became subtle. Wen Long, listening intently, hurriedly asked: "And the third? What''s the third?" Zhao Yi, with a mysterious look, said: "Can''t say." "If I say it... it will know!" The two, hearing this, felt a cold sweat on their backs. "So, is there really... something ghostly watching us?" Zhao Yi nodded, his gaze sharp. "Exactly." "But the good news is... it''s not fully awake yet." "When it wakes up... we''ll all die!" Chapter 51 – Warehouse Ghost A few people set off for the basement. Zhao Yi took the Ghost Security Guard''s poop-stirring stick from Wen Long''s hand, waving it around as if he were a great general. The two people beside him kept their distance, afraid that something strange might splatter onto them. Moreover, Wen Long was frowning. "That old lady said the manager of the underground warehouse has a terrible temper. Are we being too reckless by barging in like this...?" Unlike those elderly folks, without exchanging for various enhancements from the advanced mall, they were inevitably at a disadvantage when facing Specters. Wen Long had bought some talismans and incense from the lower-tier mall, but these items had limited ability to restrain Specters. If that manager was a Specter on the same level as the Ghost Security Guard, they would likely be in deep trouble. "The truth is quite the opposite," Zhao Yi explained. "If you knew who was watching us, you''d understand that the underground warehouse is actually the safest place." Mentioning the watcher made the two of them shudder with lingering fear. They had been carefully observing their surroundings on the way, but hadn''t discovered the presence watching them. Could it be a surveillance camera? But... this rundown station has very limited cameras. Though curious, they didn''t press further because Zhao Yi had said... he couldn''t reveal the watcher''s identity for now. Once mentioned, it would awaken. Darkness surged like a tide, and just as they were heading towards the underground warehouse, a thunderous roar erupted from the southeast corner upstairs! Hearing this terrifying roar, the three of them immediately stopped in their tracks, Bai Shuiji and Wen Long were horrified! "What... what was that sound?!" The two of them stared intently at the stairs at the end of the platform, not far behind them! Zhao Yi frowned and suddenly spoke seriously to Wen Long, who reeked of feces: "It''s about time." "You need to run back to the train now, as fast as you can!" Wen Long was completely baffled. "Just... just me alone?" Zhao Yi nodded, handing the poop-stirring stick back to the bewildered Wen Long, then quickly pulled out the Crusher and handed it to him, speaking earnestly: "The Ghost Security Guard has awakened." "You just stripped his clothes, stole his big stick, and even plucked his nose hair... He won''t let you off now. Only the rules can save your life. Hurry back to the station, take the Ghost Candle, strip off your clothes, and return everything to him." "Oh, and... remember, no matter what, save some Ghost Candles, as many as you can! Don''t let them use them all!" "I''m lending you this shotgun for now, hold onto it!" "If you want to survive, do as I say!" Wen Long was dumbfounded. Damn it! These despicable acts were clearly done by you! And why save the Ghost Candles? However, seeing the terrifying shadow at the stairway entrance, Wen Long didn''t have time to argue and bolted. As he ran, he shouted at the top of his lungs: "Zhao Yi, you old bastard!" "You screwed me over!" "When you die, I''ll go to your grave and steal your offerings like crazy!" Only then did Wen Long realize he had been set up by Zhao Yi! Clothes not fitting? That''s bullshit! This bastard clearly anticipated the Ghost Security Guard would wake up, which is why he made me wear them! Luckily, he''s also a man who enjoys sports, so his speed was swift. The Ghost Security Guard, wearing only underwear, chased after him madly, but couldn''t catch up for the time being! "Ah!!!" The Ghost Security Guard''s eyes were blood-red, countless spikes sprouted from his body, and his blood flowed faster due to his anger. He swept past Zhao Yi and Bai Shuiji, bringing a foul wind, completely ignoring them. Now his hatred was entirely focused on Wen Long! Last night, he watched some movies until late, then did some unspeakable activities in the men''s restroom, planning to sleep well today to recharge. But upon waking, he found himself... left with only underwear! He had roamed this place for years, always bullying other ghosts, never being bullied like this! The Ghost Security Guard couldn''t stand it! He must catch that person and reclaim his... dignity! Watching Wen Long and the Ghost Security Guard''s figures disappear into the darkness, Bai Shuiji couldn''t help but ask: "Will he die?" Zhao Yi stroked his chin. "Theoretically, no." "Although the Ghost Security Guard is very powerful, his speed is just average." "The Ghost Candle we have only burns for an hour. Within this hour, we must get everything ready..." "Once the train starts, we won''t have another chance to fix any mistakes." He and Bai Shuiji quickly headed to the underground warehouse, the Ghost Candle in their hands gradually shortening. At this moment, Bai Shuiji suddenly noticed the ground... seemed a bit sticky. It felt like stepping into a mire of blood. She didn''t dare to look down to see what she had stepped on, and followed Zhao Yi through the hall, taking the escalator to the basement level as recorded on the map. At the far left of the narrow corridor, there was a door locked with chains. Bai Shuiji peered through the crack in the door. Aside from a pile of dusty shelves, there seemed to be no one inside. Just as she was about to pull back, a decaying ghostly face suddenly appeared in her view, causing her to scream and stumble back several steps, falling onto the floor! Bai Shuiji raised her hand, pointing at the door crack, her soul nearly scared out of her body: "A ghost... there''s a ghost!" Zhao Yi approached the door crack but didn''t see anything. So he knocked on the door. Bang, bang, bang! The dull sound echoed sharply in the empty and dark basement level. Bai Shuiji shivered, hurriedly stood up, leaned against Zhao Yi''s back, and vigilantly scanned the surroundings, afraid that something twisted would emerge from the darkness to grab her. "Is anyone... any ghost there?" Zhao Yi asked politely. Clang! The chains on the iron door rattled, emitting a dull clashing sound. A cold wind inexplicably blew through the door crack, and an eerie, ancient voice echoed like a sound from the abyss. "Get out!" "You are not welcome here... nor is your master!" Zhao Yi put down the Ghost Candle, storing it in his item slot. It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV. He pressed his face against the door crack: "We are not that guy''s slaves." "We are outsiders." sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Zhao Yi finished speaking, the terrifying ghostly face appeared at the door again! But this time, it faced Zhao Yi. ... [Warehouse Ghost: Neutral] [Weakness: None] [Note: A ghost of extremely powerful strength, but it dislikes causing trouble. If you want to kill it, the only way is to defeat it head-on!] ... Looking at the data of the ghostly face before him, Zhao Yi couldn''t help but smile. Just as he had guessed. ¡ªWarehouse Ghost, neutral. Ever since he figured out what was secretly watching them, combined with the overhead electronic map that only marked data, Zhao Yi roughly understood where the key location of the mission was. Asking the janitor about the location of the diesel was just to verify his guess. "Outsiders?" Chapter 52 – The Conductors Obsession Chapter 52: The Conductor''s Obsession "What... exactly are you talking about?" Bai Shuiji''s mind went blank. Zhao Yi and the Warehouse Ghost simultaneously turned their faces towards her and scolded: S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "When adults are talking, kids shouldn''t interrupt!" Feeling wronged, Bai Shuiji sulked and went off to play by herself. "Are you Ghost Candles missing one compared to humans?" The Warehouse Ghost spoke in a heavy tone. It knew the power of this thing. As long as a Ghost Candle appeared on the train, it would ward off all evil! It couldn''t comprehend the source of this terrifying strength but knew it was related to outsiders like Zhao Yi! Zhao Yi replied: "That''s right. Earlier, one of my teammates went back. I''ve observed him; he''s reliable enough and should listen to me and leave some Ghost Candles behind." "Not enough, there''s not enough time... That train is too old, too slow; it needs time to rush out of the station." The Warehouse Ghost shook its head, doubting Zhao Yi''s plan. "Once it acts, the Ghost Candles in your hands will burn rapidly and won''t last long!" Zhao Yi said: "That''s why I came to find you." The Warehouse Ghost sneered upon hearing this: "If I had the ability to deal with it, would I still be pushed into such a corner?" "But I''m curious... how did you know of its existence?" "The ghosts in the station... shouldn''t be able to mention its name, right?" Zhao Yi dragged a nearby chair with his foot, casually blew off the dust, and sat down. "I found an electronic map in the control room." "Although it''s an overhead view, it marked all the internal facilities with data." "Using this data, I reconstructed... the station in my mind." "At that moment, I was surprised, wondering why someone would build a station in such a shape... a human head." "No, it was a ghost''s head." Zhao Yi''s eyes flickered. "And earlier, several Specters kindly warned me that something was constantly watching everything within the station." "So after I reconstructed the station model, I began to suspect... the station itself." "It... should be alive." "Later, I suddenly remembered the underground warehouse on the map, the only place not marked with data." "On this ghost head, the warehouse seemed like a tumor, appearing very redundant." "A normal person would never leave such a vast station unused, going through the trouble to build a basement just for a broken warehouse." "There must be some special bond between you." "If I''m not mistaken, in the past, ''it'' didn''t revive because of your suppression." "But during the station''s renovation in July, some connection between you was severed, causing it to successfully break free from your control and awaken!" Hearing Zhao Yi''s explanation and speculation, the Warehouse Ghost''s expression changed, and Bai Shuiji finally understood! The ghost that couldn''t be mentioned outside... was actually the station itself! They had always been inside the station, which was why they were constantly being watched! Thinking of this, she recalled the fleshy sensation of the ground she stepped on earlier... Could it be that... the Station Ghost was gradually reviving? Her scalp almost exploded! Zhao Yi had said that once the Station Ghost awakened, they would all die! "Sigh... you guessed mostly right. Although its power can''t penetrate here, I can''t leave the station either." "Inside the station, everything except my underground warehouse is under its surveillance." "Once you get close to the exit, it will awaken!" Zhao Yi placed the burning Ghost Candle in front of the Warehouse Ghost and said seriously: "I have a plan... Bai Shuiji and my Ghost Candles burn for the same duration. I''ll leave my Ghost Candle with you to time it. When it''s about to burn out, you leave this warehouse and go destroy the station''s main control room and its ''eyes'', just try to attract its attention as much as possible!" "Until the station is about to fully awaken, immediately shift the battlefield, come to the train, and escape with us!" "Once we break out of the station''s coverage, we can escape its control!" The Warehouse Ghost remained silent for a moment. "It''s worth a try." "But the Ghost Security Guard is troublesome; it''s the station''s most capable lackey. If it really goes all out, it can hold me back for quite some time!" Zhao Yi coughed lightly. "Don''t worry, it''s not here." The Ghost Security Guard''s hatred is now focused on Wen Long. Even if Wen Long returns all the clothes to the Ghost Security Guard, it won''t let him off easily! Although it can''t harm Wen Long, it won''t leave willingly either. The Warehouse Ghost took Zhao Yi''s Ghost Candle and brought over two barrels of diesel, placing them on a cart. "This cart has my scent. You can push it back to refuel the train; there shouldn''t be any danger on the way." Zhao Yi signaled Bai Shuiji to take the cart: "There''s one last problem to solve." The Warehouse Ghost slightly raised its head. "What problem?" Zhao Yi replied: "The conductor." "We need him to start the train." "I''m not sure what exactly happened on the train back then. The Ghost Candle has to burn out for the train driver''s cabin door to open, but we obviously don''t have the time to wait!" "The Ghost Candle is our only bargaining chip against the station; we can''t waste any of it!" "Tell me about the conductor, and I''ll find a way to open the driver''s cabin door in advance!" Mentioning the conductor of the D19 train, the Warehouse Ghost seemed to open a book covered in ashes, filled with long-buried past events. "When the incident happened in Moye Village, tens of thousands of villagers rushed into the station, knowing that once this train left, it wouldn''t return. So besides the monsters slaughtering people, many horrifying incidents of mutual slaughter among the same kind occurred!" "Two trains left early, leaving the D19 as the last one. Seeing the monsters starting to run from the village towards the station, the conductor refused to start the train. The passengers were frantic, urging the conductor, but he insisted on waiting for his elderly mother before departing." "An old thug who often bullied others in the village couldn''t stand it and directly threatened the conductor with a knife. But the conductor was determined to wait for his mother; if she didn''t arrive, he wouldn''t start the train." "Helpless, people could only pick up some simple weapons to fend off the occasional monster that broke through at the carriage doors!" "Later, when the conductor''s mother arrived, he immediately started the train. But at that moment, a terrifying monster emerged from the black mist, extending a tentacle to grab the old thug. Seeing he was about to be dragged out, the thug had a sudden idea and grabbed the conductor''s mother, who was closest to the door, and pushed her towards the monster!" "So the monster let go of the thug and devoured the conductor''s mother right in front of him..." Zhao Yi frowned upon hearing this. "Did his mother turn into a ghost afterward?" The Warehouse Ghost nodded. "But unlike the ordinary ghosts you''ve seen." "Those killed by those things... turn into ghosts without any memory or self-will, becoming ferocious ghosts that only know how to kill!" Zhao Yi: "Where is she now?" The Warehouse Ghost replied: "In the south waiting room of the station... there are many ferocious ghosts there. Without a Ghost Candle, going there is suicide!" "I know what you''re thinking. The conductor''s mother is his obsession, but now she''s no longer the kind and gentle old lady she once was; she''s a machine of madness and slaughter!" "Going to find her is seeking death!" Zhao Yi slowly revealed a bright smile. "No, I have a way." "Thank you for your help, Warehouse Ghost." "Now... our plan... begins!" Chapter 53 – Catch ghosts Upon learning that the station itself was the biggest boss in the dungeon quest, Bai Shuiji''s mindset underwent a subtle change. She had been reluctant to enter the underground warehouse, but now she''d rather stay here with a terrifying fierce ghost than go back to the station. If the strength of a specter is proportional to its size, just how powerful is the Station Ghost? Bai Shuiji didn''t dare to imagine. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A quick look at /2p9emv8w will leave you more fulfilled. She lacked the courage to face such a specter! If Zhao Yi hadn''t told her she was indispensable, she might have stubbornly stayed in the underground garage. After leaving the garage, Zhao Yi handed the cart loaded with diesel to Bai Shuiji and said to her: "Give me your Ghost Candle." Bai Shuiji tensed up at his words. "If I give you the Ghost Candle, what about me?" Zhao Yi replied: "This cart carries the scent left by the Warehouse Ghost... That Warehouse Ghost is stronger than the Ghost Security Guard, and the specters currently wandering in the station are highly intelligent; they won''t bother you." "After you pour the diesel into the train, use this cart to block the door. That way, it''ll be temporarily safe inside, and you can reinsert the Ghost Candles into their heads. Just leave one with Wen Long for timing; don''t let them go to waste!" Bai Shuiji still hesitated. She looked at Zhao Yi with a wary gaze. "You wouldn''t... trick me, would you?" The previous incident where Zhao Yi tricked Wen Long had left a deep impression on her young mind. She worried she might unknowingly fall into Zhao Yi''s trap too. "How about I take the cart back, and you go to the south waiting hall to find the train conductor''s mother who''s turned into a slaughtering monster?" Hearing this, Bai Shuiji shivered and hurriedly pushed the Ghost Candle into Zhao Yi''s hand. "You go instead!" "You''re skilled and brave; I''m just a weak woman and won''t do such dangerous things!" Zhao Yi rolled his eyes. As a normal woman, Bai Shuiji had managed to muster the courage to hang out with him for so long without causing trouble, which already made her one of those players with a decent mindset. After all, they were all newcomers and hadn''t dealt with specters much! This wasn''t like a game dungeon where many character stats could be visualized. In the Chaotic Realm, players had no data. Everyone was a living person. And if they died, there was almost no way to revive! The brutality of the world quest was far more severe than that of a dungeon! Bai Shuiji pushed the cart in the direction Zhao Yi indicated. Although she couldn''t see the road clearly, as long as she followed Zhao Yi''s instructions, there shouldn''t be any problems. It''s funny; many of them thought Zhao Yi had mental issues, yet at such critical moments of life and death, they all chose to trust Zhao Yi. This seemingly crazy person could give people a great sense of security! Once Bai Shuiji disappeared into the darkness, Zhao Yi turned and headed toward the south waiting hall. The path underfoot grew increasingly sticky, as if each step was on a pool of blood. Zhao Yi knew that as time passed... the station was about to awaken! He had to make use of every minute and every second. The waiting hall was larger than expected. Through the glass door, Zhao Yi saw hundreds of twisted specters of various forms inside! They were extremely irritable, some starting fights just for a glance in the crowd! One ghost''s head was knocked off, and before it could hit the ground, it was swallowed by another tentacle-covered monster, prompting the ghost to suddenly pull out a chainsaw from its crotch and start slashing around! It was utter chaos inside! Zhao Yi quietly sneaked in through the entrance! He carefully dodged attacks from a few specters, his eyes gradually emitting a red glow amidst the dizzying scene! Various complex data flooded his vision. Soon, Zhao Yi found a thick fleshy pillar covered with human heads in a corner. The train conductor''s mother''s head was also on that pillar! Their necks had turned into extendable tentacles, occasionally flying out to ambush other specters, biting down hard in strange places! "My turn, my turn!" One head screamed excitedly! "Get out of the way! Let me!" "I''m not done playing yet!" "..." The dozens of heads on the pillar argued and roared at each other madly, while Zhao Yi carefully hid in an inconspicuous corner. These specters were inherently vicious, preferring to target the strong, and thus lost interest in Zhao Yi, the inconspicuous weak ghost, barely sparing him a glance. He waited patiently, finally adjusting to the right position, and looked at the train conductor''s mother''s head on the pillar, smiling in satisfaction. Sensing Zhao Yi''s provocative gaze, the Old Lady''s head showed an excited and fierce expression, suddenly flying toward Zhao Yi! Zhao Yi had figured out their attack patterns, preemptively dodged, and with a flash of his scalpel, severed its tentacle! The chaotic damage caused the heads on the pillar to let out a painful wail, and the gluttonous growth from the wound made the pillar feel excruciating pain! Its wound couldn''t heal! Hundreds of heads suddenly turned, all glaring at Zhao Yi! Their eyes were venomous, hideous, and fierce! However, Zhao Yi couldn''t care less, grabbing the Old Lady''s head and running out! In an open area, Zhao Yi would find it inconvenient to dodge, but now, with hundreds of fierce specters as his shield, the head pillar found it difficult to attack Zhao Yi! It panicked, biting wildly, only to be attacked by countless specters in return... Holding the Old Lady''s head, Zhao Yi sprinted to the platform outside, the head in his hand issuing threats of unwillingness. "I''ll kill you!" "Kill you!" "Kill you!" "Pathetic insect, just you wait... ah no, don''t!" "I was wrong! Big brother! Don''t do this... no!!!" Amidst the Old Lady''s hysterical screams, Zhao Yi urinated all over her face! As everyone knows, the yellower the urine, the more lethal it is! After finishing, he even shivered a bit. "Still want to kill me?" Zhao Yi pulled up his pants, smiling as he asked. The Old Lady''s head shook pathetically, her chin still dripping. "Not anymore." "Whatever you say goes." Chapter 54 – Give me a burial sacrifice Zhao Yi certainly wasn''t naive enough to think the Old Lady would let him go. But for now, he couldn''t kill her. The Old Lady''s head was the key to dealing with the train conductor! The Ghost Candle in his hand was about to burn out! The stone-paved floor beneath him grew increasingly sticky, and black water began to slowly seep out. Where Zhao Yi stepped, large patches of decayed flesh were pulled up. The distant walls started to crumble, revealing skeletons within! Those structures... were actually built from human corpses! This station... The source of this horror... was slowly awakening! Ahead, a towering, enraged Evil Spirit was charging at him like a madman! It was the Ghost Security Guard! His clothes were in tatters, and his ghostly face was filled with extreme anger! Something foolish had attacked the control room while he was away for just a moment! The master was already displeased, and if he didn''t resolve this quickly, once the master fully awakened, he might face utter destruction! He had no time to deal with anything on the way, and naturally didn''t notice the rotting human head Zhao Yi was carrying. As they brushed past each other, the Ghost Security Guard turned back, a hint of confusion and foreboding in his mind. He saw Zhao Yi also turn his head, a strange smile on his face. For a moment, the ghost shivered. A chill ran through its body. In the next instant, they disappeared from each other''s sight, merging into the darkness. Quickly reaching the train entrance, Zhao Yi saw Bai Shuiji anxiously looking out the door. The cart given by the Warehouse Ghost had been flung somewhere unknown, and everything around was starting to melt. The once normal station was gradually transforming into a decaying, fleshy space! Zhao Yi knew they didn''t have much time left! He immediately returned to the first carriage of the G19 train, ready to move the wooden table. On the table, a human head was impaled with three half-burned candles, better than Zhao Yi had expected. "Damn it, you''re finally back, I was just about to..." Wen Long, wearing nothing but leopard-print briefs, was about to curse Zhao Yi, but seeing the rotting ghost head in Zhao Yi''s hand, he swallowed his words. "...was just about to thank you!" Zhao Yi ignored him, took stock of the people in the station, and asked: "Did anything unusual happen during this time?" Everyone exchanged glances and shook their heads. "The ghosts in the station are quite well-behaved." "They don''t seem hostile towards us." "Almost no terrifying specters have come in from outside." Wang Xu quickly explained the situation and inquired about the outside of the train. Zhao Yi casually replied: "Nothing, just normal occurrences." At this moment, the darkness outside the train was receding, and everyone could barely see the station outside, which was gradually rotting, stinking, and deforming... Damn normal occurrences... Wang Xu knew Zhao Yi was somewhat mentally unstable, but at this point, he didn''t dare say anything, only grumbling internally. "Bring out any weapons you have, it''s time to make a move!" Zhao Yi pulled out a Scalpel and headed towards the driver''s cabin. The other players quickly stopped him. "Didn''t the clue say not to enter the driver''s cabin?" Wen Long was stunned. Zhao Yi placed his hand on the driver''s cabin door handle and shouted: "What did you say?" "I didn''t hear you!" Wen Long: "..." In the next moment, he directly twisted open the driver''s cabin door! The horrifying scene before them left everyone frozen, cold sweat forming on their foreheads! Inside the driver''s cabin appeared a robust, two-bodied Evil Spirit intertwined together! Their flesh and blood were tangled like plant roots, one ghost''s hand embedded in the other''s chest, while the other''s sharp tongue pierced the eye of the adjacent specter! The appearance of this sanity-draining specter made everyone immediately rush to grab the Ghost Candle on the table! S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As long as they had the Ghost Candle, no matter how terrifying the specter, it couldn''t attack them! Wang Xu, being the closest, was the first to move! However, as soon as his hand reached out, Zhao Yi directly sliced it off! Blood splattered! Before Wang Xu could react, he saw colorful vines growing from the wound on his forearm! Immediately, excruciating pain shot through his brain, and Wang Xu rolled on the ground, screaming until he passed out! Zhao Yi looked at the players present, smiling: "No one is allowed to touch the Ghost Candle on the table." Qin Xiufang nervously watched the specter in the driver''s cabin that could charge out at any moment. Her old face showed a trace of madness as she pulled out a small pistol, aiming it at Zhao Yi''s head, and shouted: We are "pawread.co????", find us on google. "Hand over the Ghost Candle, or I''ll blow your head off!" This Old Lady was clearly ruthless! She stared intently at Zhao Yi, ready to shoot if he showed any sign of attacking her! However, she didn''t expect Bai Shuiji behind her to suddenly strike, punching her in the temple. As Qin Xiufang was dazed, Bai Shuiji knocked her down and violently broke her arms! Looking at the Old Lady on the ground with bulging eyes and a face twisted with malice, Bai Shuiji panted and said: "Sorry, Granny... I choose to trust Zhao Yi." The two terrifying Fierce Ghosts in the driver''s cabin slowly crawled out, their oppressive presence making everyone''s legs weak, their blood-red eyes filled with extreme violence! This ghost''s terror was no less than the Ghost Security Guard! "Who... allowed you to open the driver''s cabin door?" Two voices filled with resentment and coldness intertwined in a jarring manner, hoarse and piercing! The Crew Member stood nearby, composed, watching everything coldly. Facing this extremely powerful specter, Zhao Yi showed no fear. He took out the train conductor''s mother''s head and pressed the Scalpel to her eye. "Start the train, I''ll only say it once." Zhao Yi stared into the specter''s eyes, his calm tone carrying an undeniable authority. Seeing the trembling ghost head, the train conductor seemed to regain some clarity. "Mother... Mother?" The ghost head didn''t respond. She had long fallen into a monster under the corrosive power of the station, remembering nothing of her past life! Zhao Yi looked at the train conductor, who had partially regained his senses, and said: "Your mother has been controlled by ''its'' power. If you want her to return to her former self, you must leave here!" "''It'' is about to awaken!" "If you don''t want to see your mother die again, then... start the train quickly!" The train conductor, hearing this, seemed to awaken from a dream. He glanced at the station outside, which was gradually turning into a hellish scene of flesh and blood, and immediately headed towards the driver''s cabin! However, just as he was about to enter the cabin, the ghost hand embedded in his chest pulled out and suddenly clamped onto the door! The hideous Evil Spirit intertwined with the train conductor sneered: "Want to leave?" "Back then, I told you to leave, but you didn''t, wanting the whole train to accompany that old thing of yours to the grave..." "Fine!" "Today, none of you will leave either!" "I''ll drag you all... to the grave with me!!!" PS: Goodnight, everyone. Chapter 55 – Kill the village bully ghost The Evil Spirit was clearly the village bully who had killed the train conductor''s mother earlier. The passengers once had a chance to leave, but in the end, the village bully caused the conductor''s mother''s death, leading the conductor to refuse to start the train. As a result, all the passengers on the G19 train perished at the station! Naturally, this included the village bully. His resentment lingered, haunting the place, turning him into a fierce ghost like the conductor, and their mutual hatred intertwined them! At this moment, the conductor attempted to start the train to escape the station with his mother, but the village bully ghost didn''t want to leave. He wanted to escape too, but more than that, he wanted to see the conductor, who had once caused his death, in despair and powerless rage! He wanted the conductor to taste the despair he felt before his own death! "Wen Long, shoot!" Zhao Yi shouted, and Wen Long quickly raised the gun, aiming at the village bully ghost''s forehead, and fired! Bang! Using the Crusher for the first time, Wen Long was pushed back several steps by the powerful recoil, almost falling to the ground! The shot hit the village bully ghost''s forehead, splattering blood everywhere! It let out a piercing scream, growing even more frenzied, as another arm, previously absorbed, emerged from its chest, dragging out a mass of flesh! "I''ll kill you all!" "Everyone... must die!" A newly formed Fierce Ghost slowly crawled out from the village bully ghost''s shell, its blood-red eyes filled with endless resentment! The terrifying aura it emitted made all the players present realize that this was something they couldn''t handle! ... [Newly Born Village Bully Ghost: Extremely Dangerous!] [Weakness: Not yet identified] [Abilities: Twin Ghost Claws, Soul-Capturing Ghost Eyes] [Note: Killing you is as easy for it as killing a stray dog on the street] ... Data flashed before Zhao Yi''s eyes, and his pupils began to take on a dark red hue. "Hold it off!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi shouted. "If you want to live, fight for it!" "Use every item you have, or there won''t be another chance!" The shell of the village bully ghost left behind some resentment to fight the conductor, while the newly born ghost charged swiftly towards everyone! It swung a claw at Zhao Yi, who ducked just in time, the sharp ghost claws slicing through the thick seats without any resistance! The scene made everyone''s scalp tingle! Anyone touched by the ghost claws would either die or be severely injured! Wen Long fired two more shots at the village bully ghost, bullets splattering blood on its body, but by now, the village bully ghost could ignore his attacks! The Evil Spirit turned, its mouth splitting to its ears, and its sinister smile almost made Wen Long collapse in fear! He fired several more shots at the village bully ghost, but to no avail! Whoosh! The village bully ghost swiped a claw at Wen Long, who quickly retreated, but not fast enough, losing a hand in the process, blood splattering everywhere! "Ah!" He screamed, clutching his right arm, as the village bully ghost was about to pursue and kill Wen Long, Zhao Yi swiftly attacked from behind, his scalpel accurately striking its... sunflower. This blow was far more devastating than the shotgun! The chaotic damage pierced through the village bully ghost''s toughest defense, straight into its core! Immediately, before the chaotic wound could heal, the ''Devourer'' sensed the scent of flesh and began to wildly proliferate within the village bully ghost''s body! In an instant, thick, long vines sprouted from the village bully ghost''s rear, swelling its belly! Feeling the pain, the village bully ghost roared, ghostly energy surging through its body, transforming into flames that burned fiercely within, barely suppressing the growing Devourer! As a creation of the Evil Deity Meme, the Devourer was uninterested in humans, but the more bizarre the creature, the more excited it became! Unfortunately, Zhao Yi wasn''t strong enough, or the Devourer alone could have devoured the village bully ghost, leaving nothing behind. Yet, even so, the Devourer caused the village bully ghost significant trouble! For instance, the wildly swinging thick vines made the village bully ghost lose its balance, staggering like a drunkard on the street! "Damn you, wretched creature... I''ll kill you!" The village bully ghost roared in fury, its eyes blood-red! Zhao Yi pulled out the T-202, aimed it at his neck, and stabbed it in. Then, with a fierce smile, he said: "You''re finished." "Soon, I''ll become a terrifying monster, and I''ll skin you alive, tear out your tendons, and feast on your bones!" ... [Item: T-202] Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the ]" [Quality: Consumable] [Description: A project created by a mysterious organization, they invested great cost and risk, but in the end, they only completed half of it.] [Effect: Manifestation of Dark Personality] [Note: Perhaps, you''ve never truly understood your inner self... do you know how terrifying the real you is?] ... Seeing Zhao Yi inject himself with the mysterious solution, the once fierce village bully ghost couldn''t help but take two steps back. Vaguely, it felt a bit uneasy. What on earth was that? They waited quietly for three seconds. Nothing happened. The previously tense atmosphere suddenly relaxed, leading to some awkwardness. Zhao Yi felt no change in his body, coughed dryly, and pointed at the puzzled village bully ghost, saying: "Just wait!" "I''m about to change!" "I''m going to change soon!" "You just wait to die!" Everyone watched Zhao Yi with extremely tense and wary eyes, but after half a minute, Zhao Yi still showed no change. He awkwardly touched his nose, coughed, and said: "Well... honestly, I''m a bit dissatisfied with the T-202 product experience... I''ll find a way to complain to their researchers later..." Hearing this, the village bully ghost was infuriated! Damn! Why pretend if there''s nothing? I thought you were going to turn into Ultraman! Trash! It charged at Zhao Yi in anger, but a furious shout came from behind: "Don''t you dare hit my brother!" Suddenly, a frail little ghost girl leapt into the air and hugged the village bully ghost! The village bully ghost roared, swung its ghost claws, tore off the little ghost girl''s arms, and stuffed them into its mouth, chewing voraciously, then kicked her to the edge of the carriage! The little ghost girl coughed up blood, her expression listless. "You worthless brat, just like your useless father!" "Daring to help an outsider against me, I''ll eat you first!" It crawled quickly towards the little ghost girl, but was intercepted by three fierce ghosts! "No one can stop us from pursuing freedom!" "Start the train!" "Get moving!" It was the three fierce ghosts from the fifth carriage! Their bodies swelled, their appearances fierce, clearly ready for a life-and-death battle! "Just you?" The village bully ghost swung its ghost claws wildly, engaging in a chaotic fight with the three ghosts, each strike deadly! Soon, the three ghosts were defeated, and the other specters in the carriage retreated, even though they longed for freedom, they dared not provoke the village bully ghost! Fortunately, Wen Long seized the opportunity, got up from between them, and stuck a talisman on the village bully ghost''s back, barely hindering its movements, preventing the three severely injured specters from dying on the spot! "Take the little ghost girl and run!" "I''ll handle this!" Zhao Yi shouted to the three ghosts, who glanced at him, gritted their teeth, grabbed the little ghost girl, and fled to the rear carriages! The village bully ghost didn''t chase. Because there was no way out in the rear carriages, they couldn''t escape. It slowly turned around, blood streaming from its eyes, looking at Zhao Yi, it snarled: "Now... no one can help you!" "Are you ready to die?" Zhao Yi grinned at the village bully ghost: "Are you ready to die?" The village bully ghost felt something was wrong, about to advance, when it suddenly noticed a fierce ghost with a body made of large iron boxes appearing behind Zhao Yi! The Warehouse Ghost! The residual resentment of the village bully ghost left at the driver''s cabin had been completely cleared, and the conductor had started the train. Now... they needed to quickly deal with the village bully ghost to avoid further trouble! "Let me handle this!" The Warehouse Ghost laughed sinisterly, its chest box opening, blood mist gushing out like a fountain, soon enveloping every corner of the carriage! In the pitch-black blood mist, everyone heard the village bully ghost''s harrowing screams... Chapter 56 – Zhao Yis true intentions "Leave the head for me." Amidst the chaos, everyone vaguely heard Zhao Yi''s voice. "What do you want its head for?" "To use as a chamber pot... Haha, just kidding, I just want to finish it off myself." Swoosh! A sharp weapon pierced flesh. ... S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [You have slain the Newly Born Village Bully Ghost, and your Soul Weapon has been enhanced.] [Evil Deity Meme reconstruction in progress... 0.05%... Insufficient Soul Weapon energy, reconstruction failed, please try again...] [In this reconstruction, the host gains 8 Strength, and the Devourer evolves into the Plunderer.] [Plunderer: Units damaged by your Soul Weapon will grow Plunderers on their wounds, which will continuously siphon life force to heal you until the Plunderer is removed or the unit dies! The strength of the Plunderer is related to the host Zhao Yi''s Strength and Level.] ... After killing the Newly Born Village Bully Ghost, Zhao Yi gained a full eight points of Strength, and the Devourer evolved into the Plunderer! From the effect, as long as Zhao Yi''s Soul Weapon injures an enemy, it''s like having a constant source of healing! Turning enemies into his own health potions, how satisfying! Whoosh! Zhao Yi turned and threw his Soul Weapon fiercely onto the ground outside the window, piercing the increasingly grotesque flesh! Soon, the wound left an ashen mark, with black tendrils growing densely inside, devouring continuously from the center, and at this moment, Zhao Yi felt a surge of life force pouring into his body from an unknown abyss! Although this power couldn''t make Zhao Yi stronger, it could heal his injuries! The blood mist inside the train receded like a tide, gathered entirely by the Warehouse Ghost into the iron box on its chest, and the darkness outside the carriage had completely dissipated. The tracks were overflowing with foul-smelling blood, flowing like a river, occasionally revealing broken bones! The hellish scene made everyone in the carriage shiver, yet this wasn''t the most terrifying part. The most terrifying was the enormous eyes above, like black holes! They coldly watched the train slowly moving on the tracks, filled with anger! "Start the train, quickly!" Wen Long cried out in tears! This muscular man... whether out of fear or pain, was actually crying! "It''s already at maximum speed!" The train conductor roared fiercely. Roar! From behind the train came countless roars! Everyone hurried to the windows to check, discovering all sorts of bizarre creatures rushing towards the train at an eerie speed! The ground suddenly cracked, and a massive tentacle with countless barbs lifted up, hooking onto the train''s rear! Boom! The train shook violently, the Ghost Candle flickered, and Zhao Yi and the Warehouse Ghost reached the junction of the first carriage, shouting to the specters behind: "Get to the first carriage!" The Three Fierce Ghost Brothers heard and rushed into the first carriage with the little ghost girl, followed by seven or eight specters running towards it. Many specters seemed hesitant, as if wondering whether to trust a living person... That moment of hesitation cost them their last chance at freedom. "Cut!" Zhao Yi didn''t linger for a second, immediately having the Warehouse Ghost sever the link between the first carriage and the ones behind! He was willing to lend a hand to save these people or ghosts, but that didn''t mean he had the obligation or duty to do so. He certainly wouldn''t risk his life to save them. They had been given a chance. If they didn''t take it, then they could die. Watching the carriages behind being dragged into the flesh-and-blood hell by the tentacle, everyone in the first carriage, both human and ghost, broke out in a cold sweat! Zhao Yi acted decisively! Without any hesitation! "It''s not enough, we still need at least a minute to get out of the station!" The train conductor shouted anxiously. The road ahead showed light, but the path to that light was dark and brutal! The train wheels trudged over countless bones and bloody mud, the conductor pouring all his strength into the train, yet still struggling against the countless vengeful spirits that had died at the station! Zhao Yi''s expression remained unchanged, showing no panic, as he called out to Bai Shuiji and Wen Long: "Hurry and pull out the Ghost Candle, hold it in your hands!" The two complied. The next moment, a ghostly claw dozens of meters long descended from the sky, slamming onto the train! Boom! The terrifying impact sent blood water splashing dozens of meters high, countless vengeful spirits'' bones shattered in this fatal blow! Everyone closed their eyes in tension, but the expected destruction didn''t come. The Ghost Candle flared brightly, its body rapidly shortening! A mysterious force enveloped the carriage, helping to mitigate the damage! But this also consumed a lot of the Ghost Candle! Under the rules, as long as the Ghost Candle wasn''t completely burned out, the Player wouldn''t be harmed! The Station Ghost, though incredibly powerful, couldn''t overcome the game''s rules! "Zhao Yi, what do we do next?!" Bai Shuiji shouted sharply. At this moment, Zhao Yi, the only one remaining calm, undoubtedly became the core of the small team! Even the Warehouse Ghost looked at him differently! Even it couldn''t remain as composed as Zhao Yi when facing the fully revived Station Ghost! Zhao Yi glanced at the dozen or so specters in the carriage and said: "I don''t know you, and you don''t know me, but our fates are now tightly bound together. If you want to live, if you want freedom, follow my instructions!" "Warehouse Ghost, you and the train conductor, pour all your strength into the train''s power system." "The other specters stay in the carriage to block the monsters chasing us... You don''t need to do much damage, just knock them off the carriage at the crucial moment..." "Also..." Zhao Yi said this with a bright smile that sent chills down everyone''s spine. "Wang Xu, Qin Xiufang, and Li Miaomiao are the ones I intentionally left behind. If necessary... you can throw them out as bait to distract the monsters, and it will be a success!" "But... don''t touch the little girl." Zhao Yi pointed to Tian Tian. She stood quietly in the corner, holding her tattered teddy bear, not saying a word. Wang Xu''s eyes widened in horror, his face pale, as he screamed: "Zhao Yi... I didn''t offend you!" "Why are you doing this to me?" Zhao Yi consoled him earnestly: "This is an opportunity for you to train, how could it be harming you?" "What a great training opportunity!" "Close contact with specters can effectively help you increase your SAN value!" "We''re all one big happy family, all good brothers in the guild, I''m sacrificing my own training opportunity to give it to you!" "Oh, how could I be so kind!" Wang Xu trembled as he saw the evil spirits closing in on him. This novel is available on ". "Devil... you''re a devil..." "No... no!!!" PS: A reader pointed out earlier that bringing freeloaders (like Yang Linlin, Fang Bai, etc.) into the dungeon doesn''t look good, making the protagonist seem like a pushover. I''ve realized this issue, but it''s hard to change the earlier chapters. I''ll pay attention to this in the design of future dungeons and characters. Thanks to the friend who gave a one-star review, this is my first book on Tomato, and if there are any issues, feel free to point them out, and I''ll consider making changes. Chapter 57 – Favorability reward? New map unlocked! Hanging Valley Town Qin Xiufang, Li Miaomiao, and Wang Xu were tightly bound by the specters and thrown near the end of the first carriage. For now, the specters could barely handle the monsters crazily chasing from behind, so there was no need to throw the three out yet. In fact, defending against those powerful monsters wasn''t too difficult, especially during a chase. The evil spirits on the train weren''t to be trifled with, and they just needed to ensure the monsters below couldn''t climb onto the train! Meanwhile, Wen Long and Bai Shuiji clutched their ghost candles tightly, secretly watching Zhao Yi. This guy... was terrifying! On the surface, he seemed harmless, but secretly, he was scheming against everyone! If you hadn''t interacted with Zhao Yi personally, it would be hard to imagine how a slender, slightly sickly handsome young man could exert such immense pressure! Seemingly aware of their gaze, Zhao Yi turned back and smiled at them. "Relax, I''m not someone who kills indiscriminately. I''ve said it before... I''m not particularly interested in the act of killing itself." "You''ve contributed a bit to the team, though not much, but your attitude is good." Hearing Zhao Yi''s words, the two felt slightly relieved. Wen Long''s expression was even more complex. Although Zhao Yi had schemed against him, it was clear he had no intention of killing him. It was Zhao Yi who had plotted against him, yet why did he feel grateful to Zhao Yi now? Grateful for Zhao Yi''s mercy? His mind was still muddled with thoughts when the station launched another attack on the train! This time, it was the blood water beneath the tracks! Under the station''s power, the blood water began to congeal! The train, which wasn''t moving fast to begin with, now almost came to a complete stop! "Howl!!!" Seeing the monsters chasing madly from behind, the Warehouse Ghost roared fiercely. Countless red mist surged from the iron on its chest, enveloping the entire train, forcing it to move through the blood water! It used to have the power to restrain the Station Ghost, and while it couldn''t confront the fully awakened Station Ghost head-on, it was definitely not something other ordinary evil spirits could compare to! Among the group of monsters behind, a disheveled specter was riding a sixteen-legged spiky boar, crazily chasing after everyone, waving a familiar and conspicuous poop-stirring stick! It was the Ghost Security Guard! "Thieving brat, return my innocence!" It shouted angrily, charging forward! As it got closer to everyone, it suddenly leaped, seizing the gap between attacks from a few specters to jump onto the train! Seeing the murderous Ghost Security Guard, Wen Long clenched his buttocks tightly! Damn! This is a disaster! Support us at . Why won''t this damn thing leave him alone? Just as a few fierce ghosts on the train were about to desperately push the Ghost Security Guard out, it quickly put on a flattering, lewd smile, raising its hands and shouting: "Big brother! Big brother, don''t hit me!" "I''m here to help you!" "Take me with you!" After saying that, it really turned around, knocking down the other monsters trying to get on the train one by one with its stick! The specters exchanged glances, looking at Zhao Yi. The latter nodded, and they slowly backed away, making room for the Ghost Security Guard. Clutching Old Liu''s property deed, Zhao Yi remained calm. If the Ghost Security Guard had any ill intentions, he would control it immediately! Relying on the property deed to control a BUG-level existence like the Station Ghost was unrealistic, but controlling a Ghost Security Guard was entirely feasible. With the addition of the Ghost Security Guard, dealing with these monsters became much easier. The train was about to exit the station ahead, but how could the Station Ghost be willing to let it go? Especially when one of its former lackeys had now... betrayed it? It couldn''t stand it! A demonic sound descended from the sky, echoing all around. The terrifying monsters behind, upon hearing this vast demonic sound, seemed to be on steroids, their speed more than doubling! At the same time, the train tracks ahead flipped up, standing vertical to the ground, trying to forcibly block the train from breaking through the final barrier! "Don''t panic, just crush through it!" "Use all your strength, smash the train to pieces!" "Only this way can the ghost candle''s protective mechanism be triggered!" Zhao Yi gave the order, and the Warehouse Ghost''s eyes gleamed fiercely! Boom! At the final barrier, countless monsters leaped up at that moment, densely packed, pouncing fiercely towards the Ghost Security Guard on the first carriage! Meanwhile, the ghost candles in Bai Shuiji and Wen Long''s hands emitted a brilliant and dazzling light! The train''s engine collided violently with the tracks bearing the Station Ghost, and at that moment, two different forces converged, triggering a third irresistible force¡ªrules! The ghost candles in Bai Shuiji and Wen Long''s hands burned out in the last moment, and the train, in a hair''s breadth, broke free from the tracks'' constraints, rushing towards the infinite light ahead! The Station Ghost''s earth-shattering roar of unwillingness echoed from behind, as tens of thousands of terrifying monsters stood at the station''s exit, watching the train depart with venomous eyes... ... [Congratulations to players Zhao Yi, Wen Long, Bai Shuiji, Tian Tian, Li Miaomiao, Wang Xu, and Qin Xiufang for completing the world quest ''Liberate the Resentment in the Train,'' all players receive 2 talent points.] [After the dungeon ends, the new world map ''Hanging Valley Town'' opens, with numerous character side quests available to earn points.] [The special specters on the train have increased their favorability towards player Zhao Yi to ''Respect,'' and in the future, player Zhao Yi can enjoy their special services and assistance in Hanging Valley Town.] [Specter Favorability: Blood Feud, Deep Hatred, Disgust, Indifference, Like, Respect, Awe (Admiration), Loyalty] ... The guild announcement rang out again, and the chatroom exploded. : Damn, what kind of monster is this Zhao Yi, how can he complete any task? : Rank one is really impressive! : It''s a pity, though, he''ll soon disappear from the rookie ranking. If his level exceeds five next month, he won''t be a rookie anymore. : Next month there''s the Tide of Demon Spirits... he''s definitely going! : Hiss¡ªI''ve heard it''s incredibly dangerous there, with not only terrifying ghosts but also horrifying legends, curses... and even some mentally unstable players who slaughter each other! : Isn''t that demon Bal known for crazily slaughtering teammates in dungeons? Last time during the Tide of Demon Spirits, he got rich by killing teammates! ... On the train, Zhao Yi squatted in front of the three people bound by evil spirits, holding a scalpel, and said with a smile: "If I let you go back, will you seek revenge on me?" Li Miaomiao had already lost her mind. Drool dripped from her mouth as she looked at Zhao Yi''s face and screamed madly, struggling constantly! Clearly, this woman had been scared out of her wits by Zhao Yi. Wang Xu wasn''t much better off; the monsters chasing the train had been extremely close earlier, causing significant mental pollution, and his SAN value had dropped severely. At this moment, his lips were pale, his eyes vacant, the little sanity he had left barely supporting him as he shook his head repeatedly. In his eyes, Zhao Yi''s smiling face had already transformed into an indescribable horror. As for the Old Lady, who had the best mental state, she kept her head down, not speaking, seemingly passed out. "Your gun." Wen Long returned the Crusher to Zhao Yi, his expression complex. What does it feel like to trust and fear someone at the same time? He was experiencing it now. "Thank you... for saving my life. I won''t participate in any more main quests in the future." He glanced back at the distant station, still shaken. What the hell was this absurdly hellish dungeon? If their team didn''t have Zhao Yi, they''d definitely be doomed! This dungeon wasn''t just terrifying; it was full of traps everywhere! Who would have thought that the biggest boss of the dungeon was the station itself? Who would have realized early in the dungeon that the ghost candle, a tool that only provided an hour of illumination, was the only way to deal with the boss? He suddenly understood why thirty-six people had gone in before, and all thirty-six had died! This dungeon, placed in the game, was definitely beyond hell-level difficulty! Wen Long''s body was the first to transform into a beam of light and disappear from the train. Soon after, the other players began to turn into white light and vanish. When it was Qin Xiufang''s turn, she suddenly raised her gun, her face twisted, aiming it at Zhao Yi''s head! Bang! Bang! Bang! She fired three shots. All were blocked by the specters within the station. "Evil old woman! How dare you harm brother!" The little ghost girl''s hand had regrown, her injuries mostly healed. Seeing Qin Xiufang attack Zhao Yi, she was instantly furious, her mouth splitting open to a terrifying degree, lunging at Qin Xiufang''s head! However, in the next moment, Qin Xiufang''s body transformed into a beam of white light and disappeared... Xuanxuan bit into thin air, a trace of confusion in her eyes. Zhao Yi came to where Qin Xiufang had been, picked up the shell casings from the ground, examined them for a moment, and his lips curled into a slight smile. "Brother... are you okay?" The little ghost girl looked up with concern, holding the tattered backpack Zhao Yi had given her earlier. Zhao Yi patted her ghostly head, speaking gently: "Thank you for the tip... I have to go now, Xuanxuan." Hearing this, Xuanxuan''s eyes dimmed. "Will brother come to see Xuanxuan again?" Zhao Yi smiled and said: "Of course, I''ll visit Hanging Valley Town." Xuanxuan smiled happily again, extending her finger: "Brother, pinky promise!" Zhao Yi hooked his pinky with hers. Then he turned to the Warehouse Ghost in the carriage and said: "I said I was the last batch of players to go to the station." The Warehouse Ghost nodded slightly. It was a gesture of gratitude and respect towards this frail human before it. "Thank you." "In the future, if you have any trouble in Hanging Valley Town, you can come directly to our place, and we''ll help you." [Hanging Valley Town map updated, you have unlocked more private safe camps] Zhao Yi nodded: "Please take care of Xuanxuan for me, she''s still young." The Warehouse Ghost agreed. Although Xuanxuan was a ghost, if it weren''t for her early warning that something was watching them, Zhao Yi wouldn''t have guessed the Station Ghost''s existence so quickly. After a few words of farewell, Zhao Yi also left the station, turning into white light and disappearing. In the dim twilight, a battered train slowly traveled along the overgrown tracks, heading into the boundless darkness... PS: I''ll write three chapters today, which is almost eight thousand words. I''ll work on the details of the next dungeon later. Tomorrow, I''ll find similar books to copy from, can''t copy anymore today. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Goodnight, brothers! Chapter 58 – Shopping Mall Skill - Swinging Words Guild Headquarters. In a secluded corner, the tattooed man, Shan Lie, found Qin Xiufang, who had just returned. Inside Shan Lie''s room, Qin Xiufang was surrounded by a group of burly men. Her face was cold, yet there was a hint of fear. The torture that Zhao Yi could endure, she could not. "Why isn''t Zhao Yi dead?" Shan Lie, shirtless, his tattoos swirling like dragons and snakes across his chest, his eyes filled with murderous intent! Qin Xiufang took out a handgun and respectfully placed it on the table. "This guy is hard to deal with." Her expression was grim. Shan Lie slapped his thigh in anger and said: "Why the hell didn''t you just shoot him at the start?" "Who would have thought an old thing like you would have a gun?" Qin Xiufang''s face was extremely unpleasant. After everything that happened not long ago, she was actually very glad she hadn''t shot Zhao Yi at the start of the dungeon. Otherwise... they would all be dead! "A specter helped him block the bullet." She explained casually, as no one outside could know what really happened inside. It''s not like a game dungeon, where players'' brilliant performances are recorded and uploaded to forums. The tasks in the real world have no records. Only the participants know. The atmosphere in the room was heavy. Shan Lie lit a cigarette, his sharp gaze piercing through the white smoke, landing on Qin Xiufang''s wrinkled face. "Keep the gun." "This thing isn''t worth much... Next month, there will be a Tide of Demon Spirits. With Zhao Yi''s personality, he won''t miss it." "You have one more chance." "Kill him, and our previous promise still stands!" Qin Xiufang didn''t refuse and put the gun back in her pocket. ... Apartment 707. The door opened, and Liu Ruoqing, wearing a burgundy nightgown, saw Zhao Yi out of the room, her eyes dreamy. "Come again next time, darling." She waved slightly at Zhao Yi, who couldn''t help but cough a few times. Those who knew understood he was there to treat an illness. Those who didn''t might think he was there to exorcise demons! He shook his head, carrying a notebook as he left the seventh floor and returned to his room. Opening the notebook, it recorded two simple patients. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... [Patient: Liu Ruoqing] [SAN: Stable, uncontrollable] [Cause: Red Devil Personality] [Specific Manifestation: When subjected to intense external stimuli, the Red Devil personality dormant in the body awakens. It hunts specific groups and consumes them with exquisite culinary methods, paired with green vegetables. Without green vegetables, the Red Devil refuses to eat and goes on a rampage, killing indiscriminately... Once it has enough delicacies, the Red Devil personality will be satisfied and return to slumber until the next awakening.] [Note: The Red Devil originates from a spiritual creation made by a black goat''s offspring from the Western world, combining evil seaweed and its foul saliva. It''s often sown in groups with high mental focus. Although the black goat''s offspring doesn''t have much fondness for the Red Devil it unintentionally created, it is considered the most perfect creature recorded by humans so far.] [Treatment Plan: Talk therapy (temporary)] [Category: Unknown ingredient, pending further confirmation] ... [Patient: Tian Tian] [SAN: Stable, uncontrollable] [Cause: Dangerous Delusion] [Specific Manifestation: ... She always believes she has a friend named Winnie, visually represented as a ragged teddy bear she holds, but the bear doesn''t actually exist. Only patients with the same condition can see it directly. When the delusional personality senses danger, it forcibly unlocks the body''s genetic lock and eliminates the source of danger immediately... If the delusional personality persists too long, it will cause the genetic lock to collapse, leading to death or irreversible transformation.] [Note: This subject''s personality has severely deluded, suspected to have encountered some unspeakable entity in the dark.] [Treatment Plan: No treatment needed, under observation] [Category: Good ingredient (unripe)] ... Closing his notebook, Zhao Yi tossed it into his inventory. Then he opened his system panel. ... [Character: Zhao Yi] [Level: 3] [Experience: 25/100] [Items: Old Liu''s Property Deed, Pandora''s Box (Fake), Substitute Doll, Crusher (Shotgun), Butcher''s Carefully Cooked Soup] [Life: 20/20] [Strength: 35] [Spirit: 101 (100+1)] [Luck: 0] [Title: Ghostbane, Sharp Edge, Rule Breaker, Mentor] [Soul Weapon: Bloodstained Scalpel (Plunder)] [Points: 12000] [Rating Acquisition: S+, SS, S] [Domain: Strengthening (F-)] ... The biggest changes were his strength and points. Zhao Yi''s current rating acquisition already allowed him to access the high-level mall. Inside, he could exchange for various specter limbs, exotic arts, secret treasures, weapons, techniques... The required points varied depending on the effect. For example, a fierce ghost arm with a strength of one hundred required 240,000 points and two ratings above S. These limbs couldn''t evolve further, and each use would corrode the player''s body with the fierce ghost''s resentment until one day, the player''s mind is completely consumed by the resentment, turning into a fierce ghost themselves! Therefore, before a player is completely corrupted by resentment, they must earn more points to replace the original limb with a stronger fierce ghost limb. It''s a path of no return. But among the vast player base, a considerable number chose to exchange for specter limbs. The reason is that exchanging limbs provides the fastest, most stable, and most comfortable increase in strength. Zhao Yi wasn''t interested in this, his gaze constantly searching through the vast mall, looking for something peculiar. Finally, in the techniques section, he found a strange technique. ... [Technique: Lunyu (1/492)] [Quality: White (White, Green, Blue, Purple, Orange, Gold, Red)] [Introduction: In an Eastern world during the Warring States period, there was a sage named ''Kong.'' He advocated benevolence and virtue, stood 2.2 meters tall, and could break city gates with one hand. He had three thousand disciples and persuaded the rulers of seven states, successfully implementing his teachings through continuous beatings. ''Lunyu'' was the code of conduct established by ''Kong'' for people of that time.] [Note: Collecting all the pages can evolve into the red limited edition technique¡ª''Lunyu''] [Evaluation: Zhao Yi! Your purity is still too low!] It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from ". ... PS: Start copying the book! Chapter 59 – The Wilderness Seeking Death Dungeon is open! Are Uncle Bei and Uncle De teaming up? All preparations were complete, and the map of Hanging Valley Town had been updated. It was filled with a myriad of side quests, documenting various character profiles, but most of the side quest rewards were just points, only allowing high-level players to earn some extra cash. Since Zhao Yi took on the main quest, it was marked with his level imprint, meaning only players with levels less than or equal to his could undertake the main quest. The imprint would only disappear if Zhao Yi died. Zhao Yi wasn''t very interested in the side quests of Hanging Valley Town; his focus remained on the Butcher''s daughter, Sun Baibai. Unfortunately, most areas in Hanging Valley Town were currently over level 10, making them quite dangerous, and Zhao Yi didn''t want to rush in and get beaten up. "However, I might be able to ask the Warehouse Ghost to help me investigate." To read the uncut version, go to ]. Zhao Yi''s eyes shone brightly. Ever since he returned to the past timeline and freed the grievances on the train, some of the special specters settled in Hanging Valley Town. Because they held Zhao Yi in high regard, their territory became his personal safe haven. As long as he entered their territory, Zhao Yi would be protected. Lying on the bed, Zhao Yi let out a loud fart, then opened the system panel. "System, eat fart!" ¡¾TM!¡¿ ¡¾Warning to player Zhao Yi for uncivilized behavior. If you attempt to attack the system with biochemical weapons again, you will be muted!¡¿ Zhao Yi: "..." He didn''t bother arguing with the system and checked the next world quest. ... ¡¾World Quest: Find a Job¡¿ ¡¾Recommended Level: 5-10¡¿ ¡¾Recommended Number of Players: Any¡¿ ¡¾Quest Reward: Based on the job position¡¿ ¡¾Note 1: This dungeon will seal the player''s inventory, and all items in the inventory cannot be used!¡¿ ¡¾Note 2: Player strength is reduced by 50% until the dungeon ends!¡¿ ... Intense pain came from his head, and before Zhao Yi opened his eyes, he vaguely heard two voices filled with tension: "Same old rules, each takes four." "Bell, I''m hosting this show, and I found the sponsors. Isn''t a fifty-fifty split a bit unfair?" "Unfair? Ed, if it weren''t for my connections, do you think you could bring these eight kids to the Rubaco Mountains to film the show?" "Damn it, fine... But Bell, you''re in charge of weather reconnaissance. If anything goes wrong with this show... I won''t let you off!" ... S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The conversation ended, and the voices faded away. Zhao Yi waited in boredom for a long time before the endless darkness before his eyes slowly receded. He opened his eyes. The sky was so blue, the grass so green, the air so fresh... And the bird droppings on his forehead were so runny. Using the clothes of a female player next to him to wipe off the bird droppings, Zhao Yi slowly sat up. They were on the top of a mountain in a large mountain range. Vast expanses of shrubs and vegetation covered the land, with no boundaries in sight. The light from the distant sunset made it hard for Zhao Yi to adjust for a moment. "You''re awake?" By the campfire, a bald, muscular man looked at Zhao Yi with a slightly surprised smile. ¡¾Ed: Triggered Neutral¡¿ ¡¾Weakness: None¡¿ ¡¾Note: Formerly a special forces soldier, he retired and started hosting wilderness survival shows. Known for enduring hunger, he''s humorously nicknamed ''Starving Ed'' by the audience.¡¿ ... Zhao Yi nodded, rubbing his head. "My head hurts. Are we already in the Rubaco Mountains?" Ed laughed heartily: "Yes! Zhao Yi, look around you, isn''t it beautiful?" "I''ve wandered and survived in many places, and every time I can''t help but think, this must be the most beautiful place. But next time, I always find somewhere even more beautiful... That''s nature for you, you know. Sometimes it makes you feel powerless, but once you calm down and feel it, you''ll discover its magnificent charm!" Ed also had another nickname, "Philosopher Ed." Because when he was in a good mood, he would start spouting philosophy. To the camera, to himself, to the fire, to the food... And he''d casually mention his loving wife and harmonious family in front of all the single people... Zhao Yi glanced around curiously and asked: "Ed, where did Bell go?" Ed paused his philosophical musings and rubbed his bald head. "Huh? Bell?" "Bell went to get the camera equipment. Sometimes the live broadcast equipment and network can be interrupted by the weather, which is inconvenient. So we usually record the process of us and the guests conquering nature with our willpower using recording equipment!" Zhao Yi glanced at the distant sky and nodded. "Rest for a while. When Bell returns and the other guests wake up, we''ll start filming our show!" PS: Today''s guaranteed three chapters, because I''m working on some details, the writing is a bit slow at the start. Also, if any of you brothers and sisters are interested in wilderness survival, you can check out Bell''s ''Man vs. Wild'' and Ed''s ''Alone in the Wild.'' They''re quite realistic. Chapter 60 – Desolate Wilderness Seeking Death Bell quickly ascended from the dense forest on the mountainside, carrying a lot of equipment, mostly recording and filming devices. At a glance, it seemed to weigh around a hundred pounds, yet it didn''t slow Bell down at all! "This speed climbing the mountain... interesting." Zhao Yi squinted his eyes. Clearly, Bell''s physical condition far exceeded that of a normal human. Even a royal special forces king couldn''t possibly carry dozens or even hundreds of pounds of gear up a mountain path at such speed! He glanced again at Ed by the campfire. Ed was barely dressed. All he had on was a pair of shorts. Meanwhile, Zhao Yi, playing the guest role, was dressed in three layers and could still feel a slight chill in the air. Judging by the faint frost on the grass nearby, the temperature at the mountaintop must be below zero. Undoubtedly, Bell and Ed''s physiques had been enhanced to an unknown extent. This seemed to be a good thing. The stronger they were, the less likely unexpected incidents would occur for the players in the jungle as long as they stayed close. Zhao Yi stroked his chin, his gaze fixed on the campfire in front of Ed, pondering something. At this moment, other players gradually woke up. A woman''s scream came from beside him: "Damn! Who smeared bird poop on my chest... and even spread it evenly!" "How shameless!" Zhao Yi righteously chimed in: "Exactly!" "I can''t believe some jerk would do such a despicable thing!" "It''s utterly disgraceful!" "Don''t let me catch you, or you''ll pay for it!" The newly awakened players exchanged confused glances. They hadn''t fully realized their current situation yet, as not everyone was as mentally alert as Zhao Yi. ... Zhao Yi''s Live Streaming Room: : Damn, it''s been a few days, and Zhao Yi has become this shameless? : Tsk tsk, when someone is shameless, they''re invincible! : Signing in! And continuing to learn! : Holy crap, my brother''s mission difficulty has turned into Hell! : I''m a newbie, can someone explain what Hell difficulty is? : Game dungeon difficulties are: Normal, Nightmare, Hell, Purgatory, Torment, Despair, and Impossible. : Correct explanation above. ... The new dungeon opened, and the players fully entered the state. In this batch of players, there were hardly any rookies. The three with relatively low levels: Zhao Yi, Ji Teng, and Ding Longfei, were all in the top twenty of the rookie ranking! Zhao Yi was first, Ji Teng eighth, and Ding Longfei fourteenth. Perhaps this was why they were matched with a Hell-level dungeon. Bell set up the camera and distributed the batteries. Ed, noticing he had one less battery, complained: "Why is there one battery missing?" "What if the power runs out?" Bell replied: "Funds are tight... besides, when have you ever used up a battery?" "Make do with what you have, conserve a bit, and it should be fine." Ed gritted his teeth and strapped the camera and spare battery onto his back. Then he turned around, his chest hair bristling, and addressed the players: "Welcome to the ''Wilderness Survival'' show, no need for further introductions. Over the next fifteen days, you''ll be split into two groups of four, following Bell and me in different areas to complete challenges and return to human society!" "But before that, we''ll give you ten minutes to freely discuss and choose whom to follow for the challenge." "If one side has too many people, the excess will be randomly assigned to the other group." "Now, please start your discussions!" "Please be quick, night is falling, and this mountain range not only has fierce unknown beasts but also terrifying poisonous insects!" With that, Ed and Bell stood in the distance under the setting sun. The players briefly introduced themselves to each other and began discussing the dungeon task. The first to speak was Wei Yun, the woman with the large chest who had bird poop smeared on her by Zhao Yi. "Long story short, this dungeon may seem like a simple wilderness survival task, with two wilderness experts assigned to us. However, since it''s a Hell-level eight-player dungeon, there must be unexpected dangers lurking!" "Everyone''s strength has been reduced by 50%, and our item slots are sealed, making it hard to utilize our personal power. So I suggest we unite as much as possible to fight against external threats!" Her words immediately garnered a lot of agreement. "I agree!" "I choose Bell!" "I choose Ed!" "I also choose Ed!" ... In just a few minutes, everyone had made their choice. Among the eight players, six wanted to follow Bell, while only two were willing to go with Ed. The reason was simple: Bell had excellent equipment and a divine weapon¡ªa military knife. Ed... had nothing. He didn''t even have hair. Clearly, when faced with unpredictable dangers, Bell''s combat capability would be higher than Ed''s! There weren''t many slackers among them; otherwise, they wouldn''t have been matched to a Hell-level dungeon. They had sharp eyes and wanted to follow the well-equipped Bell, unwilling to team up with Ed, the expert with nothing. The two who chose Ed were Zhao Yi and Wei Yun. After a quick game of rock-paper-scissors, two more were randomly assigned to Ed. ¡ªDing Longfei and Ying Xiangying. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Both were robust young men, though Ding Longfei looked vigorous, while Ying Xiangying seemed reserved and low-key. Being assigned to Ed, they didn''t look pleased. Could this expert, who didn''t even have hair, really be reliable? "Very well, since you''ve made your choice, the four of you coming with me... let''s go find tonight''s campsite now!" Ed''s eyes sparkled with excitement, his smile childlike. Zhao Yi and the others exchanged glances, said nothing, and followed Ed''s sturdy figure into the dark forest below. On the way, Ed turned on the camera, filming as he spoke: "The Rubaco Mountains have a huge temperature difference between day and night, usually dropping to around minus twenty degrees at night. Without a suitable shelter, we won''t last until morning..." "Also... watch your step. As far as I know, there are at least 43 different types of spiders and other poisonous insects in the mountains that could easily take our lives!" "Moreover, to ensure the authenticity of this reality show, we haven''t brought any external support, medicine, food, or water, so try your best not to get injured... because if your wounds get infected here, it could mean death..." PS: That''s all for tonight. I''ll continue copying the book tomorrow morning. Good night, brothers! Chapter 61 – The Wilderness Seeks Death: Zhao Yis Discovery Chapter 61: "Wilderness Survival" - Zhao Yi''s Discovery A group of five slowly made their way through the intricate forest. Their pace was not fast, always on guard against potential poisonous creatures. Just moments ago, as they crossed a shallow stream half a meter wide, Ying Xiangying almost got bitten on the neck by a large spider the size of a palm hanging from a nearby tree! The spider was vividly colored, with a plump abdomen, and its venomous fangs glinted ominously in the sunset, making one''s skin crawl. Fortunately, Ed was quick to react, catching the spider mid-air with his bare hands and swallowing it whole. "Be extremely careful, the Rubaco Mountains are the most dangerous known forbidden zone, countless adventurers have perished in this jungle, and who knows how many unrecorded poisonous insects exist here." Ed enthusiastically explained to the group while leading them to find shelter in the forest. "It''s going to get dark soon, we need to quickly find a cave, clear a safe area, and start a fire, otherwise, tonight will be hard to endure." Ding Longfei gruffly asked, "Ed, I see the trees around here are tall, with vines growing on some of them. Why don''t we just clear the poisonous creatures from a tree and sleep on it tonight?" Ed shook his head and patiently explained, "Mr. Ding, under normal circumstances, your method would work, but not now." He pointed to the distant clouds slowly gathering in the sky and said, "Do you see that?" "Judging by the weather and humidity, it''s likely to rain tonight, and there will be heavy rain in the coming days." "If it were just to block the cold wind from the north, the dense leaves might suffice, and everyone could weave a large bed with vines to keep warm, barely making it through the night. But... if it rains heavily, we''re doomed!" Ed''s expression was serious, not joking at all. "The rain in these mountains won''t freeze at extremely low temperatures. The temperature at night will drop to below zero, and if we get soaked in such temperatures... we''ll quickly die from hypothermia!" Everyone''s strength was reduced by 50%, and while they might be stronger than ordinary people, they weren''t invincible. With such physical conditions, it''s impossible to survive long in sub-zero liquid immersion! Zhao Yi raised his eyebrows, his eyes growing more excited. ... Soon, under Ed''s guidance, the group found a small cave halfway up the mountain. It was relatively spacious inside, and poisonous insects seemed to dislike the overly flat ground, with no sight of deadly snakes. The cave interior was clean, as if someone had tidied it up. Ed, delighted, led the group in filming while preparing to start a fire. "It''s not raining yet, let''s quickly find dry wood and start a fire. Once we have a fire, not only can we sleep well tonight, but we can also have cooked food tomorrow!" The group immediately split into pairs to search for dry wood nearby, while Ed carefully guided the players from a distance and recorded a video. While collecting dry wood, Zhao Yi intentionally looked for traces left by bears and soon identified a direction, finding fresh droppings ahead. He carefully noted these clues before returning to the cave with the dry wood. Dusk fell. The fire was lit, its warmth dispelling the chill. The orange glow illuminated the group gathered around the fire, creating an unexpectedly cozy atmosphere. Boom! A muffled thunder sounded, and the patter of rain was heard outside the cave. Humidity and cold seeped into the cave, causing the group to shiver involuntarily. Their clothing varied. For instance, Zhao Yi''s clothes were thicker, so he felt warmer. Wei Yun, on the other hand, wore very little, with two bottles of nutritional drinks almost popping open at her chest, treating the group as if they were family. Her ultra-thin stockings provided no warmth. She shivered beside the fire. The other two had thicker clothes, but not as sturdy as Zhao Yi''s. The fire crackled, and Ed suddenly lay on a rock, panting and sweating. "Ed, what''s wrong?" Zhao Yi asked with a frown. Ed turned his head, grinning to reveal his white teeth. "Nothing... maybe that spider from earlier had a bit of venom. I''ll be fine after some sleep." Zhao Yi stepped forward to give Ed a quick check. There was indeed no major issue, just some fever and dizziness. Support us at . S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But his expression was subtle. Generally, spider and snake venom only works when it enters the bloodstream; ingesting it shouldn''t be a big problem. But it seemed the poisonous spiders and other insects in the Rubaco Mountains were not edible. Even someone with Ed''s extraordinary physique couldn''t handle it; if they ate it, they''d probably be dead soon. "Thank you for your concern... let''s think about food and water tomorrow. The rainwater here contains special impurities, not corrosive, but undrinkable. For tomorrow''s mission, everyone should rest well!" Ed said, then turned over and went to sleep. The group exchanged glances, and Ying Xiangying glanced at the sleeping Ed, whispering, "Did anyone notice anything?" Everyone shook their heads. Ying Xiangying wasn''t sure if they genuinely didn''t know or just didn''t want to say, sighed helplessly, and went to sleep. He deliberately chose the innermost spot, where it was colder due to being further from the fire, but if anything happened outside, he wouldn''t be the first target. About two hours later, Zhao Yi suddenly sat up, picked up a burning log, and quietly walked towards the cave entrance... PS: I''ve been laying the groundwork for a long time, aiming for ten thousand words today, let''s go! Chapter 62 – Desolate Wilderness Seeking Death Zhao Yi had just left the cave when another shadowy figure stood up stealthily and followed him. It was cold outside, not yet midnight, but the temperature had already dropped below freezing. The rain was light, not enough to soak through clothes. With the faint starlight, one could barely make out the surrounding scenery. But this shadow dared not make any rash moves. Because she suddenly felt a deadly chill at her neck! It was a scalpel. Although the players'' item slots were disabled, soul weapons could still be used. "Wei Yun?" "Following me?" Zhao Yi smiled. In the moonlight, his smile was like that of a fierce ghost. Sweat beaded on Wei Yun''s forehead. She had heard not long ago that Zhao Yi was extremely ruthless, and whenever he had murderous intent, he never hesitated! "I''m not following you... I, I... I just came out to take a dump!" In a panic, she tried to dispel Zhao Yi''s suspicion. Sure enough, when he heard she needed to relieve herself, Zhao Yi put down the scalpel. But Zhao Yi''s next words made Wei Yun break down. "Need to go, huh?" "Alright." "Do it right here, drop your pants and go." S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "If you can''t, I''ll send you to do it." Wei Yun''s face turned red at his words, and after holding back for a long time, she finally said: "Brother Zhao, don''t do it!" "I admit I followed you out... but not because I have any improper thoughts about you... I just... it''s just too cold, and I wanted to ask if you had a piece of clothing I could wear!" At this moment, as an 8th-level player, she was calling a 3rd-level rookie "Brother," being watched by tens of thousands in the live streaming room, utterly humiliating! But unlike Zhao Yi, she had no soul weapon, and with all players'' attributes reduced by 50%, the strength gap wasn''t significant. Even an ordinary weapon could give someone an absolute advantage! Moreover, she was frozen stiff, her agility severely diminished. Even if Zhao Yi were unarmed, he might still be able to kill her! "You want clothes, huh?" "Why didn''t you say so earlier... really..." Zhao Yi put away the scalpel, letting Wei Yun breathe a sigh of relief. This rookie ranking leader, though rumored to be terrifying, seemed quite reasonable... "3000 points." Zhao Yi''s words left Wei Yun stunned. Then her voice rose eight octaves: "What the hell?" "A piece of ragged clothing... you want to sell for 3000 points?!" "You damn... why don''t you just rob me!" Zhao Yi replied confidently: "Aren''t I robbing you right now?" Wei Yun: "..." Looking at Zhao Yi''s face, Wei Yun was so angry she gritted her teeth. Damn, she wanted to jump up and punch his knees! "Zhao Yi, I''m telling you, I, Wei Yun... would rather freeze to death, die from the cold, jump off a mountain, than spend three thousand points on your ragged clothes!" Just then, a cold wind blew from the north. It swept through the mountains, Passed through the trees, Piercingly cold like a sharp sword! After a few seconds of silence, Wei Yun suddenly knelt on the ground, hugging Zhao Yi''s leg as he was about to leave, snot running, tears flowing, shivering as she said: "I''ll buy it!" "I''ll buy it!" "3000 it is... sob sob sob..." Three thousand points weren''t a small amount for her, but without this clothing, she probably wouldn''t survive this dungeon... the loss would be even greater then! ... [Ding!] [You have received 3000 game points.] [Your current points are 6000.] Zhao Yi had spent 5000 points to buy a fragment of "Lunyu," and now he sold a piece of ragged clothing for 3000 points. Instantly recouping 60%. At this moment, Zhao Yi deeply understood the joy of being a capitalist! He quickly took off the fleece shirt he was wearing underneath and handed it to Wei Yun, who was about to freeze into an icicle. The latter was dumbfounded: "Wait... isn''t it the coat outside?" To read the uncut version, go to ]. Zhao Yi glanced at his coat and laughed as if realizing something: "Oh, you meant this one... this one''s 100,000 points." Wei Yun: "???" Live streaming room audience: "???" Years later, when Wei Yun recalled the past, she could never remember how that poor, helpless little girl managed to walk back to the cave. She only remembered it was very cold, her legs were shaking. Zhao Yi''s smile... was cruel! ... With one less piece of clothing, Zhao Yi also felt the obvious chill. But with the high-intensity activity of climbing, the current temperature was still bearable for him. Zhao Yi followed the clues from the daytime, trying to find that bear. Unlike Ed''s thinking. Zhao Yi didn''t believe that after tonight, they would have another chance to go out looking for food. If the rain intensified and didn''t stop... then even by day, the temperature would hardly rise. Thus, in the following fourteen days, the temperature would only get lower day by day! Moreover, all the wood would be too wet from the rain to burn, and they would lose the fire they relied on for survival. With just the clothes on their backs, it would be impossible to survive fifteen days! Not to mention... there was an even more terrifying danger waiting for them by then! Tonight was the easiest turning point to overlook! Whether they could seize the initiative in the next fourteen days all depended on tonight! Following the trail along the path, Zhao Yi''s eyes glowed red, and the data of every plant and tree in this area appeared before him. First, find that bear. Before the rain got heavier, before his body stiffened. ... The night was slightly intoxicated, the rain curtain swayed gently. The giant brown bear, flipping stones for food halfway up the mountain, stared at the stone pit before it, empty. A trace of irritation flashed in its eyes. Looking up, though the rain was still light, The humidity in the air was increasing. Having lived here for many years, it knew clearly that it should leave. If it didn''t, it would have to hibernate. But it didn''t want to hibernate. Other bears had said that last year, a few good brothers hibernated on this mountain, slept deeper and deeper, smelled better and better... and then got roasted. Unfortunately, many other foods had run away today, and it probably wouldn''t get to eat meat before leaving this thunderstorm area. Irritated, it shook its head. Suddenly, a shadow appeared in its vision. The brown bear sniffed, its eyes flashing with killing intent. So fragrant! It''s meat! Haha! Dinner is settled for today! Hmm... this food looks dumb... should taste good. It seemed not to have noticed it, walking straight towards it. Let it come closer... Closer... Closer... hmm? What''s that shiny thing in its hand? Holy crap! It''s fire! Damn, it''s a human! Could it be those two... terrifying guys again? They''re... back?! ... PS: Two more updates to come. Chapter 63 – ‘Wilderness Seeking Death’ Danger is Nearby The sharp scalpel severed its central nervous system, and the brown bear found itself completely unable to move. In the gradually expanding curtain of rain, its consciousness slowly faded away. For some reason, it recalled some things from its childhood. Back then, it was still very thin. On a stormy day like this, it vaguely remembered two terrifying upright apes searching for food all over the mountains... They were the most terrifying creatures it had ever seen in its life. No saber-toothed tiger or crowned snake could compare; in front of those two terrifying and crazed upright apes... everything was just food! Its parents paid with their lives, using their flesh and blood to distract those two upright apes, allowing it and its sibling to escape the storm zone. "I really shouldn''t have come back..." Before its consciousness faded, the brown bear thought. Black tendrils attached to its wound, continuously devouring the life force from its body. And standing before the brown bear was Zhao Yi, shirtless, with many deep, bone-revealing scars on his body that were healing at a speed visible to the naked eye! Zhao Yi deliberately took off his clothes to avoid leaving traces in the life-and-death struggle. He slowly closed his eyes, raised his hands, and felt the surge of life force flowing through his limbs, unable to suppress a moan of comfort. His pale and handsome face showed a sickly smile. Baptized by the rain mixed with moonlight. There was an unexpected sacred beauty. [After a life-and-death struggle, your Body Strengthening Domain is triggered, enhancing your physical attributes, Strength +1] As Zhao Yi enjoyed the life force, the system sent a notification. This was the effect of the Body Strengthening Domain. Zhao Yi could increase his strength through combat! Currently, his Body Strengthening Domain level was F-, and at this level, Zhao Yi could increase his strength by a total of 6 points through combat! Now, even in a weakened state, he had a strength value as high as 18! ... The rain gradually intensified. Zhao Yi cleaned the blood off his body, put on his clothes, grabbed a torch, and dragged the brown bear''s corpse in a certain direction. During the day, he had followed Ed and intentionally memorized the terrain and soil distribution of the area. Now, he just needed to drag the brown bear''s corpse to a pre-planned location to ensure it wouldn''t get soaked by the rain. This process took a lot of effort from Zhao Yi. Although his strength far exceeded that of a normal person, dragging a full-grown brown bear through a dense forest on a mountain was quite inconvenient. Especially since the rain had made the muddy ground slippery. He stumbled along the way. Finally, he arrived at a small cave. Compared to Ed''s cave, this one seemed much more dangerous and messy. Poisonous insects hid in the shadows of rock crevices, and jagged stones protruded sharply upward. Fortunately, Zhao Yi had fire. He had painstakingly brought a piece of firewood from Ed''s cave because fire was crucial to his plan! Humanity became strong because of fire. His plan could only shine because of fire! The flames drove away the poisonous insects and the cold, leaving a brilliant glow in the cave. Zhao Yi didn''t immediately sit down to enjoy it; instead, he left the small cave to gather firewood that hadn''t been completely soaked by the rain! This task would be difficult for an ordinary player, but for Zhao Yi, it was a piece of cake. Because... he had the most comprehensive and detailed map of the area in his mind! And it updated in real-time! Zhao Yi''s busy figure left the viewers in the live streaming room sighing. ... : Although I admit Zhao Yi''s navigation skills are impressive, what he''s doing seems unnecessary. : With a super wilderness survival expert around, there''s no way food could be lacking, right? : I also think Zhao Yi is being overly cautious this time. : You fools, do you really think a hell-level dungeon is that easy? This is just the first day, and you can''t seriously believe that sticking with Bell and Ed will get you through fifteen days... ... After preparing all the firewood, Zhao Yi sat for another hour and a half. When the rain outside intensified, he began cutting meat from the brown bear and roasting it over the fire. Golden oil dripped slowly from the meat, sizzling as it fell. Delicious. Unfortunately, the scent of the roasting meat would soon be completely masked by the smell of mud and the fresh scent of plants stirred up by the rain. Ed''s physique was clearly enhanced by the dungeon. Zhao Yi didn''t want his food to be sniffed out by this guy''s dog-like nose. After eating, he was thirsty. Zhao Yi glanced at the rain outside. ... [Toxic Rainwater: Not Drinkable] [Note: If you can boil it using a container and filter it once with charcoal fragments, you can drink it in moderation (no more than 1 liter within 24 hours, or some unknown metallic substances might gradually accumulate, leading to kidney failure!)] ... Taking out his indestructible scalpel, Zhao Yi carved a large stone into two stone bowls. He filled them with rainwater. Boiled it. Then used his socks filled with charcoal fragments to filter it. Perfect! After replenishing a few hundred milliliters of slightly toxic rainwater, Zhao Yi suddenly realized he should wash his feet. Next, he dried the dampness in the cave, tore a corner off his clothes, and started catching the poisonous creatures hidden in the rock crevices! Whether it was a dark red centipede, a purple-shelled scorpion, or a colorful wolf spider, he stabbed them all to death with his scalpel, wrapped them in the cloth, and carefully collected them. The players in the live streaming room didn''t understand his bizarre behavior and discussed it fervently. After finishing all this, Zhao Yi left the brown bear''s corpse there, extinguished the firewood, and returned to the large cave in the rain. On the way, he picked some non-toxic wild herbs and chewed them. Very bitter. But it could remove the taste of meat from his mouth. In the large cave, everyone was sleeping soundly. The fire was still burning, and Zhao Yi went to the fire, dried the water on his clothes, and then closed his eyes to rest for a couple of hours. Suddenly, he felt two soft things rubbing against him. Opening his eyes, he found Wei Yun had snuggled up to him. "Where did you go?" Wei Yun asked softly, her eyes flickering. Zhao Yi replied: "To take a dump." Wei Yun: "Took a dump for six hours?" Zhao Yi corrected: "It was five hours, seven minutes, and six seconds." Wei Yun was speechless, but since Zhao Yi didn''t say more, she didn''t ask further. The difficulty of this dungeon was extremely high, and because of this, the group that should have been united... found it even harder to come together! Because no one... was willing to trust others! "You know something, don''t you?" Wei Yun was a smart woman, aware of the value of the newcomer king. In their group, it was actually the three low-level newcomers who were the real assets! Players who could fight their way to the top of the leaderboard among millions were undoubtedly tough characters! Seeing Zhao Yi completely ignoring her, Wei Yun''s eyes shifted, and she whispered: "I''ll buy your information with points." Zhao Yi opened his eyes and made a gesture. "500 points per piece of information." Wei Yun''s big, watery eyes glared. "Can''t it be cheaper?" "Or..." She squeezed her chest slightly, a bit shyly. "Other forms of payment?" Zhao Yi glanced. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Do you want it?" "If not, I''m going to sleep." Wei Yun''s expression froze. With such a beautiful face, you don''t even care? Damn! After hesitating for a moment, she gritted her teeth and said: "Give me three!" "I want the real deal!" "Don''t trick me out of my points!" [Congratulations, you''ve received 1500 points.] [Current account balance: 7500 points.] Zhao Yi glanced at the others in the cave, lowered his head, and whispered in her ear: "First, all the edible animals in the mountains are steadily moving away from our area tonight." "Second, the rain is likely to continue until the dungeon ends, during which the temperature will keep dropping, and the firewood outside, soaked by rain for hours... will be unburnable." "Third, the most terrifying danger... might be right beside us." Hearing Zhao Yi''s words, Wei Yun''s face turned deathly pale... PS: I''ll write three chapters today; I drank tonight and can''t hold on. I''ll try to make up for it tomorrow. I''ll see if there are any good books to copy from, goodnight brothers! Chapter 64 – Ed poisoned himself in The Wild Seeks Death The greatest danger is right beside you. She didn''t know exactly what Zhao Yi was talking about, but a woman''s intuition made her glance at the people inside the cave. Two players were sound asleep, and there was an NPC without hair. Was Zhao Yi referring to them? She wanted to ask more, but seeing her remaining points, she fell silent. In the end, she cursed Zhao Yi under her breath for being greedy, rolled over twice on the ground, and returned to the fire. Although it was still very cold, with the fleece shirt Zhao Yi sold her and the campfire, she could manage for the time being. However, she was very worried about what would come next. If what Zhao Yi said was true, the temperature would keep dropping, and the firewood they had stored would last at most three days. Once the flames were gone, they wouldn''t even have the chance to die of thirst or hunger. In just a few hours, the cold could claim their lives. It seemed... they were already in a desperate situation? Wei Yun had been through so many dungeons, yet she never imagined that this seemingly ghost-free dungeon could bring her such despair! With chaotic thoughts, Wei Yun didn''t sleep deeply, and she woke up at the slightest noise the next day. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The other two players, due to the cold and mild hunger, slept quite soundly in a daze last night. In this level of hunger, the body often enters a dormant state to reduce consumption, but if the hunger is too severe, sleep quality worsens. Outside the cave, the rain was heavier. Just as Zhao Yi had reported, everyone looked at the rain-soaked trees outside the cave, and their hearts sank to the bottom. At this time, Ying Xiangying and Ding Longfei began to regret not bringing more firewood last night. Using fire to dry the wood wouldn''t have been a bad method. But now the bigger problem was... it was very cold outside. And it was pouring rain. They couldn''t possibly survive outside for long. Even if they managed to bring firewood back alive, they''d likely get sick. Moreover, after losing a lot of body heat, they urgently needed fats, carbohydrates, and other nutrients... but they had no food. "As you can see... we encountered an unsolvable problem on the second day in the Rubaco Mountains¡ªweather!" "Damn Bell, always so unreliable." "My God! It''s freezing out there!" "Thankfully, there''s a fire in the cave... let''s hope this rain stops soon!" As everyone looked hopeless, Ed opened his camera and started filming at the cave entrance. After a night''s rest, Ed''s high fever had subsided somewhat, and his body temperature was almost normal, but the slight muscle twitches indicated that the spider venom hadn''t fully cleared. The toxins in this mountain range were more potent than Zhao Yi had anticipated. Or perhaps Ed''s poison resistance wasn''t high enough. "Sigh... this isn''t a solution... without food, fine, but without water, how can we survive the coming days?" Ying Xiangying was quite anxious. He was originally a slacker, surviving dungeons by playing it safe, but he never expected to be matched with a hell-level dungeon this time! A desperate situation right from the start! He wanted to escape... but couldn''t! Zhao Yi took out a stone bowl from somewhere and collected some rainwater outside. "Zhao Yi... you can''t drink the rainwater outside!" Ed, who was fiddling with his camera, hurriedly stepped forward to stop Zhao Yi, his eyes full of concern. "Adventurers have previously analyzed the rainwater here; it contains many unknown metallic substances, and just a small amount can cause hallucinations!" "More than a hundred milliliters can seriously threaten life!" Zhao Yi smiled and said, "Don''t worry, Ed, I drank it last night." "As long as we boil the rainwater and use charcoal to absorb most of the sediments, the water can be consumed in moderation... although I felt a bit unwell after drinking it last night, I recovered by this morning." After speaking, Zhao Yi deliberately spun around a few times. Walk two steps, no illness, walk two steps. Seeing him like this, everyone felt relieved. Although Ed''s expression was slightly odd, he didn''t stop him anymore. Even though he was physically strong, Ed also needed food and water. Especially after being attacked by spider venom, his body needed water to detoxify. Since Zhao Yi had solved the drinking problem for him, it was a good thing for him. "Once the water is boiled, we can add some herbs, which are very beneficial for the body and can neutralize certain toxins in the water." "When I studied medicine before, I saw this herb, and my teacher told me about its effects." Find the original at " ". Zhao Yi began his persuasion. And randomly pulled some grass from the cave entrance. These grasses were non-toxic but weren''t medicinal herbs either. The real reason Zhao Yi wanted to steep them in water was to mask the special smell of certain things. The juice from crushed wild grass had a strong odor, and generally, people wouldn''t want to drink it. But now... they were willing to accept it. Compared to the unpleasant taste, poisoning was more frightening. As the water boiled, charcoal was added, the water was drained, and ''herbs'' were added, allowing it to cool slightly. Zhao Yi handed the water to Wei Yun. She looked at the water in the bowl, initially unwilling to be the first to drink, but Zhao Yi''s subtle gaze made her steel herself and take a big gulp. She smacked her lips. Her expression was extremely pained, making Ying Xiangying and Ding Longfei nervous. They thought Wei Yun was poisoned and were about to question Zhao Yi, but then Wei Yun said: "So bitter!" "But it doesn''t seem to have any uncomfortable reactions." The two of them breathed a sigh of relief. So they also took some and drank. During this time, while everyone''s attention was on the water, Zhao Yi naturally slipped his hand into his pocket and tightly squeezed the cloth bag containing the poison. Juice seeped from one side of the cloth bag, staining Zhao Yi''s fingers. When it was Zhao Yi''s turn, he brought out his hand holding the bowl, took a sip, and dipped his fingers with the poison juice into the hot water. Dissolving it. Then he handed it to Ed. Ed didn''t think much of it and downed it in one go! Everyone had drunk it; he was the last, so what was there to hesitate about? After drinking the hot water, everyone felt a bit warmer. Ed continued to complain to his camera: "I learned an old saying in the East, which is very apt: ''The weather is unpredictable, and so is human fate.''" "This means that the weather changes unpredictably, just like the fortunes and misfortunes in a person''s life." "Maybe you just took a sip of water without thinking, and then something happened... huh? Why does my head feel a bit... dizzy..." Ed''s eyes showed a hint of confusion, then he staggered a few steps, and finally, his eyes rolled back as he collapsed to the ground... PS: Brothers! I''m not slacking off! I''m holding it in! Holding it in! Holding it in! Chapter 65 – Eds Horror Video of Wilderness Seeking Death Chapter 65: "Wilderness Death Wish" Ed''s Terrifying Footage Everyone watched as Ed collapsed to the ground, and Ying Xiangying rushed to help, but Ed lay motionless, his lips a dark blue. He was poisoned. Seeing this, Zhao Yi, standing not far away, stroked his chin. Ed''s poison resistance isn''t high. Does that mean Bell''s isn''t either? Hmm, it''s possible. "Hey!" "Ed!" "Ed, what''s wrong?" Ying Xiangying called out loudly, even slapped Ed a few times, but he didn''t wake up. In Zhao Yi''s eyes, Ed''s data had changed. [Ed: Mildly Dangerous] [Weakness: Low Poison Resistance] [Note 1: Although he''s poisoned, it''s not severe. Even if his consciousness is blurred, his beast instincts haven''t slept. If you try to kill him now, you''ll meet a terrible end!] [Note 2: He''s a bit hungry.] Beast instincts. Sounds pretty lame! Zhao Yi toyed with his scalpel. The system granted Ed beast instincts, obviously to prevent him from being attacked and killed by players after eating something poisonous and passing out, which would greatly reduce the difficulty of the purgatory level. But clearly, Zhao Yi wouldn''t do something so foolish. Kill Ed? No. Only someone stupid and cruel would do such a thing. Zhao Yi is a kind and clever little genius; he wouldn''t kill Ed. Helping to drag Ed back to the fire, Ying Xiangying shivered all over, unsure if it was from the cold. He stared at the fire, muttering: "Ed is so strong... how could he fall ill..." "Could it be the water we drank earlier?" "But we all drank that bowl of water!" He was very scared, the dire situation almost suffocating him, and now with Ed down, the strongest in the team, the darkness outside seemed even more terrifying and sinister! If some dreadful creature entered the cave, how would they deal with it? If the firewood ran out, what would they do? If... Too many "ifs" continuously tormented Ying Xiangying. At this moment, Ding Longfei, who had been silent, suddenly looked at Zhao Yi. "Did you poison him?" He was a newcomer ranked fourteenth on the leaderboard, with an exceptionally sharp mind, and after simply eliminating other options, he immediately focused on Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi looked up, his face innocent. "Don''t talk nonsense!" "It wasn''t me, I didn''t do it." Zhao Yi''s expression was just short of writing "I''m the culprit" on his face. Ding Longfei frowned, seeing Zhao Yi not admitting, he said nothing more. Sitting by the fire, for several hours, only the crackling of the firewood could be heard. Cold and hunger tormented them. Except for Zhao Yi, the other three looked very pale. The diminishing firewood in the cave mirrored their dwindling patience. Zhao Yi boiled another pot of water but wasn''t in a hurry to drink it. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Water... water..." On the second night, Ed''s lips were purple, and he barely regained some consciousness, feeling as if his whole body was on fire. Seeing him awake, Zhao Yi brought water over with great concern. "Ed, don''t rush, drink slowly." "Don''t worry, we''ll take care of you... until you recover." He gently patted Ed''s back, comforting him. Ed drank a bowl of cold water, weakly smiled at Zhao Yi and the others, and the purple on his lips seemed even more vivid. Before he could thank them, he rolled his eyes and fainted again. Zhao Yi poured out the remaining water and carefully washed the stone bowl with cold rainwater. After finishing, Zhao Yi glanced at Ed''s only backpack. Unremarkable, it contained Ed''s camera. After Ed fainted, Wei Yun had picked it up and put it in the backpack. Zhao Yi rummaged through it. There was only a camera and a spare battery. But the camera was multifunctional, with a small operation screen to view recorded footage. Zhao Yi curiously searched through it. There were many stored videos, all scattered, mostly records of Ed''s adventures with past guests in different extreme environments. One special memory video caught Zhao Yi''s attention. It started with Ed''s laughter and the guests'' exclamations, seemingly playing some hide-and-seek game. The footage was dark and shaky. These sounds attracted the other three teammates, who sensed something was wrong and gathered around Zhao Yi to watch the video intently. "Sigh... how are they so lucky, still in the mood to play games." Ying Xiangying grumbled discontentedly, frowning. "Why is it when it''s our turn..." His complaint was cut short as his eyes suddenly widened, as if he had seen something unbelievable! On the screen, Ed, who seemed to be playing games with the guests, after catching up with a female guest... actually grabbed her head and crushed it on the spot! The moment the head exploded, red and white splattered everywhere. The horrific scene directly scared Ying Xiangying and Wei Yun into shivering all over. Especially Ying Xiangying, whose legs went weak, and he sat down on the ground with a thud! "This, this, this..." He trembled, pointing at the screen, unable to speak! On the screen, Ed faced the camera. His neck twisted at a bizarre angle, his smile grotesque! Ignoring the dirt, he picked up the brain matter from the ground and stuffed it into his mouth... This terrifying scene not only scared the three around Zhao Yi but also shocked the tens of thousands of viewers in their live streaming room! ... :WTF! My room''s cabinet just moved, I''m not watching anymore! :Oh my god! He''s really eating people! He''s gone mad, hasn''t he? :Thank goodness he passed out from the poison! Otherwise, these people would be in grave danger! :Last night Zhao Yi was catching poisonous creatures for a long time... could it really be Zhao Yi who poisoned him? :Did he already predict Ed would eat people? ... As the viewers in the live streaming room wildly speculated about Zhao Yi, Ying Xiangying suddenly screamed and fled into the pouring rain outside! Just now... He actually saw Ed, lying on the ground, flip over! Facing them! Once the box of fear in his heart was opened, it was impossible to close. He couldn''t accept the scene of having his head crushed and brain eaten, so he fled the cave! Even if it was freezing outside, and he might freeze to death, it was better than being eaten! Zhao Yi watched him run out of the cave and immediately chased after him! Wei Yun instinctively wanted to follow but was held back by Ding Longfei. Seeing Ding Longfei''s serious expression, she calmed down a bit. "Don''t go out... going out now... will most likely lead to death!" "The outside temperature combined with the non-freezing rain will kill you quickly... especially since we have no food to replenish energy, the body can''t hold up!" Wei Yun stared at the unconscious Ed on the ground, swallowing hard. Only now did she understand the meaning of Zhao Yi''s words. The most terrifying danger... was right beside them! Chapter 66 – Zhao Yi, who attempted to feed Ed in Wilderness Seeking Death ### Chapter 66: Zhao Yi''s Attempt to Feed Ed in "Wilderness Survival" "What about them?" Wei Yun was terrified. After discovering Ed''s secret, she felt uneasy every time she saw him unconscious! Ding Longfei shook his head and sighed. "If it were me, I would never chase after him." "Zhao Yi ranks ahead of me, his observation and thinking skills shouldn''t be inferior to mine... Look, Ed being poisoned is proof." "This guy clearly had a plan." "I guess he started plotting to poison Ed since last night when Ed got a fever and passed out after eating the poisonous spider." "I just don''t understand why he would risk his life to save someone with such poor mental fortitude." As Ding Longfei pondered, Wei Yun suddenly recalled Zhao Yi leaving the cave last night when she saw Ed''s lips turning a bright purple. So at that time... he went to find poison? "When did he poison him?" Wei Yun was puzzled. Everyone was in the cave, and anything anyone did was visible to all. Ding Longfei was silent for a moment, a hint of admiration and caution flashing in his eyes. "It was the water." "Although I don''t know how he did it, water was the only thing he and Ed had indirect contact with." "I suspect he poisoned the water after drinking it himself, then handed the poisoned water to Ed." "Earlier, he squeezed plant juice into the boiling water at the cave entrance, probably to use the unpleasant smell to cover up his poisoning..." "This guy... his mind and execution are terrifying. He did so much right under everyone''s noses..." Ding Longfei, ranked fourteenth on the rookie ranking, had a clear mind. After analyzing all this, cold sweat inexplicably broke out on his back! This Zhao Yi... if he had any malicious intent just now, if he had changed the order of drinking water... Then all of them... would be dead! This is not impossible¡ªsince Zhao Yi had guessed early on that Ed would eventually slaughter and eat the players, he must also understand that if he killed his teammates, their bodies could buy him a lot of escape time! sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi didn''t do it... why? Because he was confident? Or did he have a better solution? Ding Longfei fell silent. To have reached the fourteenth rank on the rookie ranking, he considered himself quite capable, but in front of Zhao Yi, he felt like a clueless idiot. He had thought the gap with the top ranks wouldn''t be too large, but he hadn''t expected that on just the first day, he would be left far behind by this Zhao freak... With a bitter smile, he sat by the campfire, slowly adding more wood. The dim firelight brightened a little. Wei Yun cautiously sat down, looking at the unconscious Ed, she picked up a stone and clenched it in her hand. "You better not do that." Ding Longfei said. Wei Yun was startled. "Why?" "If he''s going to kill us, can''t we fight back?" Ding Longfei shook his head and explained: "If it were that simple, do you think you''d have to wait to take action?" Wei Yun immediately realized there might be a problem! If Ed were so easy to kill... Zhao Yi would definitely be the first to act, right? After all, Ed looked completely incapable of resisting! "In a dungeon of hellish difficulty, you must always be cautious... Let''s wait for Zhao Yi to come back and then discuss." Wei Yun nodded, agreeing that Ding Longfei made a lot of sense. The long night passed, about six or seven hours, until just before dawn on the third day, Zhao Yi''s wet figure appeared outside the cave! He held some freshly cut meat, looking energetic and flushed! After drying his clothes by the fire in the cave, Zhao Yi noticed Wei Yun and Ding Longfei staring intently at the large chunk of fresh meat he brought. "Zhao Yi... you went out last night to chase Ying Xiangying, where is he?" Ding Longfei suppressed his hunger and asked about their LV5 rookie teammate. Zhao Yi pointed to the roasted meat on the stick and grinned. The two of them felt their hair stand on end. "You... killed him?" Zhao Yi replied with a cheeky smile: "No, I just scavenged the body." "Last night he ran and ran, I chased and chased, and soon he couldn''t run anymore." "Then I chatted with him... and waited for him to freeze to death." Ying Xiangying was different from Zhao Yi. For one, Zhao Yi had the heat from a bear to sustain him, and his strength was 18 points, making him much more robust. This was why Zhao Yi had no hesitation in chasing after him last night. Zhao Yi''s body had enough heat to spare, but Ying Xiangying didn''t. "You... you don''t really plan to eat..." Wei Yun''s voice trembled. Zhao Yi: "What are you thinking?" "I never eat human flesh." "That''s no different from eating crap." Wei Yun was speechless. "Then what is this..." Zhao Yi nodded, pointing to the unconscious Ed, speaking words that were shocking. "That''s right, this is Ying Xiangying''s tenderloin." "Last night I stripped all the meat off his bones... Don''t be fooled by his light weight, he had quite a bit of meat." "But this meat isn''t for me, it''s for Ed." Wei Yun and Ding Longfei exchanged glances, feeling a chill run down their spines. "Are you... crazy?" "Instead of finding a way to kill this cannibal, you''re feeding him?!" Zhao Yi stroked his chin, looking at the unconscious Ed as if he were admiring a cute pet of his own, muttering: "Such a cute NPC, it would be a shame to kill him..." Wei Yun covered her face with her hands, feeling utterly defeated. Big brother! This is a cannibal, for crying out loud! What''s cute about that?! ... In the Live Streaming Room: : Brother Zhao always has some strange ideas that normal people can''t comprehend. : Ugh... I really felt sick watching him dismember the body last night. How is he so skilled at it when he''s a psychologist? : I''m increasingly convinced Zhao Yi has severe mental issues... : Damn it! Why does this stupid game drag in all sorts of people?! : Aren''t you curious... what exactly is he planning to do? : What''s the use of being curious, just keep watching. Can you guess a madman''s thoughts? ... If it weren''t for the torrential rain and freezing temperatures outside, Ding Longfei would have left this cave immediately. Ed, the cannibal, was terrifying enough, but there was an even more terrifying guy right next to him. At this moment, he had lost his usual composure. Remembering how Zhao Yi silently poisoned the combat powerhouse Ed, Ding Longfei''s forehead gradually broke out in cold sweat. What kind of monster... had he matched with? PS: Still three chapters today, my abilities are limited, I''m doing my best, brothers and sisters! Thank you for your support! Good night! Chapter 67 – Wilderness Seeking Death Survival Dungeon? Hunting Dungeon "Did you see the video just now? If we don''t kill Ed now, once he recovers, it''ll be us who die!" "With your observational skills, you can''t possibly miss how strong Ed and Bell are, right?" "Even if we were at full strength, let alone now when our power is reduced by 50%, we still couldn''t beat those two!" Ding Longfei was a bit worried. He had heard that Zhao Yi wasn''t quite right in the head. Would this guy lose it at a critical moment? If so, it might affect the whole team! Zhao Yi, who was roasting meat, turned his face to look at Ed, who was already restless from the smell of the meat, and shook his head, saying: "No." "He won''t kill me." "He''ll only kill you." As Zhao Yi said this, he suddenly paused, a strange smile appearing on his face. "But if you want to kill Ed, I won''t stop you." "Go ahead." Seeing his smile, Ding Longfei and Wei Yun became even more certain that something terrifying would happen if they tried to assassinate Ed! After a short silence, Zhao Yi took out a small cloth bag and applied some strange, foul-smelling sauce on the meat. Then he waved the meat under Ed''s nose. The latter was immediately stimulated and woke up. Seeing the meat, a frenzy flashed in Ed''s eyes, but he quickly realized something was wrong. Although weak, Ed''s face gradually turned ferocious! Having eaten human flesh, that irresistible intoxicating aroma was already etched into his DNA. "This meat... where did you get it?" Zhao Yi''s face was pale, and he said with lingering fear: "Ed... you don''t know, after you left, something terrifying happened..." "Besides us, there''s someone else hiding in the dark on this mountain... He''s about 1.8 meters tall, wearing a full set of combat gear, and holding a very sharp knife. This guy suddenly attacked Ying Xiangying when he went to the bathroom. I followed the screams and found that Ying Xiangying was already half gone..." Hearing this, Ed suddenly sat up, eyes wide open! About 1.8 meters tall. Combat gear. Sharp knife. Damn it, who else could it be but Bell? Damn! We agreed on each bringing four pieces of food, and this bastard dared to steal while I was sick! Unforgivable! Seeing Ed, eyes red and exuding a terrifying killing intent, Zhao Yi continued: "Sigh... you know our situation now. I thought eating our own kind was too cruel... but you''re so sick now, if you don''t eat some meat, your body might not hold up..." "If that guy shows up again and you''re still sick, wouldn''t we be in great danger?" Language is an art. Zhao Yi guided patiently. And Ding Longfei and Wei Yun, standing behind Zhao Yi, suddenly understood why Zhao Yi didn''t kill Ed... He wanted to use Ed to deal with Bell! Clever! Truly cunning! The audience in the live streaming room was also in awe. ... : This manipulation is truly impressive. : Big trouble, I just came from Bell''s player''s live streaming room, and they''ve also discovered Bell''s secret of eating people! : There are many clues on Bell''s side. The "Wilderness Survival" show is essentially a large-scale hunter''s game created by the rich! The guests invited are actually homeless people or prostitutes from the city whose memories have been wiped... : Damn... no wonder it''s a hell-level dungeon, players not only have to fight extreme weather but also evade and resist Bell and Ed, these wilderness cannibals skilled in scouting and hunting! : The players on that side have already started preparing to attack the players on Ed''s side. : Killing each other? Why! Shouldn''t they unite? : With food scarcity, what''s the use of unity! Can unity fill your stomach? : I get it, "Wilderness Survival" looks like a survival dungeon... but it''s actually a hunting dungeon! ... The biggest difference between a survival dungeon and a hunting dungeon is that the former may not necessarily result in death, while the latter inevitably does! After learning the truth about this dungeon, the audience in the live streaming room felt their hearts race, becoming nervous! Ed ate the meat coated with poison and started rolling his eyes again. But whether it was because his body developed antibodies or the meat gave him strength, his consciousness was blurred but he didn''t completely pass out. At this moment, Zhao Yi began whispering softly in his ear. He said a lot. Ding Longfei and Wei Yun couldn''t hear what Zhao Yi was saying. But they could see Ed''s expression gradually calming down with Zhao Yi''s murmuring, no longer as ferocious as before. He also whispered something back to Zhao Yi, but his eyes were strangely hollow, as if controlled by someone. About half an hour later. Ed fell asleep. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only then did Zhao Yi get up, stretch lazily, and smile at the two: "The time is about right, now, I want to discuss a business deal with you." "This deal concerns your... lives." Upon hearing this, Wei Yun and Ding Longfei''s expressions immediately became much more serious. Zhao Yi sat by the campfire, adding some dry wood to it. "Each of you gives me 5000 points as an entry fee, and I''ll take you through the game." 5000 is no small amount for players below level 15. Having tasted success, Zhao Yi wasn''t planning to stop. How much are the points in the dungeon? To earn points, you have to reap the benefits. Previously, Zhao Yi fought tooth and nail in the Haunted School Horror dungeon to earn 8000. In this dungeon, he sold a shirt and three pieces of information, earning 4500. The difference is clear. "Are you addicted to fleecing us?" Hearing that they had to transfer another 5000, Wei Yun couldn''t hold back! This bastard... is simply a bottomless pit! But Ding Longfei, after a moment of thought, agreed. "Do you... have no backbone?" Seeing Ding Longfei ''defect'' so quickly, Wei Yun''s expression was constipated. Ding Longfei chuckled: "I have no choice... 5000 is quite a lot for me, but if I can clear the hell-level dungeon, the rewards will be greater, and I might even get an S rating, which is the last rating I need to unlock the advanced store. I want to take the risk." Wei Yun was silent for a long time, then gritted her teeth: "Fine... let''s take the risk!" "Turn a bicycle into a motorcycle!" ¡¾You have received 10000 points¡¿ Receiving the system message, Zhao Yi finally spoke: "Now we''re all in the same boat, so I''ll be honest with you, the danger we''ll face next... isn''t from Ed and Bell." "It''s from... the 4 players Bell brought." Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the ]" Wei Yun glanced at the sleeping Ed, puzzled: "How do you know he won''t attack us in the next few days?" Zhao Yi raised a finger. "Because if he did, the dungeon''s difficulty wouldn''t be hell, it would be unsolvable." "Can you survive being hunted by these two wilderness cannibals, with all their skills maxed out, for over ten days in such extreme conditions?" Wei Yun was silent. Zhao Yi continued: "Under normal circumstances, for players to escape or even defeat Ed and Bell, they must first find a way to exhaust their stamina, reducing their strength, and the way to do that..." "Is to reduce the ''food''!" "That''s also why players are initially divided into two teams." "Bell and Ed actually represent two different factions!" PS: 1. No more words, if I don''t finish writing 8000 today, I''ll live stream doing a handstand while having diarrhea and drink it all without leaving a drop. 2. No filler content. 3. Thanks to all the dads and moms for the gifts and reading. 4. Let''s go! Chapter 68 – First Blood: Rambo When Zhao Yi spoke these words, it wasn''t just the two people who were shocked; even more so were the viewers in the live streaming room with their god-like perspective. They could jump between different streams and see all the information. But Zhao Yi couldn''t do that! How did he guess that the player on Bell''s side was going to make a move against Ed''s side? Was he using cheats? "Actually, from the beginning, the dungeon already gave us hints." "Bell is well-equipped, while Ed has nothing." "This indicates that the team following Bell not only has food and water... but even weapons!" "The real scene they want to capture isn''t the guests uniting in the jungle and striving to survive... but us slaughtering each other, flesh and blood flying, as we gradually move from hope to despair!" Zhao Yi calmly shared his thoughts. With each point he made, the two people''s hearts pounded heavily! Wei Yun''s expression was complex as she looked at the face illuminated by the campfire and whispered: "If that''s the case, why did you choose Ed?" Zhao Yi played with the stick in his hand and sighed: "Maybe it''s because I''m too kind-hearted." "Can''t bear to hurt others." Wei Yun: "..." Heaven knows. If Zhao Yi hadn''t blackmailed her before... she would have believed him. "We don''t have food now, and the fire won''t last for many days. Even without external threats, we won''t survive long." Wei Yun sighed. Zhao Yi replied: "No, I have food." "Although it won''t fill you up, lasting fifteen days is no problem." "As for the fire... we can steal it." Ding Longfei raised an eyebrow. "Bell won''t care?" Zhao Yi''s eyes flickered. "For the first twelve days, Bell and Ed won''t interfere with the guests invited by the program team." "They are just recorders. I wasn''t sure at first, so I asked Ed just now." Wei Yun recalled Zhao Yi whispering in Ed''s ear earlier and couldn''t help but cover her mouth in surprise. "He... why would he tell you that?" Zhao Yi rubbed his hands, speaking meaningfully: "He would." "If you know how to hypnotize." The two were stunned. "This kind of low-level psychological technique has no effect on most people with strong spirits, but Ed is different... After two days of being poisoned and unconscious, his mental defenses are quite weak, not to mention I just fed him, basically clearing his guard against me." "In this scenario, the power of hypnosis... you can''t even imagine." Zhao Yi stood up and said to the two: "Tomorrow morning, I''ll bring back food and firewood. After that, I''ll teach you how to make some practical traps." "Eat and drink well, and get ready to work!" ... The rain fell like needles. Four shadows in raincoats groped in the darkness. In the distance, a deeper shadow hid behind a large rock, taking out a camera, filming enthusiastically. This person was Bell. He deliberately left many flaws, guiding these ''food'' to slaughter each other. Bell''s eyes burned with excited bloodlust. Kill! Kill! The more brutal, the better! The louder your screams, the happier those adults will be! ... "Kuang Ren, how''s the image from the reconnaissance drone?" A plain but pretty woman asked softly. Another man from the Wa country stared at the display on the tablet in his hand, revealing a cruel smile. "That guy named Zhao Yi is alone. For some reason, he ran out of the cave." "The image from the reconnaissance fly at the cave entrance seems to show only three people inside, and one player is missing." Ran Xinping''s gaze was sharp, piercing through the rain. "Good." "Kill one first, hide his body, and we''ll eat it ourselves later..." "Bell''s food definitely won''t be enough. As long as he and Ed don''t have food, after starving for more than ten days, the four of us should be able to take them down!" "Let Ning Wenxiao follow Zhao Yi, and today, cut off his head..." Kuwahara Kuang Ren''s lips curled into madness! "No problem!" "Rookie ranking number one?" "Today, you''ll be sacrificed to the heavens!" ... The rain poured down. The cold was as sharp as a sword in the night wind! A shadow flitted through the forest, its form ghostly and unpredictable, darting left and right. A masterful tracking skill! Ning Wenxiao''s glasses were wet with rain, droplets streaming down. But it didn''t affect his vision at all. His eyes, like a wolf''s, locked onto the man running ahead in the rain. In his hand was an unsheathed katana! Splash! A foot stepped into a puddle, sending water splashing everywhere! A poetic killing intent blossomed into a waltz of death in the endless night! Thirty steps... twenty steps... Zhao Yi suddenly stopped, seemingly discovering something, and turned around in confusion. Ning Wenxiao immediately halted, activating his shadow cloak! ... [Item: Shadow Cloak] [Quality: Blue] [Description: A piece of black technology, the wearer can activate the skill¡ªShadow Silence!] [Effect: Invisible for one minute, during which all sounds and smells are blocked, but the user will be petrified and unable to move.] [Note: In infiltration, this is a perfect tool.] ... Seeing Zhao Yi''s puzzled look, Ning Wenxiao sneered. "Quite alert, but unfortunately!" "You''ve met me, Ning Wenxiao!" "A level 7 player''s depth is not something a level 3 rookie like you... what the hell? Why is he walking over here?" Watching Zhao Yi step by step towards him, Ning Wenxiao felt a tinge of doubt. His item granted complete invisibility, and he used it before Zhao Yi turned around. There was no reason Zhao Yi could see him, right? Ning Wenxiao was confident his invisibility was perfect. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In fact, Zhao Yi couldn''t see his body. But... The dense rain... revealed Ning Wenxiao''s outline. This made him shine brightly in the darkness like a full moon! "Hmm???" "Why is he drawing his sword... damn it!" Driven by intense curiosity. Zhao Yi tentatively stabbed at Ning Wenxiao''s heart... Blood sprayed like it was free. Ning Wenxiao fell straight to the ground, eyes wide open in anger. Watching the rain pour down from the sky, he finally understood why Zhao Yi could see him. Tears of unwillingness flowed from the corner of his eye. He... Died so damn carelessly! ... Live Streaming Room: : Is this guy an idiot? Just giving himself away? : Does he think he''s invisible? : With this level of intelligence... how dare he come to kill our Brother Zhao! : I''m not Li Jie, but I''m greatly shocked! ... [Ed''s camp player Zhao Yi (LV3) killed Bell''s camp Ning Wenxiao (LV7)] [Side Quest 1 Activated: Kill players from the opposing camp by any means necessary!] [Side Quest 2 Activated: Kill Ed and Bell!] PS: Second update. Chapter 69 – Active Strike in the Wilderness Seeking Death Day Four. The rain continued to pour. Zhao Yi returned with a good amount of firewood and bear meat, and the two of them devoured it ravenously. Meanwhile, Zhao Yi continued roasting Ying Xiangying''s meat for Ed, as if caring for his own little dog. When Ed ate, Zhao Yi would chat with him, but Ed never responded, simply listening. After eating, Ed would quietly fall asleep. This time, Zhao Yi didn''t poison the food. Afterward, Zhao Yi sliced off a piece of bear meat, put it in his mouth, and slowly chewed while dramatically speaking to the communication receiver on the table: "Hahahahahahaha..." "They lost someone last night and don''t dare to act recklessly. We can have a good night''s sleep tonight!" Pausing, he pinched his nose and responded in a high-pitched voice: "Yes, yes! You''re absolutely right!" After finishing his little act, Zhao Yi tossed the communication receiver into the fire. After a series of crackling sounds, Zhao Yi turned to his two teammates, who were looking at him strangely, and said: "Time to work." "Tonight, you go kill." "I''ve prepared the secret weapons they brought for you." He tossed the weapons he had taken from Ning Wenxiao to the two of them. A nail clipper. An ear pick. The two looked at the ''weapons'' in front of them, then glanced at the katana placed beside Ed, falling into silence. Ding Longfei cautiously asked: "Zhao Yi, if... I mean, if there''s a possibility that these aren''t the weapons, and the one beside Ed is?" Zhao Yi looked at the nail clipper on the ground, puzzled: "Not sharp enough?" He picked it up and clipped a nail. Snap! The nail broke off. "See!" "What a terrifying weapon!" Wei Yun couldn''t hold it in any longer and slammed the table! "Damn!" "Are you trying to get us killed?!" "Can this thing kill?" "It''s not even as useful as my unpolished middle finger!" Zhao Yi shrugged and spread his hands: "Relax!" "You guys really lack a sense of humor." "Alright, I admit we''re short on equipment." "Or you could just pick up a rock from the ground." Wei Yun said speechlessly: "Can''t we use the katana?" "After all, you have a Soul Weapon, don''t you?" "Leave the sword for us, so we can help out better." It wasn''t that she was greedy. Their inventory was sealed, making it hard to exert their strength against Bell''s team, who had weapons. Moreover, she and Ding Longfei were outnumbered. Zhao Yi replied: "The sword is for Ed." "He doesn''t have Bell''s gear, so he needs a suitable weapon, or he''ll be at a disadvantage against Bell." The two immediately understood Zhao Yi''s intention, their expressions turning serious. "Tonight?" Find the original at " ". Zhao Yi nodded. "Tonight." The two steeled their resolve. "Alright!" They had already handed over five thousand points, and now they had to follow Zhao Yi to clear the dungeon to break even! Win, and they''d win back everything with interest! Lose... and they''d lose everything! There was no turning back; they had to go all out! The two quickly left, and when only Zhao Yi and Ed were left in the cave, Ed suddenly sat up! "Full and satisfied." S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Go kill Bell." "Then kill myself." Zhao Yi tossed the roasted human leg to him. In Ed''s hollow eyes, a fierce light flashed. He grabbed the leg from the ground and began devouring it wildly, chewing even the bones to pieces within minutes. Soon, he seemed reborn, his entire body crackling with energy! Grabbing the sword, he headed straight into the rain outside... Zhao Yi sat by the campfire, slicing bear meat with a scalpel, roasting it slowly, a strange smile spreading across his lips. ... [Symptom: Violent Personality] [Injection Condition: Extremely Scattered Spirit] [Host: Ed] [Personality Corruption Degree: 12%] [SAN Impact: Moderate] [Domination: Mild Domination] [Effect: Decreased sanity, significantly increased hatred value.] ... Bell''s Camp. "Those fools, they didn''t expect Ning Wenxiao to have a receiver on him, hahaha!" "Tonight, while they''re resting... we''ll head straight to their camp and wipe them out!" Kuwahara Kuang Ren boasted, his face filled with excitement and malice. The other two had different expressions. Ran Xinping''s face was cold, her eyes filled with killing intent. Ji Teng, the lowest in level but ranked eighth on the newcomer leaderboard, looked slightly serious. His intuition told him things weren''t as simple as they seemed. Did Zhao Yi''s people really not notice the receiver? Or... The rain outside intensified. The three of them set off directly, heading to Ed''s camp, planning to deal with these players first, then focus all their efforts on Ed and Bell. Meanwhile, in the darkness drenched by the heavy rain, Bell, who was excitedly filming the three, suddenly felt a terrifying killing intent! He turned sharply, only to see Ed holding a katana, tilting his head, and staring at him with a chilling smile. "Ed?" "Why aren''t you filming? What are you doing here?" Though it wasn''t their first collaboration and they had built some trust, Bell still pulled out his military knife, warily watching Ed. The other exuded intense killing intent, his expression twisted! "We agreed on four each!" "Are you stealing my kills?!" "Die!" In the dark rain, two figures clashed like fierce tigers, the murderous intent no longer hidden. ... "Strange... where is everyone?" Cautiously approaching the entrance of Bell''s cave, Wei Yun looked confused. She and Ding Longfei didn''t wait long; the deadly cold outside forced them into the cave. As soon as they entered, they almost cursed! Goodness, it was absurdly spacious! Inside were all sorts of food, even drinks... anyone would think they were on vacation! "Damn system, we''re all players in the same dungeon... the treatment disparity is too much!" [Warning to player Ding Longfei, further insults to the system will result in a mute penalty!] Ding Longfei: "..." They looked around but saw no players. Nor Bell. Strange... where did they go? ... Ed''s Cave. Having eaten his fill, Zhao Yi donned a shadow cloak, crouched beside the cave passage, and entered stealth mode. In a minute, he could move, but any movement would break the stealth. Watching the three shadows cautiously approaching from outside, the scalpel in Zhao Yi''s hand reflected a chilling gleam... PS: Third update. Ending this story tonight. What''s our motto? Never eat shit! Never eat shit! Never eat shit! Chapter 70 – Death of the Ogre in Wasteland Seeking Death The three of them entered Ed''s cave. A quick search. No one. "Damn it... where did they go?" Kuwahara Kuang Ren cursed, kicking over the fire pit and stamping out the flames with his rain-soaked boots. "Those damn cowards, hiding away..." He was arrogant to the extreme, holding a katana identical to Ning Wenxiao''s. Bell had plenty of such weapons. Ji Teng approached Ed''s bag and pulled out the camera. Inside, it played footage of Ed brutally killing previous victims. After watching, Ji Teng seemed to realize something and suddenly raised an eyebrow, exclaiming: S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Not good!" He spun around quickly, only to see a cloaked man holding Kuwahara Kuang Ren with one arm and pressing a sharp scalpel to his throat with the other. Kuwahara Kuang Ren''s face turned pale, the coldness at his throat rendering him unable to resist! "Where are your teammates?" Ran Xinping, the flat-toned woman, remained calm, one hand behind her back, seemingly preparing a powerful move. Zhao Yi held Kuwahara Kuang Ren and retreated step by step into the curtain of rain, his figure growing darker in the shadows. "I made up an excuse to send them away." To access the premium content, go to [ ]. Zhao Yi''s tone was somewhat eerie. "The last dish, I want to enjoy alone." With that, he disappeared into the night with Kuwahara Kuang Ren. The two quickly chased after him, but Zhao Yi was nowhere to be seen. Suddenly, a piercing scream came from the dense forest on the right. The two drew military knives and a high-voltage stun baton, cautiously heading towards the direction of the scream. Under a giant pine tree. Two severed arms lay scattered. "Ah!!!" Another scream. This time from the left, and the two rushed over. Suddenly, Ji Teng stepped on something and accidentally fell. He quickly got up with Ran Xinping''s help, but under the starlight, what he saw on the ground made their scalps almost explode! Lying there quietly was the bloody... skin of Kuwahara Kuang Ren! "Damn!" Even Ran Xinping, who had seen many terrifying scenes, trembled all over! How long had it been since they arrived, and Zhao Yi had already skinned Kuwahara Kuang Ren? Could someone really skin a person that fast? [Kuwahara Kuang Ren is dead, killed by Zhao Yi.] The system broadcasted. Panic spread. "Let''s retreat to the cave... it''s dark here, easy to be ambushed!" The two no longer had the courage to continue hunting Zhao Yi; Kuwahara Kuang Ren''s death had shattered their resolve! In their panic, they failed to notice¡ª At the cave entrance, A trail of fresh footprints being washed away by the rain... [Zhao Yi killed Ran Xinping] [Zhao Yi killed Ji Teng] [Players Zhao Yi, Ding Longfei, Wei Yun completed side quest one] [After the main quest ends, rewards will be given for side quests based on contribution.] ... On the ground, by the campfire. Zhao Yi was covered in blood. Two headless bodies lay on the ground. Their heads were placed beside Zhao Yi, one on each side. Kuwahara Kuang Ren''s head was also inside the cave. He hadn''t been skinned at all. It was just a psychological trick Zhao Yi played on the two. In reality, the one who was skinned was Ning Wenxiao, who had come earlier to assassinate Zhao Yi. Watching the rain outside, Zhao Yi quietly held the bloody heads of the three and slept. Sleeping like this... was the only way to feel at ease! ... On the desolate mountain, Ed, holding a katana, cornered the wounded Bell to the edge of a cliff. "Ed!" "They used you!" Bell shouted hoarsely, his eyes bloodshot! Ed''s body trembled. His eyes were no longer as cloudy as before, but tears of blood flowed from the corners. "I know, Bell..." "But..." "I really..." "Can''t go on like this..." "Let it all end!" "We''ve... done too many wrong things!" "Death is a release!" Looking at Ed''s weary face, Bell breathed heavily, collapsing onto the ground. He wanted to light a cigarette, but it was raining. He hadn''t smoked before. It was only after becoming obsessed with killing that he learned to smoke. Nicotine could dispel the guilt in his heart. "You''re right..." "We really... did too many wrong things." Bell sighed, slowly closing his eyes, savoring the last moment of peace before death. Ed raised the katana high and swung it down fiercely! He carried Bell''s head to the edge of the cliff, feeling the fierce cold rain and wind, and plunged into the abyss... [Congratulations to players Zhao Yi, Ding Longfei, Wei Yun for completing side quest 2.] [All side quests completed, based on contribution, Zhao Yi received the Fate Chest.] [Ding Longfei, Wei Yun received no reward.] ... PS: This dungeon is basically over. Let me briefly mention a few points. 1. Although I put effort into designing this dungeon, it clearly exceeded my capabilities, and unlike previous dungeons, it didn''t serve the main storyline, being a spur-of-the-moment independent dungeon. As a novice, I failed to handle it well, leading to an unsatisfactory experience for you all. This is my fault, and I apologize. In the next two or three days, I will carefully sort out the main storyline and dungeon creation. 2. Due to point 1, I cut some scenes to rush the end of this dungeon, but the main flow was completed. 3. I will quickly return to the main storyline, including the secrets of Hanging Valley Town, the protagonist''s secrets, and the opening of the Tide of Demon Spirits. 4. Writing a novel is like running a restaurant; some come, some go, some are regulars, and some only visit once. No matter what, it''s a fate, and I''m grateful for it. You all bring me not just benefits, but companionship. 5. The author only writes books, no group chats. 6. Good night, brothers. Chapter 71 – Return, Dungeon Secret ### Chapter 71: Return, Secrets of the Dungeon The rain stopped on the twelfth day. Originally, it was the day Ed and Bell began slaughtering players. But now, Ed and Bell had already died from guilt, so the kind-hearted psychologist Zhao Yi had nothing to do but fiddle with Ed''s camera. And... he left a recording. After finishing, Zhao Yi placed the recording in Ed''s cloth bag and threw it into Bell''s cave. After the main quest ended, the players vanished in a flash of white light. The mountains gradually returned to their usual tranquility, as if nothing had ever happened. A few days later, a helicopter arrived at the mountain top, and several men in black suits and sunglasses disembarked, heading to Bell''s cave. "Sir... we''ve arrived at the Rubaco Mountains, but the two captive beasts, Bell and Ed, are gone." The black-clothed person placed his hand on the earpiece, quietly listening to instructions from the other side. Another soldier entered the cave, carefully searching, and soon found Ed''s tattered cloth bag. "Huh?" He looked puzzled. He had been here more than once and had personally piloted the helicopter to take Ed and Bell to several restricted areas. So he recognized Ed and Bell''s bags. After hesitating for a moment, he took out the camera and, driven by curiosity, played the recording. A slender but handsome man was talking to himself in front of the camera. The soldier couldn''t hear what the man was saying, so he put his ear to the camera''s speaker. As he listened, his eyes gradually became confused and hollow. But the corners of his mouth curled into a strange smile. Suddenly, the black-clothed person who was on the phone saw the soldier turn around and raise his rifle. He stopped his conversation with his superior. Before dying, he murmured: "Oh!" "Motherf**ker!" Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat... ... [Congratulations Player Zhao Yi] [Main Quest ''Survive Fifteen Days in the Rubaco Mountains'' Completed] [Side Quest 1 ''Kill Players from the Opposing Faction'' Completed] [Side Quest 2 ''Kill Ed and Bell'' Completed] [Plot Exploration 100%] [World View Exploration 50%] [Rating: SS+] [Rewards: 150 Experience, 15,000 Points] [Item Obtained: Fate Chest (Blue)] [Title Obtained: Deceiver] [Evaluation: Congratulations on once again ending the dungeon early by yourself. It seems the Hell difficulty dungeons are still too easy for you. The system might consider giving you an unsolvable difficulty dungeon next time to broaden your horizons! Also, you (¡ªdata deleted¡ª) stop causing trouble for the system at the end of the dungeon! Last time in the ''Haunted School Horror'' dungeon, you (¡ªdata deleted¡ª) messed around, turning X-2 from a Hell Boss into an Abyss Boss, causing another team of dungeon players to be completely wiped out! I (¡ªdata deleted¡ª) you damn (¡ªdata deleted¡ª)] ... Back at the guild base, Zhao Yi glanced at the system''s rating and evaluation. The implied meaning was clear: the X-2 from Haunted School Horror had been taught some basic skills by him and went on a rampage as a boss in another dungeon. Zhao Yi''s eyes gleamed with insight. This meant that the dungeons players experienced weren''t just simple game dungeons. The NPCs inside, after being used, would be placed in other dungeons for continued use. In other words, the NPCs players encountered in game dungeons might be encountered again in future dungeons. Wow, it seems he''s discovered something incredible! Beep beep beep¡ª Zhao Yi''s system panel received a message. Opening it, he saw it was from Liu Ruoqing. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Little brother, come to sister''s room." He hesitated for a moment and replied: "Are you sick?" "Yes, I need your treatment." "Send me a photo to check." Soon, Liu Ruoqing sent two photos. One with a pout, and one with a playful lip bite. Zhao Yi was speechless. "I asked for a photo of the affected area, not selfies." "Ah¡ªsorry." Quickly, another image was sent. A leg that should have been as white as snow was now covered in red scales! This was a sign of the Red Devil''s imminent revival. Zhao Yi immediately knocked on the door of room 707. The door opened, and a slender finger hooked onto Zhao Yi''s clothes, pulling him inside... ... "Today''s treatment was very satisfying." The red scales on Liu Ruoqing''s leg faded away. She sat on the sofa, poured a glass of red wine, and slowly drank it, a blush rising on her alluring cheeks. Opposite her, Zhao Yi was diligently taking notes. "Old charlatan Jiang Xiao has already signed you up. When the Tide of Demon Spirits begins, you''ll be summoned and transported to that great secret realm." "Also... I''ve covered the registration fee for you." Zhao Yi was surprised and asked: "There''s a registration fee?" Liu Ruoqing lazily brushed her hair behind her ear. "Of course." "It''s high risk, high reward, and only open to newcomers. It''s a place many players dream of going. The system isn''t stupid; if tens of thousands or millions of players entered at once, it would be chaos." "So it conducts a quality screening in advance." Zhao Yi nodded. "Thank you." Liu Ruoqing chuckled softly: "No need." "Anyway... last time, old charlatan Jiang Xiao lost a bet to me and gave me a golden item, which can be sold for quite a few points." "You can''t enter any more dungeons for now. After signing up for the Tide of Demon Spirits, your soul mark will be locked, and you''ll only be able to stay in the Chaotic Realm." "You can still do world quests, though." Zhao Yi nodded and left Liu Ruoqing''s room. After he left, the allure on Liu Ruoqing''s face gradually faded. "Are you afraid?" She spoke, but it was unclear to whom. Until... a strange voice sounded. With a slight tremble of fear. Only she could hear it. "It wants..." "To devour me." ... PS: Today I revised Haunted School Horror, trying to make Yang Linlin not seem so disgusting, so the update was a bit slow. Still at least 6000 words guaranteed. Will continue working after dinner. Chapter 72 – Weapon of murder, corpse grinder Zhao Yi returned to his apartment and opened the panel. [Character: Zhao Yi] [Level: 4] [Experience: 75/150] [Items: Old Liu''s Property Deed, Pandora''s Box (Fake), Substitute Doll, Crusher (Shotgun), Butcher''s Carefully Cooked Soup] [Life: 25/25] [Strength: 36] [Spirit: 101 (100+1)] [Luck: 0] [Title: Ghostbane, Sharp Edge, Rule Breaker, Mentor, Deceiver] [Soul Weapon: Bloodstained Scalpel (Plunder)] [Points: 36,500] [Rating Acquisition: S+, SS, S, SS+] [Domain: Body Strengthening (F-)] ... What pleased Zhao Yi the most was his points. They had already reached thirty thousand. Without a second thought, Zhao Yi spent 20,000 to buy four pages of Lunyu. Now, he had gathered five pages of Lunyu. Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Zhao Yi opened his cultivation system and dragged in the Lunyu. A vast power surged into Zhao Yi''s body. Vaguely, it seemed as if some unknown chanting, like the toll of a great bell, echoed in Zhao Yi''s mind. He listened carefully for a while and roughly understood the meaning. "Ren is the technique of dividing a person into two!" "Confucius said: If you hear the way in the morning, you can die in the evening." "It means: if you find out the way to your home in the morning, you have to die in the evening." "Confucius said: A gentleman does not promote a person with words, nor does he discard words because of a person." "It means: a gentleman doesn''t talk nonsense, he lifts a person up to beat them, and won''t say polite words just because he beats them to a pulp." "Confucius said: Since you have come, then settle here!" ... After digesting it for a while, Zhao Yi suddenly found that this cultivation method was simply... too suitable for him. Tailor-made. Cultivation is not achieved overnight, nor is it like replacing a Fierce Ghost''s limb, which can be done in one step. It requires practical combat. For example, Iron Shirt requires taking more hits to improve proficiency. Many have been beaten to death by Fierce Ghosts and players while practicing Iron Shirt. As for Lunyu, it seems to focus more on offense. Having equipped the cultivation method, Zhao Yi took out the Fate Chest. ... [Item: Fate Chest (Blue)] [Quality: Consumable] [Description: This is just an ordinary chest, have you played games? Such chests are everywhere in games.] [Effect: After opening the chest, you may obtain a random item of the following qualities: White item (75%), Green item (15%), Blue item (7%), Purple item (2%), Other (1%)!] [Note: If you think you''re unlucky, you can sell it to other players who like opening chests.] ... Sell it? Impossible. The chest must be opened by himself. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No boy doesn''t love opening treasure chests. What matters is not what you get, but the process. Without thinking about his luck value of 0, Zhao Yi opened the Fate Chest while doing a backflip. It''s said that boys who can do backflips aren''t too unlucky! [Congratulations on opening the Fate Chest, you have obtained an ''Other'' item: Shredder] ... [Item: Shredder] [Quality: Other] [Description: As you can see, this is a piece of black technology invented by a terrifying scientist from the Chaotic Realm, appearing as a worn-out, foul-smelling large iron machine, usually used for shredding corpses, but theoretically, it can shred anything not too hard.] [Effect: Players and Specters killed by the Shredder cannot be resurrected... including in-game dungeons! (Ineffective against players carrying mandatory resurrection items like Substitute Dolls)] [Note: After the Shredder kills a player, all substitute items on that player will be cleared at once.] [Remark: From the moment it was invented, it was destined to meet a pervert to use it!] ... Holding the Shredder, an eerie excitement appeared on Zhao Yi''s face. This thing... is quite interesting. In dungeons, when players die, they usually just lose life points, but if a player is killed by the Shredder, and they don''t have resurrection items in their inventory, they will die permanently! And no matter how many resurrection items a player has, as long as they''re killed by the Shredder, all those items will be cleared at once! This thing... is simply a damn tool for murder and arson! Curious, Zhao Yi put his hand inside and activated the Shredder. In an instant, his arm turned into a pile of minced meat. Indeed, it''s a good thing! Looking at the pile of bone fragments and sticky flesh the Shredder spat out, Zhao Yi patted it with satisfaction. The next day, Zhao Yi went to the abandoned train station, preparing to head to Hanging Valley Town. His system friends list had gained quite a few NPCs. Including the Clown, Butcher, Warehouse Ghost, the little ghost girl Xuanxuan, Ghost Security Guard, the Three Fierce Ghost Brothers, and others. He could observe their geographical locations in detail and even send messages. Before leaving, the Clown found Zhao Yi, saying it wanted to open a General Store in Hanging Valley Town but was short on funds, with a budget of about 150,000 ghost coins, and wanted Zhao Yi to help find a suitable storefront in Hanging Valley Town. If Zhao Yi could find a good storefront, it would give Zhao Yi a personal collection. Ghost coins are the currency used among Specters, and players can also use points to exchange in the mall, with one point equaling one ghost coin. But it''s a one-way exchange; players can only exchange points for ghost coins, not the other way around. Faced with the Clown''s side quest, Zhao Yi certainly didn''t refuse. Waiting at the platform, Zhao Yi headed towards the driver''s cabin. Only Zhao Yi could enter there; other players couldn''t. This was a privilege granted after reaching a certain level of favorability with the train conductor. After starting the train, the conductor offered Zhao Yi a cigarette. Zhao Yi didn''t refuse. The two puffed away. "I''ve sent many people to Hanging Valley Town." "It''s really dangerous there... many have died." "Some are high-level, some are low-level." Faced with the conductor''s lament, Zhao Yi wasn''t surprised. His mother''s head was hanging in front of the windshield. Still dripping blood. Though without a body, at least she wasn''t dead, right? Looking at the conductor''s mother''s head, Zhao Yi had an urge to throw it into the Shredder. No... to be precise, Zhao Yi now wanted to throw anything alive into his Shredder. Whether human or ghost. "Is it really that dangerous there?" Zhao Yi averted his gaze. The conductor took a drag and replied: "Very dangerous, full of high-level Fierce Ghosts." "But those two guys without a guild base are impressive." Zhao Yi was slightly taken aback. "The Clown and the Butcher?" "Yes." After a pause, the conductor kindly advised: To read the uncut version, go to ]. "When you reach Hanging Valley Town, stay on the platform, don''t go out. Let the Warehouse Ghost come to pick you up. It has some influence in Hanging Valley Town, so you won''t encounter danger..." Zhao Yi nodded. "Thanks." PS: One more chapter to go. Chapter 73 – Appendectomy The world remained as bleak as ever, devoid of light. A world without the sun is destined to be forever shrouded in chaos and darkness. Yet, the bustling prosperity of Hanging Valley Town still astonished Zhao Yi. There were many specters. They seemed to be repeating what they did in life, in an orderly fashion. Various professions continued to operate in ways incomprehensible to humans. Occasionally, some well-dressed office workers would curse angrily, wondering which damned dog designed the 996 work schedule, causing them to find no peace even in death! They used to motivate themselves with the thought: "As long as overtime doesn''t kill you, work yourself to death!" But these ghosts never expected... that after working themselves to death, they''d still have to continue working in the afterlife! Fing hell! 996¡ªa blessing that even death cannot escape. The Warehouse Ghost picked up Zhao Yi at the station and invited him back to its grand villa. "Xuanxuan, the little girl, has gone to school. She boards there and will only be back on the weekend." Zhao Yi sat on the villa''s sofa and opened a bottle of fruit beer. The servants responsible for cleaning and service inside the villa were all Fierce Ghosts. Their eyes, filled with a flickering bloodthirsty greed, fixed on Zhao Yi. To them, humans were... food, toys. But as soon as the Warehouse Ghost''s gaze, filled with murderous intent, swept over them, they immediately behaved, even showing some fear towards Zhao Yi! Who is this man? How could he be so close to such a ferocious Warehouse Ghost? Not long ago, they had witnessed an 18th-level player being chased for dozens of kilometers and killed in a wild forest outside the town just for accidentally stepping on a flower in the Warehouse Ghost''s garden! The original owner of this land was also directly devoured by the Warehouse Ghost, who then inherited his estate! Yet such a ferocious and terrifying specter was so respectful in front of a seemingly low-level human, making them speculate about Zhao Yi''s background. Mystery naturally breeds fear. "I came to you for three things I need your help with." "First is a job issue... I want to settle down in the town and need your help to introduce me to a job." "Second is about a friend''s daughter... named Sun Baibai. She''s gone missing and might be near Hanging Valley Town. I''d like you to help me find out." "Third, another friend wants to open a general store and asked me to find a storefront, but he''s financially tight, with only 150,000 ghost coins." After Zhao Yi finished speaking, he directly took out Pandora''s Box and placed it in front of the Warehouse Ghost. "This is your reward." The Warehouse Ghost examined this little toy, a look of obsession in its eyes. "This gift is indeed quite valuable, but I won''t take it for nothing... I''ll do my best to handle your matters." "For the next couple of days, stay here. The servants will take care of you." Zhao Yi nodded. Three days later, at a dining table laden with a sumptuous lunch, the Warehouse Ghost said to him: "There is a hospital in Hanging Valley Town... Although not as large as Colossus Hospital, it''s still legitimate. However, they lack a surgeon. I mentioned you to the hospital director, and he said if you can successfully complete the first surgery and satisfy the patient, they''ll officially hire you." "You can give it a try. If it doesn''t work out, I''ll find you something else." The Warehouse Ghost, having gone through hardships with Zhao Yi and having accepted his favor, was diligent in helping. Zhao Yi thanked the Warehouse Ghost and, with the token given to him, headed to the Fruit Hospital. Upon entering the hospital, he found all the specters inside looking at him with greedy eyes! These specters were exceptionally powerful, and even with Zhao Yi''s strength at 36 points, he couldn''t possibly handle them all alone. If they attacked Zhao Yi, he would be torn to shreds in an instant! But soon, a super heavy nurse weighing six hundred kilograms approached Zhao Yi, took the token from his hand, and warned the sick ghosts: "This is our hospital''s newly hired surgeon. I warn you, don''t cause trouble!" The sick ghosts immediately backed down. Such a heavyweight, they clearly couldn''t handle. The nurse led Zhao Yi to the surgical room and said to him: "There''s a ghost inside with appendicitis, urgently needing surgery. If you can complete this surgery, you''ll pass the entry assessment." Just an appendectomy, no big deal. With his skills, how could he not handle a mere appendix? As Zhao Yi was about to enter the operating room, he saw a female ghost with a child approaching. She was covered in injuries, limping as she walked. "Doctor..." The female ghost tugged at Zhao Yi, forcing some ghost coins into his hand. She bit her lip, seemingly wanting to say something, her eyes wavering between malice and hesitation, finally letting out a barely audible sigh. "Please, you must cure my husband... I''m begging you." The boy beside her was also covered in injuries. The boy kept his head down, tightly holding his mother''s hand, without saying a word. Zhao Yi pushed the ghost coins back into her hand, smiling as he said: "Don''t worry, it''s just an appendectomy, nothing difficult!" With that, Zhao Yi entered the operating room and closed the door. Inside the operating room, a burly Fierce Ghost was tied up on an iron bed, reeking of alcohol. Seeing Zhao Yi enter, he struggled violently: "Damn you, lowly human, what are you doing here?" "What?" "Are they trying to give me a good meal before the surgery?" Zhao Yi put away the hammer, saw, and nails from the nearby tool rack, then took out his Soul Weapon scalpel. "Here''s the thing, I''m your attending physician. You can call me Dad, or even Daddy, but I won''t acknowledge having a son like you." The Fierce Ghost was stunned for a moment, then flew into a rage. "You Fing want to die?" "A mere food dares to talk to me like this?" "Believe it or not, I''ll kill you after the surgery!" Zhao Yi squinted and smiled: "Do you often abuse your wife and son?" The Fierce Ghost was taken aback, then sneered: "They deserve it!" "I''ve told them countless times, all the money should be spent on buying me alcohol, and that bitch dared to secretly save money to send that little bastard to school. It''s a wonder I didn''t beat them to death!" "This is my family business, none of your damn business!" Zhao Yi put on gloves, his movements professional. "No, I''m not really interested in your family affairs, just making small talk." "As if you have the guts!" The Fierce Ghost snorted coldly. Preparations complete. Zhao Yi placed a hand on the Fierce Ghost''s chest, taking a deep breath to reassure him: "Don''t be nervous, it''s just a minor surgery." The Domestic Violence Ghost squinted: "I''m not nervous." "Just an appendectomy." Zhao Yi paused for a moment, then replied: "No... I was talking about myself..." "To be honest." S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "This is my first time performing surgery on a ghost." The two locked eyes, and after a moment, the Domestic Violence Ghost slowly shifted his gaze from Zhao Yi''s face to the scalpel in his hand, swallowing hard. The bravado on his face vanished. "Can... we get a different doctor?" Zhao Yi calmly pulled out a giant Shredder from his pants and placed it beside him: "Probably not." "Hey! Wha-what is that?!" "Ah, relax, it''s just a... Shredder." "???" Inside the operating room, Zhao Yi raised the scalpel high. The blade reflected the Domestic Violence Ghost''s terrified expression. The blade fell, Blood sprayed wildly! PS: I heard some of you brothers are starting school tomorrow. Wishing you a successful academic year. Study hard, or you''ll end up like the author, writing novels for a living. Alright, good night, brothers! Chapter 74 – Work in hand In the operating room, blood was splattering everywhere. Some even reached the ceiling, and the faint sound of agonizing screams seeped through the poorly soundproofed door. Outside, the family members and other specters waiting for surgery shivered inexplicably. "Um... Nurse Zhang, my husband..." Despite the screams, the woman who had been a victim of domestic violence felt a strange sense of comfort, but her kind nature compelled her to ask. The 600-kilogram Nurse Zhang dutifully stood guard at the door, patiently reassuring her: "Don''t worry, dear... As a woman, I completely understand how you feel right now." "But this is just a minor surgery..." "Just an appendectomy!" "There''s no way your husband will be chopped into pieces..." As soon as Nurse Zhang finished speaking, a large splash of blood hit the soundproof glass behind her. The family member talking to Nurse Zhang was startled! "Isn''t this... Nurse, isn''t the bleeding a bit excessive?" Nurse Zhang glanced back and calmly replied: "Oh... it''s normal to bleed a little during surgery!" "Rest assured, our hospital employs the most professional psychologist." The family member felt slightly relieved. But soon, the female ghost realized something and suddenly perked up: "Psychologist?" "But... but this is surgery!" Nurse Zhang looked puzzled: "Is there a difference?" Family member: "..." Creak¡ª The door opened, and Zhao Yi emerged, covered in blood. It had taken less than ten minutes. "Dr. Zhao... is the surgery done?" Zhao Yi wiped the blood off his face, revealing the gentlest smile in the world. "Yes, the surgery was very successful." The female ghost anxiously asked: "Where''s my husband?" Hearing this, Zhao Yi seemed to remember something and reached into his pocket: "Your husband is right here." All the specters focused their gaze. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In Zhao Yi''s hand lay a quietly bleeding appendix. "How about it? Did I do a good job?" Zhao Yi showed a kind smile. Seeing the intact appendix, the female ghost''s heart sank. She glanced at the operating room, where blood and flesh were everywhere, and asked shakily: "And the rest... what about that part?" Zhao Yi suddenly realized. "Ah!" "I thought the rest was useless, so I disposed of it." Female ghost: "..." I asked you to remove the appendix, not the person! Who performs an appendectomy by cutting up the person! She accepted the appendix from Zhao Yi, feeling a mix of emotions. Truth be told, she wished her husband dead. If it were just domestic violence, she could endure it. But she couldn''t stand this beast hitting even their son and using the money for his education to buy alcohol! It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV. She couldn''t tolerate anyone harming her child! But now, Zhao Yi had acted first, doing what she needed to do. For a moment, she didn''t know whether to thank Zhao Yi or thank Zhao Yi. Then, she suddenly thought of something and quickly took out her phone to dial a number. "Hello... is this the Die Bi Pei Insurance Company?" "Ah yes, I wanted to ask, my husband hasn''t been dead for long, is it still possible to buy accidental insurance for him now?" "Oh, I see... well, that''s a pity." Hanging up, she turned to Zhao Yi and said: "Anyway, thank you, Dr. Zhao." Zhao Yi shook her hand and replied: "Taking money to solve problems for others... ah no, healing is the duty of every doctor, it''s what I should do!" The woman left happily with her husband''s appendix. Zhao Yi looked at the specters waiting for surgery outside, trembling with fear, and asked with a smile: "Who''s the next little cutie?" Whoosh! The specters scattered in all directions! The once lively corridor suddenly became empty. "Congratulations, Dr. Zhao, you''ve passed the hospital''s assessment. Here''s your work ID badge. With this badge, you''re considered employed in Hanging Valley Town, and the specters in town will see you as one of their own." "Additionally, according to the Director, your salary will be about 5000 ghost coins a month, paid mid-month." Nurse Zhang kindly handed Zhao Yi a work badge. Zhao Yi hung it on his chest. ... [Congratulations, Player Zhao Yi, on completing the world quest: Find a Job] [Quest Reward: 5000 ghost coins per month // A respectable identity (within Hanging Valley Town)] ... Zhao Yi glanced at the challenging world quest and decided to put it on hold for now. He went to his office, played on his phone until evening, and ordered takeout. When he opened the door, the delivery guy turned out to be Fang Bai! The two exchanged glances, and Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow: "You found a job too?" Fang Bai chuckled. "Yeah." "This job is easy, I don''t even get ten orders a day, and I get to chat and joke with a bunch of specters." He took out the food and handed it to Zhao Yi. "The Tide of Demon Spirits is coming soon, did you sign up?" Fang Bai casually asked, and Zhao Yi replied: "I did, but I don''t know how many from the guild will go this time." Fang Bai packed up his delivery box and complained: "Forget it, the registration fee is 50,000 points, where would a newbie get that much?" Zhao Yi was curious: "Doesn''t the guild reimburse it?" Fang Bai shrugged. "You can borrow, but they don''t reimburse." "Anyway... it''s a blue loan!" He said and turned to continue delivering, while Zhao Yi thought of Liu Ruoqing, that charming and seductive woman, lost in thought. This woman must want something from him. Otherwise, she wouldn''t have given him 50,000 points for free. Is it related to the Red Demon? Intuition told Zhao Yi that Liu Ruoqing wasn''t looking for him to deal with the Red Demon inside her. The Red Demon had a high fusion rate with her, it wouldn''t be out of control. She was testing him. 50,000 points might not be much to them, but to a newbie, it''s an astronomical figure. Like Zhao Yi extorting fellow players in dungeons, he only managed to squeeze out over 10,000. By the way, game transactions are enforced. For example, if Zhao Yi told other players that if they gave him 5000 points, he would help them clear the dungeon. Then, as long as those players gave Zhao Yi 5000 points, he must help them clear the dungeon. Even if one player didn''t clear it and died halfway, Zhao Yi would face severe penalties! Such as transaction bans, or a significant deduction in his dungeon score after completion. ... After dinner, it was soon time to get off work. Zhao Yi declined the Director''s offer to work overtime and prepared to return to the guild''s base. Just as he left the hospital, the Warehouse Ghost sent a message. "Mr. Zhao, I''ve found some traces of Sun Baibai..." "I''ve also found the buyer for the General Store''s facade, but the owner wants to meet with you in person..." PS: First update, two more updates today. Thank you to all the brothers and sisters for the gifts, truly grateful! By the way, there''s no need to spend money on gifts for this book, it''s unnecessary. As long as someone is reading, the author won''t starve. Chapter 75 – Extra meal Warehouse Ghost''s Villa. The two of them ate and chatted casually. "Long ago, the D17 train that Sun Baibai was on had an incident at the entrance of Zili Village to the south... I only heard about it from others, and afterward, everyone on that train disappeared." "This afternoon, I sent a servant to investigate Zili Village, but it didn''t return... something must have happened." "Since I now own property in Hanging Valley Town, I can''t leave for the time being." "As for Zili Village, I suggest you don''t go there for now." "It''s too dangerous." Zhao Yi sliced a piece of steak and put it in his mouth. "I''ll be careful." The Warehouse Ghost slipped a piece of paper with a phone number into Zhao Yi''s hand. "This is the number for the owner of ''Changsheng Mall.'' You can arrange a meeting with him tomorrow." "He''s available anytime." Zhao Yi looked at the number in his hand and put it away. The next day, Zhao Yi took a leave from the Director. Anyway, no patients dared to come to him for surgery at the moment, so the Director just let it slide. Those ghost patients with appointments had already paid. Not performing surgery was their loss, not the hospital''s. He arrived at a teahouse on the fourth floor of the mall. Ever since he became a doctor, the ghosts in Hanging Valley Town no longer looked at Zhao Yi with hunger. He booked a private room. Soon, a man with a fat head, big ears, and a beer belly like a pregnant belly pushed the door open and sat opposite Zhao Yi. His face was deathly pale, exuding an air of high society. [Mall Owner: Neutral] [Weakness: His disappointing son] [Note: His entire being exudes the aura of capital] sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He glanced at Zhao Yi with disdain, his ten large rings dazzling to the point of blinding. "Are you the doctor recommended by the Warehouse Ghost?" Zhao Yi replied: "Yes." The mall owner nodded and got straight to the point: "Let me be frank." "I usually only rent out the shops in Changsheng Mall, not sell them... and your fifteen thousand ghost coins, my wife wouldn''t even use that to wipe her butt." Zhao Yi was surprised: "Your wife''s butt must be quite big then?" "Can you handle it?" The mall owner glared: "Don''t interrupt, let me finish!" "Although I don''t want to sell the shop, there''s an exception to everything." "... My son keeps saying he''s not feeling well, can''t study properly, and always ranks at the bottom of his class." "I''ve consulted several doctors, but none could cure my son''s lack of interest in studying. So if you can cure my son, I''ll sell you a decent underground mall shop for fifteen thousand ghost coins." "But if you can''t, you''ll be eaten by my son!" Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow: "Are you serious?" The man flaunted his ten fingers adorned with expensive gemstone rings, arrogantly saying: "I, Hu Aotian, am not short of money for a shop." After speaking, he looked at Zhao Yi, who was deep in thought, and sneered: "What?" "Scared?" "Right, even ghost doctors couldn''t cure my son, how could a weak human like you..." Before he could finish, Zhao Yi eagerly looked up: "Mr. Hu, I still want to ask, can you handle your wife''s big butt?" Hu Aotian: "???" "Why are you so concerned about my wife''s butt?" "I warn you, if you dare have any improper thoughts about my wife, I''ll kill you!" Zhao Yi nodded slightly. "Ha, sorry... Mr. Hu, don''t worry, I''m just naturally a bit curious about odd things." The man and the ghost arrived at Hu Aotian''s residence. It was a massive estate in the center of the Hanging Valley Town''s wealthy district. The villas were elegant and exquisite, surrounded by magical plant creatures. Before even entering, a terrifying aura hit them. An old butler was kicked out of a third-floor window, and cursing could be heard from inside: "Who the hell let you clean the room?" "How many times have I told you!" "Don''t touch my figurines!" "If I see my figurines moved again, I''ll chop off your head!" The butler fell to the ground, covered in blood, looking miserable. Zhao Yi stared at the broken window on the third floor, his eyes shining. What a delicious smell. The scent of food. Time for an extra meal! Hu Aotian, seeing Zhao Yi standing still, thought he was scared and patted Zhao Yi''s shoulder: "If you''re too scared, forget it. No need to force yourself; after all, a tiger father has no dog son..." Zhao Yi brushed his hand away, full of determination: "No... Mr. Hu, please let me treat your son!" Hu Aotian looked at Zhao Yi with a complicated expression. "Are you sure?" "I''m not joking... the previous doctors who tried to treat him were all eaten by my son." Zhao Yi walked steadily towards the third floor. "Don''t worry, Mr. Hu, I''ll return you a son who loves to study." He entered the problem child''s room. As soon as he opened the door, a strong stench filled the air. The floor was littered with paper balls. The boy''s body was rotting, his eyes bulging, and his mouth full of sharp, foul-smelling teeth. Upon closer inspection, one could see some human hair in his mouth. Seeing Zhao Yi and his father, Hu Liangliang grinned menacingly: "Dad, you brought me food again?" Hu Aotian sighed. "Son, playing games all day isn''t good." "How will you inherit the family business like this?" Hu Liangliang frowned and cursed: "Annoying old man!" "Fine, I''ll cooperate with the treatment... but as I said, if he can''t cure me, I''ll eat him!" "Whatever happens, you clean up the mess!" Hu Aotian looked at his son with a complicated expression, then sighed at Zhao Yi. "Dr. Zhao, good luck!" Bang! He locked the door. Inside the room. Zhao Yi smiled gracefully. "Hello, Hu Liangliang, I''m the doctor your father..." "Invited to treat you." Hu Liangliang showed a cruel smile, his long tongue licking his sharp fangs! "Doctor, how do you plan to treat me?" Zhao Yi brought a chair over and sat next to Hu Liangliang. He looked up. Man and ghost locked eyes. Hu Liangliang''s smile gradually froze, disappearing... Even... Turning into fear! On Zhao Yi''s handsome face. He suddenly saw¡ª A pair of scarlet eyes, as deep as an abyss... "g¡¯?¡¯!¡¯ PS: One more chapter to go! Chapter 76 – Zili Village... Baiba Mizing **[Symptom: Rebellious Personality (Mix)]** **[Manifestation: A combination of rebellious personality and contrarian personality, possessing a strong sense of resistance, saying no to everything others say, starting with denying family members and eventually denying the entire world. During the personality fusion process, the host often exhibits negative emotions such as bloodlust, brutality, and anger. As the degree of personality fusion increases, these negative emotions become more severe, potentially leading to behaviors like attacking family members.]** **[Category: Inferior Ingredient, Repeated Ingredient]** **[Spirit Enhancement: None]** **[Note 1: You can consume it to reduce the hunger in your spiritual world, but this inferior ingredient obviously cannot enhance your spiritual strength.]** ¡­ A few minutes later. Zhao Yi opened the door. He stood tall and confident, looking radiant. Hu Aotian was standing outside smoking a cigar. When he saw Zhao Yi open the door, he was visibly stunned, and then an incredulous look appeared in his eyes. "Doctor Zhao... you..." Zhao Yi nodded. "The treatment is complete, Mr. Hu." "From today onwards, your child will listen to you unconditionally. He will reject games, reject the second dimension, study diligently, and inherit your business in the future." Hu Aotian was dumbfounded. The doctor recommended by the Warehouse Ghost... was this amazing? Previously, several doctors with some fame in the town had come to their home, but after some effort, they were all devoured by his son! As a father, Hu Aotian was clearly aware that his son''s strength was not weak, and someone of Zhao Yi''s level could not possibly contend with him! Could it be... he was really ''cured''? With a skeptical heart, Hu Aotian entered the room and saw Hu Liangliang actually swallow the computer whole and start using the desk he used to play games on... to do homework! Holy cow! The sun must have risen from the west! With trembling hands, Hu Aotian patted Hu Liangliang''s head, excitedly saying: "Son!" "You''ve grown up!" Hu Liangliang gave a sweet smile. "Dad, Doctor Zhao is right... From today on, I will study hard to inherit the family business early and share your burden!" Hu Aotian was too excited to speak, shouting ''good'' several times, then warmly pulling Zhao Yi to stay for a meal, but Zhao Yi politely declined. "About the storefront, does the boss still keep his word?" Hu Aotian hurriedly said: "Of course! Of course!" "Divine Doctor Zhao, if you don''t have enough money, you can also take it on credit." **[Congratulations to Player Zhao Yi, the favorability of ''Changsheng Mall'' owner Hu Aotian towards you has increased from ''Indifferent'' to ''Like''!]** Hearing the system prompt, Zhao Yi was slightly surprised. He didn''t expect this ghost, who looked like a fat pig, to value his son so much. Just by helping his son overcome his rebelliousness, his favorability increased by one level! But that''s good. There are many unsafe places in Hanging Valley Town, and having one more friend means more security. Through the system, Zhao Yi contacted the Clown, who transferred 150,000 ghost coins to Zhao Yi, and Zhao Yi began the handover process with Hu Aotian. Soon, a certain underground shop in Changsheng Mall belonged to the Clown. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The mall''s traffic naturally needs no mention. With so many ghosts in the town, there are only two malls in total. If the Clown manages the underground mall''s shop well, he can quickly earn back the 150,000 ghost coins! After finishing these tasks, the Clown sent Zhao Yi an email containing the Clown''s private collection. However, this collection requires Zhao Yi to be level 5 to retrieve it. After everything was done, Zhao Yi returned to the guild''s base. The Clown asked him what kind of shop would be good to open in Hanging Valley Town. Zhao Yi replied: "Definitely not a general store, that doesn''t make any money." "You could open a card room, or a board game room, or even a murder mystery game." "These things make much more money than a general store." Hearing this, the Clown got excited and invited Zhao Yi to participate in the design, to which Zhao Yi gladly agreed, but he asked the Clown for a 20% share. The Clown had no reason to refuse. If it weren''t for Zhao Yi, he wouldn''t have been able to acquire such a good storefront. His long-held plan to revitalize the family business... seemed to see a glimmer of hope! Ever since his father handed him the general store, the Clown had been constantly thinking about revitalizing the family business, but he was bound by rules and couldn''t leave the abandoned station. But now Zhao Yi had gotten him a storefront in Hanging Valley Town. The rules allowed him to exist there. As long as the Clown needed, he could appear in Hanging Valley Town at any time, in his own shop. After some tinkering. Zhao Yi arrived at the Butcher''s shop. He told the Butcher about Sun Baibai and asked him about Zili Village. The Butcher''s eyes narrowed slightly. Distant memories slowly surfaced. "Zili Village is different from Moye Village." "That village has always been closed off, although the railway was built there, there''s no corresponding station." "The village has always been disconnected from the outside world and doesn''t like outsiders visiting." "However... Baibai''s mother, Hong Song, was from Zili Village..." "When she wanted to marry me, the villagers were a thousand times against it. Later, I eloped with her to Moye Village." "Later, after Hong Song gave birth to Baibai, she mysteriously disappeared... leaving only a note for me." "The police searched the entire village but found no trace of Hong Song..." "It''s as if she vanished into thin air..." Hearing this, Zhao Yi asked: "Do you still have the note?" The Butcher nodded, retrieved an old note, and placed it in Zhao Yi''s hand. It contained only three very brief lines. ¡­ **[Long, all my savings over the years are in the pillow.]** **[Remember, never... let Baibai near Zili Village!]** **[Take good care of our daughter!]** ¡­ Zhao Yi focused on the note and immediately realized that the incident with the D17 train Sun Baibai was on, and her eventual mysterious disappearance, were all inextricably linked to Zili Village! To find Sun Baibai, he must visit that village. However, Zhao Yi wasn''t planning to go now. Firstly, he was only level 4, not strong enough. From the Warehouse Ghost''s description, there was definitely unimaginable danger in Zili Village! He needed to increase his strength. Secondly, the Tide of Demon Spirits was about to arrive, and Zhao Yi had to stay at the guild''s base and couldn''t wander around. "I''ll get through the Tide of Demon Spirits first..." "Then I''ll find a way to look for Sun Baibai!" Zhao Yi put away the note, thinking to himself. PS: Third update. Brothers, sorry for being so late, I''ll try to write some during the day next time. There are too many main and side quests in the big world. But I won''t delay anymore, tomorrow the large-scale secret realm of the Tide of Demon Spirits will open directly. Thanks for your patience, brothers, good night! Chapter 77 – In the following days, Zhao Yi helped a group of evil spirits with their ailments in Hanging Valley Town. He would often chat with Nurse Zhang, who weighed six hundred kilograms, and discuss medical cases with the hospital''s neurologist, Dr. Liao. Initially, Dr. Liao always felt out of place among the hospital''s ghosts, with no one understanding him. That was until he met Zhao Yi. The two hit it off instantly, feeling as if they should have become sworn brothers on the spot. But when Dr. Liao suggested Zhao Yi treat him to a meal, Zhao Yi knocked him out with a swift elbow strike. By mid-month, the Tide of Demon Spirits finally arrived. Zhao Yi took leave from the director of Fruit Hospital and returned to the guild''s base. About twenty members of the Slacker Guild chose to participate in the Tide of Demon Spirits. Of course, except for Zhao Yi, all of them borrowed the 50,000-point entry fee from the guild. In the sky, dark clouds gathered and swirled. It seemed as if endless ominousness lurked within, with an ancient god from the abyss staring from the center of the black clouds. In an instant, beams of white light shot up from countless regions of the Chaotic Realm, transforming into streaks of light rushing towards the abyss at the center of the dark clouds¡ª ... [Secret Realm: Tide of Demon Spirits] [Clue: Time and Space, Logical Loop] [Task: Survive until the seventh day and escape the secret realm] [Reward: 500 experience (other rewards to be obtained within the secret realm)] [Note: Players can gain partial experience by killing each other in the secret realm. The higher the level of the unit killed, the more experience gained, but the slaughter value will double. Killing a player grants 2 slaughter points. Reaching 10 slaughter points will send you to the low-level Slaughter Arena after the secret realm ends, 50 points to the mid-level, 100 to the high-level, and over 500 points will result in direct obliteration.] ... Eyes open. The view was of a retro-style hotel room, with two bedrooms, a living room, and a private bathroom. The wallpaper was somewhat faded and damaged, and a ticking clock hung above Zhao Yi''s head. The room was sparse, lacking any extra furnishings like cabinets, coffee tables, or a TV... None of them were present. And... strangely, everything Zhao Yi looked at seemed to have faint cracks. This feeling was odd and unsettling. Moreover, the data that originally existed in Zhao Yi''s eyes mostly turned into question mark garbles. [Clock: ???] [Note: ???] ... [Bed: ???] [Note: ¡ª¡ª] ... [Chandelier: ???] [Note: ???] ... "Interesting." Zhao Yi grinned and sprang up from the bed. "Survive until the seventh day... why ''survive''?" The system''s wording this time was peculiar and puzzling. He reached out and patted his head. However, after a few pats, Zhao Yi suddenly frowned. He looked intently at his hand. Clearly, he had just extended his left hand, so why was he now seeing... his right hand? He tried again. Good heavens! This world seemed to have a rule... that reversed his left and right! Zhao Yi walked left, only to find himself moving right! "Damn!" "Why am I reversed left and right?" At this moment, a terrified scream came from the next room! Soon, there were responses from other places: "Me too!" "Damn it... this isn''t fair!" "Shit... if we encounter any specters... we''re done for!" While everyone was panicking, Zhao Yi awkwardly danced around the room like a twisted pretzel. "Like a seaweed, seaweed, seaweed... swaying with the wind... seaweed...!" ... In the live streaming room: : Damn! Brother Zhao is live? Is this the Tide of Demon Spirits? : Damn, I''m late! : Is it necessary to be this flashy right at the start? : Brother Zhao has quite a lot of points, 50,000? : Probably borrowed. : I think you''re underestimating my big brother Zhao Yi! : This is going to be a good show, the tasks in the Tide of Demon Spirits secret realm are always ridiculously difficult, and the mortality rate is high. Those who survive... less than one percent! ... Until the urge to pee hit, Zhao Yi stopped his twisting dance and headed to the bathroom. Pants down. Aim. Fire! A shiver. Pants up. By now, Zhao Yi had basically adapted to this body that was reversed left and right. While washing his hands, Zhao Yi noticed that the mirror in front of him had cracks, similar to other items. He reached out and touched it. It was smooth. The reflection of himself in the mirror was unscathed. So... where did these strange cracks come from? Leaving the bathroom, Zhao Yi approached the desk. The desk was near the balcony, with sunlight outside, and on it lay a diary, a calendar, and a camera. Opening the diary, it read: [February 15] [A chainsaw-wielding killer suddenly broke in through the door, attempting to kill you, but you successfully defeated it with your extraordinary skills and threw it into the shredder.] ... The back of the diary couldn''t be turned. It seemed to be sealed by some mysterious force. Only this page could be viewed. The calendar showed that today was February 15. And the camera sat there without any explanation. [???: ???] [Note: Can only be used once] ... Can only be used once? Zhao Yi stroked his chin, his eyes gleaming, when suddenly ten terrifying banging sounds came from outside the door! These sounds occurred almost simultaneously, as if pre-timed. Immediately after, Zhao Yi''s room was kicked open, and a tall faceless man, wielding a bloody chainsaw, rushed in, ready to slice Zhao Yi in half without a word! Zhao Yi deftly dodged, the scalpel in his hand slicing a line of blood through the air. The faceless man was weak, so weak that Zhao Yi was slightly surprised. He turned to look at the faceless man who had already fallen to the ground and did not throw its body into the shredder. Zhao Yi wanted to see what would happen if he didn''t follow the diary''s instructions. There was an air wall at the room''s door. Zhao Yi couldn''t get out. But he could throw the faceless man''s body out. Standing at the door, Zhao Yi discovered that there were 10 players on the same floor, each in different hotel rooms. They were also facing the faceless man''s attack. The faceless men''s weapons varied, but they were all pathetically weak, completely mismatched with the aura they exuded. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Everyone managed to get through this crisis without any real danger! "Damn!" "What the hell is this?" "Scared me to death!" "I thought it was something powerful!" "Haha! The Tide of Demon Spirits, just like that!" ... Zhao Yi closed the door. He checked the entire room. Nothing. The window couldn''t be opened either. With nothing to do, he lay on the bed. Listening to the ticking of the clock. 3H... 5H... Unknowingly, it was already 11 PM. But outside... It was still bright and sunny... PS: You guys are really fierce. Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the "[pawread.c????m]" Starting today. Not dragging it out until 11 PM. Chapter 78 – "Light..." Zhao Yi sat up from the bed, feeling the warmth streaming in from the window. He walked over to the window and glanced at the wall clock again. Zhao Yi seemed to... understand something. "The time on the clock... is off." "From the beginning until now, the clock has been ticking, perfectly in sync with my biological clock, yet the light outside hasn''t changed at all." "In other words, the sun outside hasn''t risen or set." "The time outside... hasn''t changed." "The only thing that''s changed... is the time inside this hotel." "But players can''t leave the hotel... so they''re forever trapped on February 15th." "No wonder... the system used the word ''arrive.''" "To reach the second day... players must leave this hotel." Thoughts spun rapidly in Zhao Yi''s mind as he stroked his chin. Simple imprisonment? Absolutely impossible! He was very certain that the game''s system wouldn''t be so kind to the players. Things would definitely get more dangerous! After all, the system task had already stated at the beginning that players must ''arrive alive'' on the seventh day. Ding dong¡ª Zhao Yi pondered for a long time until a chime sounded. It was past 12 o''clock. The sunlight outside dimmed a bit. Curiously, Zhao Yi looked out the window, then suddenly remembered something and immediately went to the desk. He flipped through the diary and found that the first page had been stained with a layer of blood red, filled with countless curses directed at Zhao Yi! [Die!] [Die!!] [Die!!!] These bloody words carried intense resentment, directly attacking Zhao Yi''s SAN value. Hmm... but it was useless. But in response, Zhao Yi politely pulled out the Shredder from his pants and placed it beside him. "You cursing me?" "You''re done for." Seeing Zhao Yi''s large hand about to toss it into the Shredder, the diary panicked and flapped around like a duck! The words on it changed. [I was wrong!] [Big brother, spare my life!] Clearly, the diary was very aware of how terrifying the Shredder was. Zhao Yi thought for a moment: "Spare your life... hmm, it''s not impossible." "Tell me, how do I leave this hotel?" Eight words appeared on the diary. [Kill the third faceless man] The third one? Zhao Yi slowly placed it back on the desk. He turned to the second page. Yesterday, he could only read the first page, but after the clock ticked past 24 hours, he could read one more page. The diary no longer dared to resist, allowing Zhao Yi''s nimble fingers to fiddle with its white pages. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... [February 15th] [A chainsaw-wielding killer suddenly broke in, attempting to kill you. Although the process was extremely difficult, you managed to kill it with your exceptional skills...] ... Still February 15th. The date hadn''t changed, and the content was basically the same. The only difference was that this time, the killer seemed much stronger, and significantly so! "Does it have something to do with the light?" Zhao Yi immediately looked out the window. He realized that his earlier guess had a slight flaw and needed correction. ¡ªPlayers wouldn''t be ''forever'' trapped on the first day. According to the diary''s description, the faceless men who came in later would get stronger and stronger! If players didn''t quickly find a way to leave the hotel... They would be killed by the faceless men! Meanwhile, the live streaming room was abuzz with discussion. ... : I just checked out some other players'' live streams, and every player in this hotel has a diary like this. : The faceless man''s power increases so quickly, there''s no way players can handle the third faceless man! : Exactly... The first one was almost no threat to the players, and the second one was already very difficult to defeat. The third one... : Damn... I have no clue at all so far! : Look, even Zhao Yi is stumped, let alone us... : I feel like Zhao Yi''s first blood will be given to the Tide of Demon Spirits, this secret realm task is just too hellish... ... After a long silence, Zhao Yi actually smiled. "Thank you." He suddenly said to the diary. Then he grabbed the diary and tossed it into the Shredder. A piercing scream echoed from the Shredder, spraying out a large amount of blood! Ring ring ring¡ª The phone on the bedside table suddenly rang at this moment. Zhao Yi answered the phone, and countless wails and cries for help came through, extremely tragic, as if the caller was in a living hell! Accompanied by severe static noise. "Zzz..." "Zzz... bring... zzz..." "...camera...zzz..." "Go...zzz...zzz...Kara...asylum...zzz..." After saying these words, the caller hung up. A very familiar voice. So familiar that Zhao Yi couldn''t forget it. Because... it was his own voice! "This dungeon... is fun!" Zhao Yi felt a faint excitement as he glanced at the phone¡ªa string of numbers was on the bottom of the landline. It was the room''s phone number. Nothing else. Next, he lay quietly on the bed, closed his eyes, and rested. ... Live streaming room. : Damn, this rookie ranking number one is just going to sleep now?? : He''s starting to do nothing. : No confidence to beat the faceless man, so he takes out his anger on a diary, what a loser rookie ranking number one! : I heard people hyping this rookie up recently, thought he was amazing... trash! : Tsk tsk, the new viewers are too naive... the real show is yet to come! : By the way, that voice on the phone just now... don''t you think it sounded familiar... ... The next day. Same time. Same place. Ten faceless men kicked the door in simultaneously! Chainsaws roared! Killing intent soared! But this time, six players were fully prepared, ready for battle! Just as described in the diary. The faceless men who came in today, whether in momentum or strength, gave an overwhelming sense of pressure! After a fierce fight, the players were more or less injured. In Zhao Yi''s room, he dragged a faceless man who had been dismembered, bleeding all over but still alive, to the door. He stepped out. Just as he thought. The air wall... disappeared. Zhao Yi smiled slightly. The diary had been hinting all along for players to kill the faceless men. But it was just a trap! The faceless man on the first day was the weakest, so the diary existed in a prophetic manner, exploiting the players'' cautious mindset, leading them to fulfill the prophecy. On the second day, under immense survival pressure and the first day''s behavior hint, players naturally thought that only by killing the faceless men could they survive! But actually... the faceless men were the key for players to leave the room! Only when the faceless men entered the players'' rooms would the air wall disappear. The hotel''s room was a 24-hour cycle. And when the faceless men died, the cycle reset, and the air wall was reset. Players would be trapped in the room! PS: Sorry, everyone! I''m too slow because I have to plant clues while writing... I''ll organize the details tonight and write these two chapters, four more tomorrow! Sorry!!! A quick look at /2p9emv8w will leave you more fulfilled. Happy Lantern Festival! Study well! Good night! Chapter 79 – Upon realizing he could leave the room, Zhao Yi picked up the camera and walked out. The corridor was fairly spacious. Some potted plants were placed beside the doors. With one hand, Zhao Yi dragged the blood-dripping faceless man''s collar as he walked down the corridor. Support us at . The faceless man wasn''t dead. Entwined with Zhao Yi''s Soul Weapon''s special skill, "Plunderer," black tendrils grew and intertwined from the wounds on its limbs, slowly siphoning the faceless man''s life force. However, when Zhao Yi was uninjured, the absorption rate was slow. Since danger could arise at any moment, Zhao Yi decided to carry a blood vial with him. After all, Zhao Yi couldn''t stray too far from the "Plunderer." If the distance between them exceeded 200 meters, the speed at which the Plunderer healed Zhao Yi would drastically decrease! That''s why Zhao Yi didn''t mind the trouble of dragging the faceless man with severed limbs. Of course... this scene looked entirely different to the live streaming audience... ... "See! I told you this guy has some psychological issues!" "Damn... dragging a corpse while walking, that''s seriously twisted!" "What kind of grudge is this..." "Looks like after the haunted school dungeon, my brother Zhao''s condition has worsened." "He''s so twisted! I love it! Waaah..." ... On this floor, there were sounds of struggle everywhere, with many players locked in combat with faceless men in their rooms. Judging by the sounds, the entire hotel was filled with players, all facing similar situations. He continued forward. The stairs were just ahead. But after taking a few steps, Zhao Yi suddenly stopped. He tilted his head, curiously focusing his gaze on a thin thread in front of him. A very fine thread. Its material was unknown. Almost invisible. It just so happened to be at Zhao Yi''s neck level! One more step forward, and this thread would sever Zhao Yi''s... head. And there were many such threads in the corridor ahead. Zhao Yi curiously reached out a finger to touch it. His finger fell off. The sharpness of the thread was beyond imagination. "It''s actually a Soul Weapon..." Zhao Yi licked his dry lips, his eyes filled with excitement. At the severed finger, blood, nerves, and bones slowly reconstructed with the help of life force. At that moment, a terrifying glint suddenly shot out from the doorway on the right! A crossbow bolt! Zhao Yi slightly shifted his body, and the bolt hit his left arm. Almost instantly, the scalpel in Zhao Yi''s hand appeared, its cold light flickering, severing his own arm that was hit by the bolt! Blood splattered. Zhao Yi didn''t even flinch, a strange smile on his lips, as he stared at the beautiful woman at the right doorway. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The arm that flew off quickly rotted under the corrosive poison of the crossbow bolt, emitting a foul stench! Seeing Zhao Yi''s decisiveness, the woman was visibly shocked. Then, with a cold glint in her eyes, she fired several more bolts at Zhao Yi! Whoosh! This time, Zhao Yi easily dodged. The woman seized the opportunity to quickly flee towards the stairway, while Zhao Yi''s scalpel turned into a streak of light, hitting the woman''s leg! However, this woman wasn''t easy to deal with either; she only let out a muffled grunt before stumbling down the stairs! Did she really escape? No. She just found Zhao Yi difficult to handle and didn''t want a direct confrontation. If Zhao Yi chased her in anger due to his injuries, those threads along the way would immediately slice Zhao Yi''s body into pieces! For this reason, she didn''t even mind taking a hit from Zhao Yi. The purpose was to make Zhao Yi think she was injured and easy to catch. But Zhao Yi had no intention of chasing her. Retrieving his Soul Weapon, Zhao Yi threw the faceless man into the Shredder. Then, under the shocked and incredulous gaze of all the viewers in the live streaming room... he stabbed himself over a dozen times! ... "What the hell! Is my brother Zhao practicing some ultimate martial art?" "I don''t... I don''t get it! Is he having a relapse?" "Hiss... isn''t this self-harm tendency a bit too severe!" "No way! Look at his wounds... why are they healing so fast?!" "Holy crap! Really! His severed hand grew back?!" "Zhao... Zhao Wolverine?" ... Zhao Yi''s severe injuries healed within two minutes. Only then did he take the scalpel and cut through the deadly threads, making his way down the stairs. A group of players gathered at the hotel lobby entrance. In the middle, a female player lay weakly on the ground, looking extremely frail. There was a wound on her leg, with unknown black tendrils wrapped around it. Zhao Yi slowly descended from upstairs. Seeing his blood-soaked appearance, the crowd couldn''t help but take two steps back, their eyes filled with caution. However, Zhao Yi seemed uninterested in them. Under everyone''s watchful eyes, Zhao Yi approached the female player, squatted down. He reached out, gently caressing the woman''s cheek, as if stroking a lover. His gaze was deep and sincere. The players exchanged glances, assuming the woman was Zhao Yi''s beloved, as the tenderness in his eyes was incredibly infectious. Who would have thought that in such a cold and cruel world... one could witness such heartwarming love! "Bro, festival... what the hell?!" "You..." A man was about to step forward to comfort Zhao Yi, only to see Zhao Yi pull out a bloodstained scalpel with a sinister smile! A blood-curdling scream that made one''s scalp tingle... Zhao Yi severed the woman''s two arms and one leg. Then he dragged her remaining leg, whistling cheerfully, as he walked out of the hotel. In the sunlight, A long trail of blood, mixed with dust, stretched farther and farther. The crowd watched the slender figure bathed in light, cold sweat running down their backs... ... PS: If I don''t finish writing 8000 words today, I''ll eat dirt! Eat five secret recipes! Let''s go! Chapter 80 – Transforming enemies into friends on the first day Chapter 80: "Day One" Turning Enemies into Friends In the live streaming room, some players recognized the woman Zhao Yi was treating like a pig to be slaughtered. "It''s Luo Qili! The newcomer from the Call to Arms guild this year. I heard Yang Tao, the boss, took a liking to her because of her high spirit level!" "Isn''t she level 9?" "Wow¡ªA level 9 player was taken down by Zhao Yi, who''s only level 4?" "She''s not dead yet... Damn, this Zhao Yi is twisted. Does he enjoy beating people half to death and then dragging them around to slowly finish them off?" "Hey, Zhao Yi was whistling ''My Motherland.'' Let me whistle a bit for you, I can do it too!" "Shut the hell up, will you!" ... Zhao Yi walked down the deserted city streets. Ash floated in the sky. As he searched for his way, he fiddled with the camera in his hand. It was a very important item. If that phone call was from the future, then it meant that one day in the future, this camera would be of great use! "Unfortunately... it''s broken..." "The camera has no lens, no viewfinder, no film, no battery." "Going to the asylum... is it to collect these things?" Zhao Yi pondered, the crack in his vision felt odd. This crack had been there since he woke up. It felt like wearing broken glasses, severely affecting his observation. Was it just him, or did everyone have it? He paused, looked down at the half-dead woman, squatted, and politely asked: "Do you see a crack in front of your eyes?" Luo Qili screamed in terror at Zhao Yi''s face getting close, her expression breaking down instantly! Clearly, she was extremely shocked! "Don''t come near!" "Don''t..." At this moment, her previous malice and viciousness had vanished, replaced by fear! After being parasitized by the Plunderer, she lost not just physical life force, but also SAN! At this moment, in her eyes, Zhao Yi''s originally handsome face was distorted into an unseeable form, directly impacting her spirit! Luo Qili deeply regretted it, she should have waited for him to leave... Why did she provoke this lunatic? She shouldn''t have listened to the nonsense from that phone call! "Answer my question, and I''ll set you free." Zhao Yi empathetically comforted the victim''s emotions. ¡ªBy blinding her eyes. Unable to see Zhao Yi''s face, Luo Qili''s SAN stabilized slightly. She lay motionless on the ground. "I see cracks too... Please stop torturing me, let me go." Luo Qili said quietly. Zhao Yi was thoughtful. "Do you have any treasures to heal injuries?" "No." Luo Qili didn''t want to waste words with Zhao Yi. She just wanted to leave this terrifying world as soon as possible. And... this lunatic beside her. "What a pity... I thought you had potential and wanted to play with you..." Zhao Yi sighed. Luo Qili was stunned on the ground, then stammered: "Play... play with me?" "Of course." "Why?" Zhao Yi snapped his fingers. "Because you''re a cunning bastard, you kill without blinking, you''re ruthless, you''re vicious, you''re twisted enough..." Luo Qili: "..." For a moment, she didn''t know if Zhao Yi was praising her or insulting her... Also... damn it, you''re the twisted one, okay? After a long silence, Luo Qili asked: "What are your conditions?" Discover the complete story on Zhao Yi thought for a moment: "Fifty thousand points, after all, taking an extra person is quite tiring." Hearing this, Luo Qili lay back down. Her expression was very serene. "Kill me, I won''t resist." Zhao Yi coughed. "How many points do you have?" Luo Qili replied: "8000... but I can''t give them all to you." "I can give you 5000 points, plus a blue item." Zhao Yi stroked his chin and finally said painfully: "Deal." Hearing this, Luo Qili initiated a team-up with Zhao Yi on the system panel. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi curiously looked at the team-up invitation and clicked accept. In previous dungeons, players couldn''t freely team up. [Players Zhao Yi and Luo Qili have teamed up, teammate damage reduced by 80%, rewards will be distributed based on contribution after completing the mission.] [Congratulations to player Zhao Yi for receiving 5000 points.] [Congratulations to player for obtaining the item ''Adulterer''s Skateboard.''] ... [Item: Adulterer''s Skateboard] [Quality: Blue] [Description: ...After Ichiro Leaf owned this skateboard, he never got beaten for cheating again!] [Effect: Ride it, and you''ll experience incredible speed!] [Ichiro Leaf''s message: My speed is beyond your imagination!] ... Looking at this blue item, Zhao Yi was speechless. This game really has all sorts of bizarre items. "Alright, there''s a blue pill in my inventory, eating it can quickly heal injuries." "My hand was cut off by you... feed it to me." Zhao Yi nodded. "Where is it?" "In my pocket." "Hey?! Not the chest pocket, you idiot!" "You should''ve said so earlier!" "Damn! Are you still pinching?!" "..." After swallowing a blue pill, Luo Qili''s injuries healed at a visible speed. Soon, her blinded eyes were restored. Zhao Yi withdrew the ''Plunderer'' parasitizing her. Luo Qili stood up, and after basically recovering, she cautiously glanced at Zhao Yi. Despite everything, she still felt intimidated by Zhao Yi. "Did you receive a call from the future?" Zhao Yi asked. Luo Qili was silent for a moment, then replied: "The future me... told me to kill you!" "And then... go to the asylum with you." As she finished speaking, Zhao Yi''s eyes narrowed immediately. Seeing this, Luo Qili was startled, took a step back, and gritted her teeth: "We''re teammates now, you... wouldn''t want to kill me, right?!" Zhao Yi showed a friendly smile. "Of course not!" "You''re such a beautiful woman, I can''t bear to use force." Luo Qili rolled her eyes dramatically. Can''t bear to use force¡ªreferring to cutting off her two arms and a leg. The two headed towards the asylum marked on the system map. "Zhao Yi... who do you think is on the phone?" "You already have an answer, don''t you? Why ask me?" Zhao Yi replied, his tone meaningful. Luo Qili fell silent. She suspected the person on the phone was her future self. At first, she didn''t understand. Why would her future self want her to kill Zhao Yi, yet also want her to go to the asylum with him... These were two logically contradictory statements. But now she understood. She had to try to kill Zhao Yi, show him her abilities, to become his teammate. "The task keywords include time-space and logical loop... Time-space means there''s more than one time-space in this world... which is why my future self can call my present self..." "Then what does the logical loop mean?" Luo Qili''s eyes were filled with confusion. PS: I really don''t want to eat shit, but it seems... Chapter 81 – Second Day Chapter 81: "The Second Day" of the Deceased The two of them arrived at the Kala Asylum; it was already late at night. The place was desolate and dilapidated, a complete ruin. Burn marks were visible everywhere. The asylum had seven floors in total, quite large, and on the top floor, there was a rundown little chapel. The statue of the deity it housed was still intact but on the verge of collapse. In the first-floor lobby, dozens of players had gathered, forming groups of two or three, keeping some distance from each other. Clearly, in this Tide of Demon Spirits where mutual killing grants experience bonuses, no one dared to trust each other easily! After Zhao Yi and his companion entered the asylum, an air wall rose up. Evidently, their "Second Day" would be spent within this air wall. As the time passed midnight, an eerie bell began to toll inside the ruined chapel. ... [Dungeon: Kala Asylum] [Main Quest: Find the real culprit before being killed!] [Side Quest: Kill the real culprit!] [Main Quest Reward: 100 experience points, air wall removal] [Side Quest Reward: Killer''s Eye (different rewards for different players)] [Difficulty: ¡ª¡ª] [Note: Each of you has only one chance to identify the culprit face-to-face. If you fail, you will automatically incur the culprit''s wrath, and your location will be shared with them throughout...] ... As the system''s task messages updated, everyone''s consciousness began to blur¡ª When they regained clarity, they found themselves in different rooms. The once-ruined asylum had become refined and lively. Outside, the starry sky was brilliant and serene. But inside the asylum, it was filled with the harmonious sounds of patients conversing with each other. "Hey... Old Three, why did you ditch us for cards again last night?" "Tch, Old Nine, all you think about is cards! I was busy slaying gods last night!" With that, a bald, pot-bellied middle-aged patient swung his plastic spoon, hitting a female player on the forehead, shouting: "Kala ahead, gods forbidden!" The female player, not fully conscious, cried out in pain and looked at Old Three in confusion. This was the lobby. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It held about a hundred patients, including some players. Of course, most players weren''t in the lobby; they were in their own rooms. The rooms weren''t big. Just a bed, a TV, a toilet, and a table. Not even the most basic surveillance cameras. The lighting was pale, the iron bed cold. Zhao Yi sat up from the bed, closed the foul-smelling toilet lid, opened the system panel, and checked his teammate''s location. He was in room 307, Luo Qili in 315. The room right across from him. "Clatter!" The sound of a toilet lid closing came from next door, followed by the sound of flushing. Zhao Yi glanced sideways but said nothing. The TV in the room was on, filled with static noise. After the snow, there seemed to be a signal again. It showed a priest leading a prayer: [Light purifies the spirit of the good] [Fire burns the flesh of the wicked] [The great Father once said] [Only those carrying goodness purified by light and evil burned by fire can reach the blissful Eden...] ... Mysterious and cryptic. It seemed Western churches always concocted such cryptic words to attract more followers. Bored, the players began leaving their rooms to explore outside. They weren''t here for a vacation. They were here to catch the culprit. But so far, there seemed to be no... victim? In Zhao Yi''s room. He opened a bag of chips, watching the endlessly repeating programs on TV. No new channels, no new content. The asylum was very perfunctory with the patients, the TV only playing repetitive recordings. Just then, a scream from downstairs pierced through, shaking the entire asylum! The players, hearing the scream, seemed invigorated, rushing towards the first floor. Zhao Yi turned off the TV and followed out the door. On the way, Luo Qili reported her findings to Zhao Yi. "The TV programs are all repeats; could there be some hidden clue in them?" Zhao Yi didn''t answer, handed her the remaining chips, and squeezed into the crowd heading towards the corridor where the incident occurred. In the long, pale corridor, the young lady administrator sat shivering on the cold floor, her eyes fixed on the room behind the door, unmoving! Before anyone could see what was inside, the scent of blood had already wafted out. It was strong. Clearly, more than one person had died inside. Zhao Yi struggled to the doorway and looked inside. There were 11 corpses in total. Throats slit, hearts gouged, brains sliced... The victims had died in eleven different ways. Their expressions were terrified and twisted, clearly having faced extreme fear before death! Some lunatics and players couldn''t help but retch, instinctively distancing themselves! Among them, a cold-looking man with glasses walked into the room to examine the bodies. He was a player. His name was Chen Long, a forensic medicine student at Kazakhstan Medical College. He was familiar with corpses and confident he could extract some key information from them. After a simple inspection, he adjusted his glasses with a grave expression and said to his teammates outside: "These people died within the last hour!" Everyone remained silent. Zhao Yi also went in to take a look. Then he came out again, glancing down both sides of the corridor. One side was a wall with closed blinds. The other side led to the lobby. Noticing this, Zhao Yi asked the crowd: "Did anyone see someone walking down this corridor just now?" The bald Old Three raised his hand. "Old Nine and I were near the corridor entrance just now; no one walked down this corridor in the past hour... except the administrator sister." As he finished speaking, other lunatics chimed in: "Yeah, I was facing that way the whole time, didn''t see anyone go by." "Me neither!" "¡­" A faint smile crossed Zhao Yi''s lips. "Administrator sister, should we call the police?" The administrator, terrified, nodded quickly. "Call the police!" "Yes!" "Call them immediately!" PS: Only three updates today, but I have something to say! Crap... let''s put it on hold for now. Five secrets, it''s not a small number. The second story''s line is mostly laid out, but I really can''t write anymore today. I''m out of my mind. I''ll get up early tomorrow to work on the details, aiming to finish the second story in a day! Goodnight, brothers! Chapter 82 – Second Day Boy The female administrator quickly dialed the phone. When the police arrived, Zhao Yi scanned the crowd again. He suddenly noticed that the cracks in his eyes... had grown larger. A strange yet intriguing phenomenon... What exactly are these cracks? Zhao Yi had a vague suspicion. Luo Qili told Zhao Yi that she also felt the cracks in front of her had grown larger. And... there seemed to be something behind those cracks. "Could it be related to time?" "It seems like the cracks only grew larger after we entered the second day." Luo Qili was puzzled, while Zhao Yi nodded. This woman wasn''t entirely clueless. "It must be related to time, but the exact connection still needs to be observed." "For now, we need to complete the second day''s task and find the murderer." Luo Qili lowered her head in thought, her sharp gaze sweeping over the crowd, suddenly thinking of something. "The task requires us to identify the murderer before being killed... so can''t we just wait for the murderer to come for us and then point them out directly?" Zhao Yi chuckled: "Then you''ll die a horrible death." "After all... completing the main quest doesn''t mean the murderer can''t continue killing..." Luo Qili shuddered violently. She almost overlooked such an important detail! "Based on the current situation, during the murderer''s act, their power is likely to become extremely terrifying..." "At least the player can''t resist, otherwise this task would have no difficulty at all." "The player should identify the murderer during a time when the murderer isn''t killing, otherwise even if identified... you''d probably still be killed!" Zhao Yi''s analysis sent a chill through Luo Qili and the viewers in the live streaming room. It seemed like players could exploit a loophole in the system''s task... but it turned out to be a massive trap! There was a commotion outside. A group of obese, blond-haired, blue-eyed white police officers quickly arrived at the asylum and began collecting the bodies. The female administrator chattered incessantly to them, but they didn''t listen at all, even slapping her hard, muttering words like ''shit'', ''fuck'', ''bitch''. The female administrator sat on the ground, stars in her eyes, nose bleeding, covering her face and crying. Some of the lunatics came forward, carefully helping her up, saying some nonsensical words to comfort her. They were mad, but not stupid. In this asylum, the female administrator took good care of them, and there was quite a bit of affection between them. Seeing the female administrator being bullied, they were furious but didn''t dare to reprimand these white police officers. They might end up with a magazine emptied into them or a suffocation package. After all, in the eyes of those normal white people, their lives... didn''t count as lives. The police drove away with the bodies, without any investigation. After an awkward atmosphere lingered for a while, some lunatics helped the female administrator back to rest, while the rest, even if they felt terrified, could only give up reluctantly. Who would care about their life or death? They just hoped that the perverted murderer would leave the asylum soon... The crowd dispersed. Zhao Yi wanted to check out the darkroom, where he could develop photos, perhaps finding batteries or film. As he passed by room 306 next to his own, he suddenly stopped. Yesterday, before the tragedy occurred, he heard the sound of a toilet flushing from next door. And... it seemed like the toilet lid was closed before flushing. Normally, wouldn''t you watch your poop get flushed away, confirm it''s clean, and then close the lid? Could there be some psychological issue? Hmm, worth investigating. Zhao Yi knocked on the door. Knock, knock, knock! Creak¡ª S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The door opened. Inside was clean, tidy, and the air was fresh, with no strange odors. Most importantly... the toilet lid was open. A cute-looking boy appeared in front of Zhao Yi, with rosy lips and white teeth, and innocent big eyes. "Hello, is there anything I can help you with?" The boy was polite and enthusiastic. Unlike the mad patients outside. His spirit seemed quite normal. Zhao Yi chatted with him casually. The boy in this room spoke clearly and logically. The boy told Zhao Yi that when he was born, his mother abandoned him in the toilet, and it was the director of the asylum who took him in. He grew up here, and his favorite program was the preaching channel, which he watched several times or even dozens of times a day, listening to the pastor recite those words. He wanted to be a good person like a priest, helping others, bathing in holy light, and going to the blissful Eden after death. Zhao Yi glanced at the light in the boy''s room and smiled: "Is that your holy light?" The boy was stunned, looked back, and also smiled: "Yes!" "Though it''s bright, being under the light feels really warm!" Zhao Yi nodded, said goodbye to him, and headed to the darkroom. The dark red exposure seemed to provide the darkroom with a blood-like color, making people very uncomfortable. If a player''s mental endurance was slightly weaker, their sanity might be affected. After all... there was a murderer who could appear at any time in this asylum! He searched around. There was nothing related to cameras. Nor was there any film. "If the darkroom doesn''t have these things... then other places probably won''t either." "Either these items can''t be found in this task..." "Or... they''re hidden in a very peculiar place, and I need a hint from ''future me'' to find them." Zhao Yi quickly made a plan in his mind. Back in his room, Luo Qili sent a message not long after. "The floor in the room feels a bit hollow." Zhao Yi replied calmly: "There are secret passages in the asylum." "Otherwise, the murderer couldn''t drag the body into that room under everyone''s watch." After a long silence, Luo Qili sent another message. "When do we move?" Zhao Yi glanced at the room next door. "Tomorrow." "I have an idea, but I''m not sure." "I need a little time." With that, Zhao Yi turned on the TV again. He switched to the preaching channel. The priest held a scripture in one hand, reciting loudly: [Light purifies the spirit of the good] [Fire burns the flesh of the wicked] It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from ". [The great Father once said] [Only by carrying goodness purified by light and sin burned by fire can one go to the blissful Eden...] Chapter 83 – Second Day Late at night. All the patients in the asylum had returned to their rooms to rest. After the recent events, many were uneasy and unable to sleep. Especially the players. To them, time was life. They knew very well that the killer would never stop! The lights in the hallway were turned off, and a cold silence spread. All was silent. At this moment, even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard! Many players were on high alert, ready to face any impending danger. During the day, the forensic expert Chen Long was especially vigilant, with a blue flame Gatling gun on his shoulder, staring intently at the door in front of him. As expected, a series of heavy and slow footsteps echoed from the end of the hallway, making everyone who was still awake tense up! Sure enough... the killer had appeared! The footsteps slowly moved forward along the hallway, accompanied by the sound of metal scraping on the floor, making everyone¡¯s hair stand on end! Was it a knife? To make such a sound... it must weigh dozens of pounds, right? This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV. "Black-faced Zhang Fei..." The killer spoke, his voice strange. "Stealing the imperial horse!" "Red-faced Zhang Fei battles Changsha!" "Blue-faced Zhang Fei, white-faced Zhang Fei..." Who is Zhang Fei? Everyone was confused by what they heard. The person sang as he moved forward, passing Zhao Yi''s door, passing the boy''s door... all the way to Chen Long''s door at the end of the hallway and stopped. Chen Long''s heart... was in his throat! Had the killer chosen him tonight? The other party didn''t seem ready to come in and kill him immediately. Instead, there was a constant clattering outside the door, doing something unknown. The Gatling gun in Chen Long''s hand... was already preheated! As soon as the door opened, he would definitely fire immediately! Moreover... His two teammates were also ambushed in the room! Tonight, they were just waiting for the killer to fall into their trap! Chen Long''s face was ferocious. His teammates'' faces were ferocious. Open the door... open the door! For fuck''s sake, open the door! Click¡ª A sudden and subtle sound was heard. Maybe from the door, maybe from somewhere else. The next moment, The sound of a heavy object falling and a piercing scream spread throughout the entire building! A large amount of blood seeped out from under the door. Seeing the blood seeping from the door, people outside frantically knocked and pounded on the door, quickly breaking it open, and the scene inside shocked them! Everyone rushed out of their rooms, heading towards the room where the scream came from! Just as Zhao Yi was about to leave, he heard the sound of the toilet flushing next door. First, the lid was closed, then flushed. Then, the boy also left the room, following the crowd to the room at the end. As Zhao Yi passed the boy''s room, he glanced inside. The toilet lid was open, not closed. Luo Qili also noticed this and gave Zhao Yi a look. "I think your neighbor is suspicious." Zhao Yi glanced at her without speaking. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But his eyes made Luo Qili understand that Zhao Yi had been watching the boy next door for a long time. In the game, when a player dies, items disappear with the player. But in the real world and in the Tide of Demon Spirits, they don''t. However, all the players'' attention was drawn to the tragic scene of Chen Long and his teammates. But Zhao Yi noticed the Gatling gun hidden behind the door. "Please, everyone, make way, make way... I''m a doctor!" "Yes!" "Everyone, make way, I''m a doctor... alright!" Wearing a hospital gown. Among a group of patients. In an asylum. Zhao Yi squeezed into the room with the impeccable excuse of being a ''doctor.'' After a thorough investigation. The Gatling gun was in hand. Alright, investigation complete. "Based on my deduction..." "If I''m not mistaken..." Zhao Yi''s tone was heavy. Many people perked up their ears to listen. Including the players and the audience in the live streaming room. "The three people on the ground... are probably dead." Everyone: ... Audience: ... Damn! What kind of investigation was that! These three people''s heads were chopped off, don''t we know they''re dead? You clearly went in to loot the gear! Seeing Zhao Yi being so unreliable, other players couldn''t help but shift their attention to the person with a face painted with oil paint, holding a large knife. He had blood on him, a knife in hand. And he happened to be at the door of Chen Long''s room. "He''s the killer!" A particularly clever player pointed at the knife-wielding person, shouting loudly. But the system didn''t send a notification that the task was completed. Proving he was wrong. He would now face the killer''s pursuit. The player''s face turned pale, and he collapsed to the ground. "Mom!" "I''m done for!" "I can''t repay the 50,000 points I borrowed!" The accused patient took off his costume, threw away the knife, and raised his hands. "I''m not the killer!" "I just came out to slay gods!" He wiped his face, removing most of the colorful paint. Someone in the crowd exclaimed. "Old Three?" "You''re having an episode again?" Old Three indignantly said: "I''m just protecting Kara!" "Those gods have invaded Kara! Fellow patients, join me in slaying the gods!" "......" The misunderstanding was cleared, and the players helped the female manager deal with the three corpses. The white-skinned police didn''t want to waste any more time in the asylum, and no matter how much the female manager cried, it was useless. In the desolate and cold garden, three people stood side by side. Zhao Yi spoke: "Manager... although you might find it unreliable for me to say this, no one outside will come to help us now." "If we don''t find the real killer, more people will die!" "Now we can only rely on ourselves." In the past, the female manager would never trust the patients in the asylum. She knew these people''s minds were somewhat abnormal. But now... She had no choice. And the thin, handsome patient in front of her seemed very trustworthy. "I want to ask you a question." "Where has the director of this asylum gone?" The female manager wiped her tears, choking up: "The director disappeared not long ago, we contacted the police... but there''s been no news..." "Maybe the director is also..." Luo Qili curiously asked, "Didn''t you contact any reporters?" "Once this matter gets out, it should attract some attention, right?" The female manager shook her head, wiping her tears, looking troubled. "We can''t let it get out..." "The reason the asylum still receives a substantial amount of funding every year is because of the director... once news of the director''s disappearance or death gets out, the asylum will quickly fall into a financial crisis without any source of income!" Zhao Yi blinked, gently patting the female manager''s shoulder. "Alright, I understand." "Manager, you should go rest... no matter what you hear, don''t open the door." "As for the killer... we''ll help handle it!" After sending the female manager back, Luo Qili''s previously clear thoughts became muddled again. "Why did you suddenly ask about the director?" Zhao Yi''s gaze followed the hallway, through the night, locking onto a distant room. "Because I haven''t seen him, so I''m curious." "So many patients have died, and he hasn''t shown up." "As the director, that''s not right." "I had already overlooked this person, but not long ago, that boy mentioned him to me once..." Chapter 84 – Secret path of the Second Day, future incoming call Some players still didn''t sleep at night. They were too scared to. Who knows when the killer will strike next? Zhao Yi didn''t return to his room; instead, he went to find Lao San, who was slaying gods in the corridor in the middle of the night. The guy was in his room, washing his hair in the toilet. Zhao Yi patted his shoulder and said earnestly: "Lao San, the gods have already invaded Kala Asylum." Upon hearing this, Lao San immediately pulled his head out of the toilet, took a deep breath, and looked excited. "Are you going to slay gods with me?" Zhao Yi nodded slightly. "But one god has already sneaked into the asylum." "It''s hiding in the shadows, slaughtering the good people of the Kara Kingdom." "Do me a favor, and tomorrow I''ll root it out!" Lao San got excited at once. "What do you need me to do?" "Tomorrow during the day, help me take that guy from room 306 to the chapel to pray..." "Alright!" ... The next morning. Players were still searching every corner of the asylum, exchanging some rather useless information. Some skilled players noticed the problem with the secret passage. But they had no way to start. After breakfast, the young man was taken to the chapel by Lao San to pray. Luo Qili fiddled with an iron wire for a long time and opened the door to the young man''s room. The two entered. Zhao Yi searched briefly and found a notebook under the young man''s pillow. It was scribbled messily. ... "Mom said I''m a freak and sent me to the asylum, then never came back." ... "The Director took me in. He''s nice to me, never hits me, and even wipes my tears." ... "The Director is so nice... I want to go to heaven with him." ... "The Director went blind and can no longer feel the holy light." ... "I must get the Director to heaven!" ... "There must be a way???" ... "No matter what the cost!" ... The ink stains on the notebook became more and more sinister as it went on. Bright red, full of madness! It made one''s heart race. "He... wouldn''t kill the Director, would he?" Luo Qili''s face was grave. Clearly, this young man was not as innocent as he appeared. He had severe psychological issues. And a person with mental illness... could do anything! "What a delicious aroma... a taste I''ve never experienced." Zhao Yi muttered to himself. Luo Qili glanced at Zhao Yi curiously. "What aroma?" Zhao Yi blinked his bright eyes: "Did I say something?" "You must have misheard." Luo Qili: "..." Only now did she understand why many people who watched Zhao Yi''s live stream said Zhao Yi was mentally unstable. The soul-crushing pressure and terror he exuded while killing were completely absent in his usual demeanor. This Zhao Yi seemed like a completely different person from the one who had countered her before. "This young man deceived me." Zhao Yi chuckled, not angry. "I had a brief conversation with him yesterday." "He said his mother abandoned him in the toilet." "Now it seems he has deep defenses against me." Luo Qili glanced at Zhao Yi. "I think he did the right thing." Zhao Yi: "Get out of here!" Support us at . After searching the room thoroughly, Zhao Yi focused on the toilet. Hmm... describing it like this is a bit disgusting. He focused on the pristine toilet. "This kid not only hasn''t used the toilet but also cleans it daily." Zhao Yi said seriously. In Lao San''s room, he washed his hair in the toilet, yet that toilet wasn''t as clean as the one in the young man''s room. He reached out and pressed the flush button. Whoosh¡ª The sound of flushing echoed. But... no water. Goodness! Is this the emperor''s new toilet? Only smart people can see the water? After a moment of silence, Zhao Yi tried to move the toilet. No luck. But when he changed the way he applied force, one side of the toilet actually flipped up! Below was a dark, narrow staircase leading underground. The two exchanged a glance. Charge. Zhao Yi walked behind, and after they went down, he carefully placed the lightweight fake toilet back. The familiar sound of the toilet lid closing echoed. The audience in the live streaming room immediately understood. ... : Holy crap! So that''s where the toilet lid sound came from?! : My brother Zhao is amazing! He notices even such details? : Truly unbelievable... : I''m betting! I guess this young man is the killer! : I''m in! : Let''s wait and see, I feel... things aren''t that simple... ... The two of them followed the secret passage downward. It was only then they realized the passage twisted and turned, extending to various parts of the asylum within the walls! Moreover, the passage was filled with light bulbs, the strong light blinding! "No wonder... no wonder he can kill without anyone noticing!" Luo Qili was utterly shocked. There was actually a small world within the walls of this asylum! Ring ring ring¡ª As the two were deciding which path to take, a strange phone ringtone came from below. How... is there a phone here? The two exchanged a glance and quickly followed the sound of the phone. "With these flashing lights... an uninformed viewer might think I''m heading to the M78 Nebula Light Country to fight monsters!" Zhao Yi quipped, finally arriving at a secret room. The floor had a strange sticky black liquid. Stepping on it felt like glue, uncomfortable. Inside the secret room, it was equally bright. Because it was bright, the two could clearly see that the walls, furniture, and floor... were all covered in the liquid. Luo Qili, very cautious, took out her Soul Weapon¡ªthe Sharp Silk, and set up an ambush on paths where monsters might appear. Zhao Yi walked into the room and picked up the black phone. This time, it was still his own voice. "The number for this phone is..." "The film is in the toilet, take it, it''s important." "The reward for the side quest can be installed on the camera, don''t lose the camera..." "After the second day ends, go to an underground beast fighting base..." After that, the other party hung up. Zhao Yi squinted his eyes. This time, there was no noise on the other end of the phone, unlike last time. Last time, the phone was not only noisy but also accompanied by countless shrill screams. Zhao Yi glanced at the toilet, which indeed contained film, but also a pile of black goo, looking very disgusting. But could this stump Zhao Yi? No. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his clean and delicate arm. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His face was resolute. There was a sense of going to his death. Then... He patted Luo Qili''s shoulder. "Little Luo..." Luo Qili turned her head, full of vigilance. "What?" Zhao Yi blinked his big eyes, sparkling. "The future me just called and said... to ask you to help me get that camera film out of the toilet..." ... PS: 1. A little Easter egg. By the third day''s story, you''ll understand why Zhao Yi''s spirit is 100+1 and not 101. 2. I really shouldn''t have dragged it so late, I reflect on this, and I''ll change tomorrow, sorry for delaying your sleep, brothers. 3. Get some rest, brothers, good night! Chapter 85 – The Truth of Second Day... Terrifying Monster Luo Qili glanced at the stains in the toilet, her stomach churning. "Did your future self... really say that?" Zhao Yi nodded, "Yes... although I really want to help you with this dirty work." "But if we accidentally change something, leading to unknown changes in the future, that wouldn''t be good..." Luo Qili was taken aback by Zhao Yi''s words, scrutinizing his face filled with ''sincerity'' with a doubtful gaze. Hmm... doesn''t seem like he''s lying. Luo Qili gritted her teeth, rolled up her sleeves. Bent over. Stuck her butt out. Suppressing the urge to vomit, she reached her hand into the toilet. The black slime was like a non-Newtonian fluid, sticky and slippery to the touch. As Luo Qili stirred it continuously, it made a ''gurgling'' sound. Soon, she found the film roll and, with a look of utter disgust, went to the corner to rinse it with tap water! Zhao Yi stood by the desk, examining the many documents laid out on it. The documents were carefully decorated with kraft paper and tied with string. On the corners of the documents, there were some strange words. ¡ª(crossed out) Foundation. "Foundation?" Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow in surprise. A new clue. Opening the folder, it contained a set of experimental data, with X-3 written on the cover. Seeing these three characters, Zhao Yi got excited! "Another X series... so this series of experiments is related to the Foundation?" "So, the underground experimental base at Rockridge High School, Li Sheng, the Mayor of City A... are all part of the Foundation''s influence?" "Could it be that this time''s Tide of Demon Spirits theme is also connected to the Foundation?" Zhao Yi''s mind raced. (crossed out) Foundation. A vast and extremely mysterious organization. [We control, we contain, we protect...] Cute my ass! After a brief silence, she followed the clues to analyze further: "So... the murderer isn''t this boy, but the Director who was made into X-3 by the boy?" Zhao Yi replied, "Not exactly." "Strictly speaking, both are murderers." "It''s just that the boy is an indirect murderer, while the Director is the direct murderer." "The boy''s mother threw him into the asylum back then, probably because she discovered he was a freak..." "Apart from being mentally unstable, he likely had other extraordinary abilities... like being able to run and pee at the same time!" Luo Qili: ? Live Streaming Room: ? Hmm... Seems like a rather strange example. "So... there are two murderers?" Luo Qili wasn''t slow-witted; she quickly grasped the situation. "Yes." Zhao Yi fell into recollection. "Actually, from the moment I started suspecting the boy, I was curious... all the other clues and guesses made sense... the only thing that didn''t was his scent." "There wasn''t a hint of blood on him." "That''s what made me hesitate." "Now I finally understand... he didn''t leave his room to kill... " "But to give orders for the Director to kill!" This explains why there was no blood scent on the boy. "Doesn''t that mean... the Director is in this secret passage now?" Luo Qili instantly became tense! A monster capable of silently killing three players... definitely not an ordinary foe! If it''s in this secret passage... doesn''t that mean the two of them are already in danger? "If the Director was modified as a vessel, then X-3 likely has no vision, only hearing." Zhao Yi speculated, and just then, the phone suddenly rang. Ring ring¡ª They exchanged a glance, and Zhao Yi answered the phone. Inside... it was Luo Qili''s voice! "Hello?" "Zhao Yi... you SOB!" "???" "Dammit! Clearly, your future self told you to get the film from the toilet, but you tricked me into doing it!" Zhao Yi coughed a few times at her words. "Cough cough... don''t mind the details." "Give the phone to me!" "Alright!" Zhao Yi handed the phone to Luo Qili, who took it, and after a brief silence, her gaze towards Zhao Yi gradually turned murderous! "Hmph!" She couldn''t do anything to Zhao Yi, so she just snorted to express her dissatisfaction. Hung up the phone. A strange sound suddenly came from outside the wall. The sound was thick and eerie, like a blob of mud sticking to the wall, beginning to... squirm. The two immediately heightened their senses, hiding in the corner. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Outside, the nearby corridor was lined with Luo Qili''s Soul Weapon sharp threads. If these threads, sharper than blades, were disturbed, Luo Qili would sense it immediately. As the strange sound got closer, Luo Qili''s body began to tremble... The opponent passed through her Soul Weapon! But it didn''t die! And through the vibrations from the Soul Weapon, she could see the situation outside in advance! "What... on earth is this thing..." Chapter 86 – Death of X-3 on the Second Day It was hard to describe the oppressive feeling that thing brought. It crawled along the wall, but had no legs, its entire body resembling a slime, completely liquid. The black mucus covering its body emitted a foul stench, and from the white steam rising from it, it was clear the temperature was extremely high. It slithered across the wall. When it passed through the sharp wires set up by Luo Qili, it didn''t pause at all. The wires sliced through its body but caused it no harm. Just as Zhao Yi had speculated, X-3 had no eyes. And it also had no vision. But that didn''t mean it couldn''t ''see'' the two of them. In the instant when a murderous intent like a blooming flower locked onto them, the scalpel in Zhao Yi''s hand transformed into a stream of light and struck the creature''s body! Squelch! Taking the initiative, the scalpel plunged into the monster''s body, chaotic damage erupting like a shattered silver bottle, causing the monster to let out a terrible howl! The sound wasn''t loud, but it carried intense pollution! Although Zhao Yi ignored it, Luo Qili''s eyes became unfocused. But she wasn''t one to be trifled with; she immediately punctured her own eardrum and pulled out a crossbow bolt, shooting it fiercely at X-3! The bolt was coated with the deadly poison ''Corrosion of Decay''! However, when the bolt pierced the monster''s body, it failed to cause any harm! "The difference in strength is too great; the Plunderer has a hard time devouring its life force." Feeling the message from the Devourer, Zhao Yi immediately abandoned the ''life for a life'' tactic. Hiss! The monster entered the room, spewing a large amount of black liquid at the two of them, the liquid extremely hot! Anything it touched would surely be burned and blistered! Fortunately, the room was spacious, giving them space to dodge. Zhao Yi grabbed the Foundation''s documents from the table and said to Luo Qili: "Hold it off, give me a few minutes!" Luo Qili was stunned by his words. "Me, alone?" Zhao Yi shouted: "What else?" Luo Qili looked at the approaching X-3, utterly bewildered! Damn it! This thing must be something only players above level fifteen can face head-on, right? Even if I risk my life, I can''t hold it off for you! Am I going to have to use... that thing so soon? Hiss! Just as Luo Qili hesitated, a strange black shadow swept toward her slender neck! The feeling of death enveloped her in an instant! Her body''s survival instinct kicked in, and she dodged the fatal strike by sheer reflex! Her gaze swept over. The black shadow was actually a tooth as sharp as a blade! It was still attached to black, viscous gums! Swish! X-3 retracted its tooth, preparing for a second attack on Luo Qili! This time, Luo Qili dared not have any reservations, hurriedly pulling out an item and throwing it fiercely at X-3! It was a... two-meter-tall rooster! ... [Item: Chicken You Are Too Beautiful] [Quality: Blue] [Description: A custom idol toy made by Chaotic Realm Entertainment Co. for the famous meme star Kun Kun during the 2021 New Year''s Eve gala on Blue Star, as a reward for the joy and laughter Kun Kun brought over the years.] [Effect: Taunt. For one minute, forces all hostile targets around you to attack Chicken You Are Too Beautiful until it dies or the taunt time ends.] [Note: Ineffective on players with a Spirit value above 95.] [Kun Kun''s Message: When I first put it at home, the whole family''s combat skills noticeably improved. Last June, my wife playfully punched my chest, and I only woke up from the hospital this May.] ... The rooster held a speaker in its left hand and dribbled a basketball with its right, its eyes sharp, staring at the sludge monster in front of it. The sludge monster seemed infuriated by the speaker in Chicken You Are Too Beautiful''s hand and shot its black mucus at it! Splat! The mucus landed on Chicken You Are Too Beautiful, but didn''t cause much damage. After all, it was a toy designed by Chaotic Realm Entertainment Co., though the material inside was unknown, it was indeed durable! This item was a gift from a boss in the Call to Arms guild, meant for this Tide of Demon Spirits! Originally, Luo Qili wanted to save it, but now it seemed she had no choice! Hiss! Seeing that the mucus attack was ineffective, X-3 used its teeth. Three at a time, the sharp teeth were bizarrely shaped, deliberately sharpened into weapon-like points, and they viciously tore through Chicken You Are Too Beautiful''s surface, hacking at its frame! For a moment, the sound of intense metal clashing echoed through the corridor! "Zhao Yi!" "Are you done yet?" "Chicken You Are Too Beautiful can''t hold on much longer!" Luo Qili called out anxiously, having come this far, she didn''t want to die! She hadn''t even kissed a man yet! The cat she exchanged 5 points for in the guild was still waiting for her to return and feed it cat food! If she died here, that stupid bestie would definitely feed the cat sausages! Cats eating sausages would shed fur... ... For a moment, countless random thoughts flashed before her eyes. Until Zhao Yi''s excited voice rang out: "Indeed!" "Haha!" "I knew it!" Luo Qili''s eyes lit up at his words. "You found X-3''s weakness?!" Zhao Yi: "No." A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled. "I just realized I was holding the blueprint upside down." Luo Qili: "..." Live Streaming Room audience: "..." "Bastard!" "At a time like this, don''t joke around!" "I can''t hold on much longer!" Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hurry up!" Luo Qili was about to go crazy! Not far away, Chicken You Are Too Beautiful... its feathers were almost all plucked! Zhao Yi casually replied: "Uh-huh..." "Almost... don''t rush, let me see..." "X-3... hmm, there''s an asphalt core..." "Okay, I''m done reading." Zhao Yi closed the file. Just as X-3 tore open Chicken You Are Too Beautiful, its teeth flying toward Luo Qili''s face, Zhao Yi flipped out a control card: Old Liu''s Property Deed! At the same time, he wielded the scalpel and instantly closed in, the blade flashing like a dragon, dissecting X-3 with incredibly exquisite skill! He only had ten seconds! The asphalt core could be anywhere on X-3''s massive body! And X-3 was huge, Zhao Yi didn''t have time to dissect it completely! If he couldn''t find the asphalt core by the seventh second, he would have to throw all of X-3''s flesh into the Shredder! 3S... 5S... Zhao Yi''s expression changed, in this moment of utmost seriousness, the data hidden by the system reappeared in his eyes! 7S... "Found it!" "Golden Legend!" Ignoring the scalding heat, Zhao Yi grasped a glass bead emitting a black, evil light in his hand, and the next moment, he fiercely drove the scalpel''s tip into X-3''s asphalt core! [Congratulations on killing X-3] [Your Soul Weapon has been enhanced.] [Evil Deity Meme reconstruction in progress... 0.1%... reconstruction failed... insufficient energy... meme reconstruction paused, please keep up the effort!] [In this meme reconstruction, you gained 20 Strength points and acquired the ability ''Photosynthesis.''] [Photosynthesis: When exposed to light, you can survive without breathing, as your body will produce oxygen on its own.] Chapter 87 – Second Day Chapter 87: "Second Day" Mission Complete [Through combat and dissection, your Body Strengthening Domain has improved, Strength +1] ... Kala Asylum, Chapel. The young man was being dragged along by Lao San, who kept chattering about the God Slayer and enthusiastically invited him to join their growing team! The young man was absent-minded, not paying attention to what Lao San was saying at all. It wasn''t until Lao San mentioned Zhao Yi that the young man suddenly snapped to attention! From the first time he met Zhao Yi, he had been wary of this man! There seemed to be something hidden about him, and through those calm eyes, he saw something that made his very soul tremble... Now Lao San suddenly told him that Zhao Yi had sent him to bring him to the chapel to pray. The young man thought of some unpleasant things and immediately shook off Lao San, quickly running towards his own room! As soon as he opened the door, his expression changed! Someone had been in his room! Damn bastard! When you''re just trying to make great content at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. The young man''s handsome face suddenly twisted with rage! He quickly locked his door, then pulled open the toilet, entering the secret passage below! As he moved forward, the presence of another person made his face grow even darker. When did that damn bastard start paying attention to him? How did he know there was a secret passage under his toilet? If he found him... He would tear him to pieces! But the Director was also here... perhaps they had already been dealt with by the Director? Thinking of this, the young man''s expression improved slightly. He continued forward. Everything here was so familiar to him! Soon, the young man arrived at his room. As soon as he entered, his face turned green! The floor was covered in sticky asphalt, and the body of his beloved Director was chopped into pieces, scattered around the room. And in the middle... sat two people. A man and a woman. Playing cards. "You¡¯re too weak, you can''t win with 7 King 523, you can''t win with 24 points, and you still can''t win at train..." "Playing poker with you is an insult to my intelligence." Zhao Yi pouted, tossing the cards on the floor. Opposite him, Luo Qili stared blankly at the ground, her eyes bloodshot. She had lost 200 points to Zhao Yi. It might not seem like much. But one hand... one point. She was starting to question her life. Clearly, it was a game of luck, so why... Did she keep losing? In the live streaming room, a large number of viewers were mourning for her. Some even laughed sadly! "You... you... damn it!!" Behind them, the young man was trembling with rage, unable to speak clearly! Zhao Yi calmly stood up, dusted off his clothes, and turned around with a smile: "Yo!" "The main character is here!" "I just happened to have something to tell you..." The young man''s twisted face was filled with a strange expression, his eyes glowing a faint blue, his tone seemed terrified, seemed ferocious, and seemed cruel... "You... you actually dared to kill the Director..." "How dare you?!" "He... was supposed to die with me in the flames!" "You''ve prevented the Director from going to heaven... I will avenge him!" "I will... kill you!" His aura kept rising, veins bulging! Seeing his bizarre appearance, Luo Qili immediately pulled out her poison crossbow, aiming at the young man, but the poison arrow stopped halfway! The young man''s mental power had directly transformed into telekinesis! Zhao Yi stared behind the young man, exclaiming: "Holy crap!" "Is he alive again?" The young man was inexplicably delighted, instinctively turning his head. Swish! Zhao Yi''s scalpel sliced through, severing his head, which fell to the ground, blood gushing out. Luo Qili: "?" Live streaming room audience: "?" ... : Damn... is it over just like that? sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. : I thought Zhao Yi was going to wait for this BOSS to transform... Damn, no honor! : Damn! The simplest trick, the most badass effect! : It has to be my brother Zhao! : Unfortunately, no matter how powerful this young man was, he was still just a person... As everyone knows, when a person is killed, they die. ... The young man, despite having his head severed, didn''t die immediately due to the mysterious power within him. But he was beyond saving. Zhao Yi looked at the head on the ground, full of regret. The cooked duck had flown away. After holding back for a long time, the young man''s face showed an angry frustration, using his last mental strength to create a mechanical-like electronic sound in the air, accusing Zhao Yi of his shameless act: "Damn it!" "You sneak attacked!" "You can''t play fair!" "You little trash, you have no strength!" "You don''t even dare to face me directly!" "What''s the point of playing!" "Skr! Skr!" Zhao Yi pointed at the young man and said: "Alright, rest in peace." "I know you and the Director were the murderers in the asylum!" The young man''s eyes rolled back, unable to say goodbye, he died on the spot. ... [Congratulations to the players for completing the main quest ''Find the Real Culprit''.] [Congratulations to players Zhao Yi and Luo Qili for completing the side quest ''Kill the Real Culprit''.] [Based on participation, player Zhao Yi receives 100 experience, Luo Qili receives 75 experience, other players receive no experience.] [Side quest rewards have been sent via mail, please check!] ... Receiving the mission rewards, Zhao Yi leveled up to level 5. [Character: Zhao Yi] [Level: 5] [Experience: 25/200] [Items: Old Liu''s Property Deed, Substitute Doll, Crusher (Shotgun), Butcher''s Carefully Cooked Soup, Blue Flame Gatling Gun, Shredder] [Life: 25/25] [Strength: 57] [Spirit: 101 (100+1)] [Luck: 0] [Soul Weapon: Bloodstained Scalpel (Plunder)] ... Extracting the mission reward¡ªMurderer''s Eye. It turned out to be something like a lens. It could actually be mounted on his camera! The private collection given by the Clown could also be extracted... but it had to be in the big world. Zhao Yi was speechless. What the hell. Watching Luo Qili happily checking her rewards, Zhao Yi leaned closer: "What¡¯s your side quest reward?" Luo Qili warily replied: "What do you want?" Zhao Yi: "Just asking." Luo Qili hesitated for a moment, then took out the side quest reward¡ªa mobile phone. But it had no battery. Looking at Luo Qili''s phone, Zhao Yi suddenly laughed: "I get it." "So this is the logical loop of time and space..." PS: Thank you all for reading! Good night, brothers! Chapter 88 – Familiar from the Third Day... Bal "What have you figured out?" Luo Qili looked at Zhao Yi with curiosity. Zhao Yi grabbed the phone from her hand and flipped through it, explaining as he did: "The clues for this Tide of Demon Spirits are time and space, and logical loops." "Time and space are simple. You can think of it as within our range, at different points in time, there are countless versions of us." Luo Qili''s eyes lit up at his words. "I know this!" "Parallel spaces, right?" Zhao Yi snapped his fingers. "Bingo!" "In countless parallel spaces, there are countless versions of us, reacting in countless different ways. They are chaotic, distributed without logic, with timelines intricately intertwined." "Among them, there''s only one possibility to clear the level." "And that is to establish the correct logical loop!" Luo Qili pondered for a moment. "I don''t quite get it. Can you simplify it?" Zhao Yi returned the phone, which had no battery, to Luo Qili and explained: "If we start from day one, then there are countless possibilities ahead¡ªwe might win, we might lose... we might even die." "Because... the future is unpredictable." "But what if there''s a future that''s predetermined, and it''s just searching for the right past it needs among countless parallel spaces?" Luo Qili shuddered! "......" Zhao Yi''s words had a profound impact on her! From their current perspective, the future holds countless possibilities. But from the perspective of their future selves who have successfully cleared the Tide of Demon Spirits... there is only one ''past''! What they need to do is strive to align themselves with this correct ''past'' timeline and reach the right outcome! "I understand now..." "Our future selves called our past selves, giving us hints, so we could follow ''their'' guidance into the correct timeline..." "And to complete this logical loop, we must also call our past selves at the right approximate time and place, giving the same hints!" "Only then... can we complete a correct time-space logical loop!" Zhao Yi looked at her with approval. "That''s about right." "If I''m not mistaken, your phone should have the ability to contact the past, but it currently has no battery..." "The battery should be obtained in the next location¡ªthe dungeon of the third day." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Qili digested this massive information while heading with Zhao Yi to the third dungeon. The air wall outside had already opened. Zhao Yi glanced back; the asylum no longer looked like a place full of embers. There were quite a few patients inside, and the female administrator was among them, waving goodbye to the two. Ha, accidentally became a savior. Damn! Really did something bad! Zhao Yi made up his mind; he couldn''t be so kind-hearted in the future. "What are you thinking about?" Having established a solid and firm cooperative relationship, Luo Qili was no longer as guarded against Zhao Yi as before. Zhao Yi replied: "There''s still one puzzle we haven''t solved." Luo Qili understood. "The crack in the eye, right?" Zhao Yi muttered: "I actually have a guess, but... I can''t be sure yet." "In this dungeon, there''s only one timeline leading to the correct outcome. We must be cautious, cautious, and more cautious!" "If I''m not mistaken... when we reach the sixth or seventh day, there will be other tricky challenges." Luo Qili asked curiously: "Why are you so sure?" Zhao Yi chuckled: "Of course, the system, that bastard, said it would show me some color last time (¡ª¡ªdata deleted¡ª¡ª)." [Detected Player Zhao Yi insulting the system, muted for three minutes!] Zhao Yi: "......" ... In the live streaming room. : LOL, justice served! : Back in the beginner dungeon, Brother Zhao was so decisive, and now... he''s become such a show-off. : Maybe he wasn''t familiar with the environment back then, and his true nature hadn''t erupted yet, hahahaha... : ... ... Following the guidance from the phone, Zhao Yi and Luo Qili arrived at an underground arena. It wasn''t yet the dawn of the third day, so the dungeon hadn''t opened. But quite a few players had already gathered here. The air wall had risen. "Looking at this terrain, the third day''s dungeon... is likely a competition among players..." Luo Qili''s lashes lowered, her gaze sharp. This wasn''t what she wanted to see! Players might not be as powerful as monsters in the dungeon, but the items they held and their cunning were threats monsters never possessed. More importantly, there was a strong sense of vigilance among each other! And if it came to a direct battle, the role of cunning would be greatly reduced! Neither she nor Zhao Yi was particularly strong in direct combat. Hmm... Zhao Yi might be, but she certainly wasn''t. Once a melee broke out... Luo Qili''s heart sank to the bottom. The two went to scout the terrain, but suddenly a man approached them from not far away. He had no teammates and looked like a loner. A sinister smile hung on his face, with a hint of eerie madness. This sinister smile was more like a forced grin, and just from his appearance, he already exerted immense pressure on Luo Qili! The surrounding players seemed very afraid of this man, keeping their distance. Luo Qili tugged at Zhao Yi''s sleeve, wanting him to avoid this man, but soon... she realized that this man was heading straight for them! "Hello, Dr. Zhao!" Bal grinned, reaching out to pat Zhao Yi on the shoulder, revealing a terrifying smile. He vaguely remembered meeting Zhao Yi for the first time a few years ago. He stood by the blood-filled swimming pool in his garden, slitting the throat of an old lady with a sack over her head. Zhao Yi had approached him slowly, patting his shoulder. And revealed a smile... that left a lifelong psychological shadow on him. "Hello, Bal..." Pair?¡¯K¡¯a PS: Continuing after dinner, got delayed by something today, sorry! Chapter 89 – The First Game of The Third Day "After all these years, your talent has successfully surpassed your father''s." Zhao Yi sincerely sighed, but Bal suddenly grabbed Zhao Yi by the collar, his face filled with anger: "Don''t mention that old man to me... he''s the disgrace of our family!" As he said this, he slowly released Zhao Yi, smoothing out the wrinkles on Zhao Yi''s collar with a smile: "This is all your fault... but it''s okay, it''s okay..." "Heaven has given you and me a chance to correct our mistakes..." "The game ahead is so much fun, playing alone is too boring, come play with me!" Zhao Yi exclaimed in surprise: "Is there really such a good thing?" Bal''s smile stiffened. Zhao Yi muttered to himself: "Actually, not long ago, I visited your family again, just to find you." "But you weren''t there." "At that time, I felt deep regret... after raising for so long... how could it just disappear..." Veins appeared on Bal''s forehead, his expression gradually breaking down, as he pressed his index finger hard against Zhao Yi''s chest: "Zhao Yi... listen to me..." "The disgrace of my family will be washed away with your blood!" "But don''t worry, I won''t kill you so quickly..." "Crushing an ant is too boring... on the third day of the game, let''s take our time!" Zhao Yi smiled slightly. "Alright, Mr. Bal." "Wish you have fun in this game!" Bal''s face returned to that sinister smile, as if nothing had happened, and he walked away. Seeing Bal walk away, Luo Qili cautiously asked: "Do you two have a grudge?" Zhao Yi shook his head, excitement suppressed in his eyes. "How can a chef have a grudge against the ingredients?" Luo Qili was stunned, not understanding what Zhao Yi meant. The two continued to observe the terrain. Inside the invisible wall, there was a large dome. Although it was quite damaged, once the dungeon started, everyone would be thrown into an independent space-time, and in that space-time, the dome imprisoning everyone was intact. "A beast cage fight?" Zhao Yi pondered slightly. This terrain clearly indicated a challenge. There were three stages in total. And there were a lot of players. So... Most of them would inevitably die in the process! Everyone rested in the underground beast fighting area until the early hours of the third day. Not more, not less, exactly at that second. Zhao Yi saw the crack in front of him widen a bit more. Even... like shattered glass, some fragments fell out. Through that gap, Zhao Yi saw behind him... a chilling blood-red! Immediately, all the players present lost consciousness... ... [Main Quest: Survive and complete the challenge] [Quest Reward: 150 Experience] [Side Quest: Find and kill the mastermind] [Side Quest Reward: A viewfinder that can shatter space-time (different players receive different rewards)] ... Bzzz¡ª An unpleasant electric current sound rang out. Then, a blinding white light. The players were not quite used to this intense light. But Zhao Yi seemed very accustomed. The superiority brought by photosynthesis was evident. For most flash-type weapons... Zhao Yi was basically immune. "Photosynthesis... is my body producing oxygen?" Zhao Yi held his breath, carefully sensing. Hmm... S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He felt something. Suddenly, he stuck out his butt and farted at Luo Qili beside him. "Xiao Luo, catch it!" "This breath of oxygen, at least twenty years of power!" Luo Qili, who had just regained consciousness, turned green and kicked Zhao Yi directly. "Get lost, you bastard!" She finally understood why her future self would call back to scold Zhao Yi! This guy was really too much! The players in the live streaming room couldn''t hold it anymore. Ever since Zhao Yi finished the terrifying ghost school dungeon, the style had become more and more chaotic! When the players slowly adapted to the situation in front of them, they realized they were already inside a huge dome, the glass of which was made of some unknown material, and no matter what weapons they used, they couldn''t leave any marks on the dome! "What are the game rules?" A player shouted. The sound of electricity grew stronger, and everyone couldn''t help but cover their ears. Just when many couldn''t bear it anymore, the electric sound finally disappeared. A grand voice came from a high platform inside the dome: [Welcome everyone to the arena to participate in the Abalone Game!] [The first game is called ''Sacrifice''.] [The game rules are very simple¡ªwithin thirty minutes, leave this hall and proceed to the next game through the doors on the left and right.] [Of course... there are 600 of you here, but once 100 people pass through each door, it will completely close!] [After thirty minutes, both doors will also completely close!] [Afterwards, the square will emit a large amount of deadly poison gas!] [The consequences... I don''t need to describe...] [Now... the game begins!] The voice disappeared, and a large clock above everyone''s heads began counting down! Seeing the countdown begin, the players closest to the doors immediately ran towards them like mad! They had the advantage of location, as long as they ran through those doors, they would complete the first task! Only... a hundred meters away! For their physical fitness, it was merely six or seven seconds! However... these players clearly underestimated the murderous intent of the others! In just a brief two or three seconds of hesitation, the square was filled with the sound of gunfire as if by tacit agreement! Countless tongues of fire spewed forth! Shells flew! They... didn''t even need to aim! Just pouring firepower at the doors was enough! So those players who tried to run through the doors were mostly killed or injured in the first moment! The remaining few realized what was happening, took out items to try to fend off the countless bullets and mysterious attacks, but it was basically like a mantis trying to stop a car! Nearly a hundred people ran towards the doors, but in the end, only a mere two or three made it through! In just a few seconds, the entrances to the two doors were littered with corpses soaked in blood! This hellish scene immediately cut off the idea of other players trying to force their way through the doors! Who could face the concentrated attack of so many people? Luo Qili looked at the doors, a strange look on her face. If her special item ''Chicken You Are Too Beautiful'' was still around, perhaps their chances of breaking through the doors with the ''Adulterer''s Skateboard'' would be higher. But the ''Chicken You Are Too Beautiful'' toy was lost in the previous day''s dungeon. She clenched her fists, already starting to feel anxious. Half an hour¡ª The time left for them... was very little! No more players headed towards the doors, so the attacks also stopped. It seemed they had tacitly reached some subtle balance. As long as no one approached those two doors, there would be no killing. In the crowd, a sinister gaze locked onto Zhao Yi. It was Bal! He didn''t take this opportunity to attack Zhao Yi. Having waited so many years, he didn''t mind waiting a moment longer. A dish with a good taste... should always be savored last! He excitedly licked his dry lips, his eyes showing obsession and madness! At this moment, Zhao Yi wasn''t focusing on the two entrances to the next game, but was looking around, seemingly searching for something important... PS: Sorry guys, only two chapters today, I need to work on the outline for the next story, can''t write smoothly without it. Regarding Zhao Yi''s Spirit 100+1 issue, it will be revealed in this story, if not, you can chop off my head and kick it like a ball. Rest early, brothers, at least three updates tomorrow, aiming for four. Good night!! Chapter 90 – Third Day Butcher Soup "What are you looking at?" Luo Qili asked softly. The two of them were in a corner, with players keeping a fair distance from each other. Now that they were in a competitive relationship, their vigilance towards each other had reached its peak. The atmosphere was tense, like a drawn sword, full of gunpowder! They were just missing a trigger and a reason to act. Though the game was named Sacrifice, players capable of entering the Tide of Demon Spirits were not the kind to willingly sacrifice their interests or even their lives for others! Zhao Yi''s gaze swept across the corners of the square. Ever since he devoured X-3 and the Evil Deity Meme was rebuilt, he could see a bit more information now. With the information marked, Zhao Yi could easily see the tiny details invisible to many. "I''m looking at the pinhole cameras." "There are 67 pinhole cameras in the hall, capable of observing every corner... That''s a good thing." Luo Qili tensed up immediately upon hearing this. Knowing that everything she did was under someone else''s surveillance, it was hard not to feel nervous. "Being monitored, and you think that''s a good thing?" Luo Qili didn''t know how to retort Zhao Yi. She now realized Zhao Yi was even crazier than the rumors suggested. Zhao Yi pointed with his eyes to the corner near the red door on the left side of the square and said: "See that corner?" "I''ll die there later, with my butt up." Luo Qili: "???" She glanced at Zhao Yi beside her in shock, wondering what kind of madness he was up to now. "Are you... joking?" Zhao Yi replied: "No, I''m serious..." "Then, you''ll have to complete the main quest alone... But if luck is on our side, I might be able to give you some help." Luo Qili wasn''t stupid. Hearing this, she vaguely guessed what Zhao Yi intended to do. "Isn''t it too risky?" Zhao Yi shook his head slightly. "If I''m not mistaken, your side quest reward is a phone battery, right?" Luo Qili nodded. Zhao Yi continued: "We must get the battery as quickly as possible... Since the future ''us'' guided us to come here on the third day to get the battery, it''s very likely that today we need to call the ''us'' from the first day to start completing the logical loop!" "Even if the location doesn''t match, at least the timing must. The sooner we can use the phone, the more likely we are to fit the correct timeline!" Luo Qili understood. If on the original correct timeline, they called on the first day at six in the afternoon of the third day to give a hint, but because they completed the side quest too late on the third day, and the phone could only be dialed at seven or eight, then they might enter another... incorrect timeline! For example, on this incorrect timeline, Zhao Yi on the first day had already left the hotel and gone elsewhere, and the guiding phone call in the empty room came too late! "What do you want to do?" Luo Qili wasn''t optimistic. Zhao Yi said: "Very simple, we do this, then that, and then this..." After hearing Zhao Yi''s plan, Luo Qili showed a puzzled expression. How is this different from courting death? "First, give me the flashlight." Luo Qili handed Zhao Yi a flashlight. He tried it out. Very handy. "What do you need the flashlight for?" Zhao Yi replied without looking up: "To perform photosynthesis." Luo Qili: "..." ... In the live streaming room: : Damn photosynthesis... Are you a plant or what? : Poor Luo Qili, stuck with such a crazy teammate... Not only can''t argue, but can''t even beat him... : Is there a possibility... that he''s telling the truth? S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. : Impossible! Absolutely impossible! (Cao Cao meme) : Brother Zhao''s thought process is beyond us mere mortals; we really can''t predict his next move... : ... ... Time passed. The tension in the air grew thicker, and some players had already begun to focus their murderous intent on weaker players in small areas! Two doors, only 200 people could pass through. But there were... 600! Counting those who had died earlier, about five hundred were left! To safely survive the first round... at least three hundred more must die! Killing one more person meant a slightly higher chance of survival! Thus, small-scale chaos began to erupt. Many players took out various cold weapons or small pistols and started attacking those around them! Splat! Someone''s throat was slit, unable to scream, with blood bubbling out, making a gurgling sound. Crack! Someone else had their spine silently snapped, collapsing to the ground. In the crowd, although chaos erupted, most people still didn''t act. It wasn''t out of conscience but to preserve their strength. Cold observers often wielded the sharpest butcher knives! Bal hid among the crowd, and this killer managed to restrain himself from acting, leaving the viewers in the live streaming room completely baffled. Had Bal changed? Of course not. The only reason he held back was Zhao Yi. When a diner faces a dish they desire, they naturally won''t focus on inferior food. Especially this dish... he''d been thinking about it for years! From youth to adulthood! Today... he could finally taste it. Bal even felt a bit anxious, as if not preparing enough elegance and patience would be a waste of such a delicacy! Therefore, he didn''t kill Zhao Yi immediately. Observe... sniff... touch... Finally, taste. The blood scent in the air was just an appetizer for Bal. The red splattering from people''s necks was like nectar, like jade liquid. He trembled with excitement, his gaze on Zhao Yi was pathologically intense, his fingers trembling uncontrollably from the killing instinct hidden in his genes! Hold back a little longer, it''s not time yet! Bal told himself. The next moment, Zhao Yi''s gaze met Bal''s. Just like back then. No change at all. It was¡ª A different kind of appreciative gaze. Elegant, yet chilling. In the depths of his eyes, Zhao Yi''s unabashed admiration for him. And the greed to consume him completely! Just by standing there, Bal knew that the man at level 5... was at the top of the food chain! Clenching his fists tightly, Bal eagerly awaited the final moment! The shadow Zhao Yi left on his heart, one that could never be erased, could only be wiped away with Zhao Yi''s blood! ... Zhao Yi had no idea Bal''s thoughts were so deep and obscure. After all, to him, Bal was no different from a pig raised in a pen. Just a bit whiter, a bit fatter. He had deliberately left ''something'' in Bal''s body, like fertilizer, making Bal''s killing genes... grow robustly. When the pig is fattened, of course, it''s time to eat. "Die!" Suddenly, a vicious, cold voice came from behind, and someone wielding a bloodied axe leaped at Zhao Yi from behind! The man in front of him was only Lv5! The perfect target to bully! And with Zhao Yi''s prior instructions, Luo Qili didn''t intervene but sneakily moved a certain distance away from Zhao Yi! Seeing the blood axe just a foot away from Zhao Yi''s head, Zhao Yi suddenly stepped back, his shoulder blocking the opponent''s arm, causing the blood axe attack to miss! As the man''s eyes widened in shock, Zhao Yi''s scalpel appeared, leaving a small cut on him. A superficial wound. But black tendrils sprouted from it. The player steadied himself, trying to continue attacking Zhao Yi, but his strength was no match for Zhao Yi, and he was quickly subdued by Zhao Yi barehanded. However, Zhao Yi didn''t kill him. Instead... He took out a bowl of aromatic meat soup and forcibly pinched the player''s nose, pouring it down his throat! ... [Item: Butcher''s Carefully Cooked Soup] [Quality: Consumable] [Description: Though a butcher, his culinary skills are impeccable, yet for some reason, his food always contains resentment and anger!] It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV. [Effect: Temporarily overdraw a portion of life, gain immense strength, and fall into a frenzied state, lasting five minutes. After the frenzy, you will lose all combat ability for twelve hours!] [Note: Do you want to be a coward for life, or a hero for a moment?] ... Gulp, gulp, gulp¡ª Watching the player finish the soup, Zhao Yi immediately placed the player''s body on the Adulterer''s Skateboard and kicked him towards Bal in the distance. And with a smile, he mouthed: "A little gift for you." The player landed at Bal''s feet, and Zhao Yi retrieved the skateboard. Bal stared at the level 7 player foaming at the mouth and convulsing on the ground, his brow slightly furrowed. A sense of foreboding crept into his heart... cumenjqW¡¯cQ PS: Thank you all for reading. Starting the next chapter right away. At least three chapters'' worth of outline is done. Let''s go! Chapter 91 – Third Day "Ah!!!" The person lying at Bal''s feet suddenly sprang up, his eyes bloodshot and bursting, blood blurring his vision, yet it didn''t affect his sight! His mind was filled with indescribable chaos. This player was already in an extreme state of delirium. In his hazy vision, a tall, humanoid monster with antelope horns appeared before him. The monster handed him a blood-soaked bone-cleaving knife. The moment he grasped the butcher''s knife, his whole body shuddered! His mouth twisted open, flesh splattering. His mouth, using the strength of his jaws, tore all the way to his ears, spreading a terrifying grin just like the butcher''s! Bones pierced through his hand. Gripping tightly in his blood-drenched hand! It was... a bone knife! A terrifying killing intent spread to every corner of the square, drawing the attention of most players! "What is... that monster?!" "Run for it!" "Damn it!" The player Liu Hong, who had drunk the butcher''s broth, leaped up and slashed towards Bal. Although Bal''s strength had reached over a hundred points, he barely managed to dodge! He pulled out his Soul Weapon¡ªa screeching cleaver¡ªand fiercely hacked at Liu Hong''s bone knife. Sparks flew, leaving only a shallow mark on the bone knife! Bal''s strength clearly attracted the completely butcher-willed Liu Hong, who casually chopped down two nearby players and charged fiercely at Bal... ... "The fuse has been lit, the square is in chaos." "Proceed as planned!" Zhao Yi took out the Adulterer''s Skateboard, Luo Qili in front, Zhao Yi behind, and the two of them swiftly flew towards the exit on the skateboard! A distance of less than two hundred meters was just a matter of two or three seconds for the skateboard! Bullets... couldn''t catch up with them! Players who had been watching closely noticed Zhao Yi and Luo Qili, and bullets were immediately fired towards the exit. Zhao Yi quickly pulled out the Shredder, using it to block all the bullets! Everything happened in an instant. Just as the two were about to pass through the doorway, Luo Qili suddenly kicked Zhao Yi fiercely, sending him flying towards the corner on the left side of the red door! As Zhao Yi flew out, he retracted the Shredder and protected his head! In the next moment, dozens of bullets hit his body, exploding into a mist of blood! Bang! Zhao Yi''s body crashed near the corner, a flashlight falling from his arms, stopping at the wall corner. The flashlight happened to shine directly on Zhao Yi, illuminating his blood-stained face. Zhao Yi, now motionless, no longer attracted anyone''s attention. No one would waste firepower on a dead man. Yet the wounds on Zhao Yi''s body were healing at an astonishing speed. Of course... no one noticed him. Explore the extended edition on Not even Bal. He was already successfully held back by Liu Hong. Under the butcher''s will, Liu Hong was terrifyingly strong, and even with Bal''s ''Fury Soul Eye'' activated, he could barely suppress him! He had no extra energy to check on Zhao Yi''s situation. A moment''s distraction, and he would die at Liu Hong''s hands! The two of them were like terrifying war machines, leaving nothing but shattered corpses in their wake! As the two of them, like fleeting shadows, gradually brought the bloodthirsty players back to their senses, they looked around to find that more than half of the living were already gone! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So these people, losing the will to fight, kept an eye on their surroundings while fleeing towards the two doors! Meanwhile, two players standing not far from the blue door were locked in a stalemate. One wielded a meteor hammer, the other practiced Iron Crotch Kung Fu. The Iron Crotch practitioner spread his legs, allowing the meteor hammer to strike his lower body. Despite his twisted expression, he refused to cry out in pain, earning the admiration of passersby: "What a man!" Unfortunately, blood and urine flowed from his crotch, otherwise, his intimidation would be greater! The one wielding the meteor hammer saw everyone else running, picked up his already damaged meteor hammer, and said fiercely to the Iron Crotch player: "You''re tough, but I''m done playing with you!" He turned and ran, while the Iron Crotch player shouted at his retreating back: "You coward, keep hitting if you dare!" "Why run, come back!" "Let''s see if my crotch is harder than your hammer!" The other player ignored him, quickly disappearing behind the door. The Iron Crotch player let out a victorious laugh, but after a few chuckles, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed to the ground, no longer breathing. Meanwhile, Liu Hong, who was fighting Bal, also reached the end of his life. Zhao Yi had used the Plunderer to heal his wounds, which already left Liu Hong feeling weak. Now, five minutes had passed, the butcher''s will dissipated, and Liu Hong grew increasingly powerless, ultimately being pierced through the chest by Bal''s vicious strike! As fewer and fewer players ran away, Bal hesitated no longer. He quickly scanned the area, not seeing Zhao Yi''s figure, assuming Zhao Yi had moved to the next stage, and left through the blue door... Soon, the blue door closed instantly! About a hundred players remained in the arena. Seeing the blue door shut, they immediately realized the seriousness of the situation and quickly ran towards the red door! As the number reached 100, the red door also slammed shut. The 101st player tried to squeeze in with the 100 players, only to be crushed to a pulp... Soon, the remaining dozens of players stopped fighting each other and sat dejectedly among the scattered corpses in the square, lighting cigarettes. "We shouldn''t have come." "We overestimated our abilities." Someone sighed deeply. Someone nearby laughed heartily. "No worries... I''ve got a resurrection item. If I die, I die. I can revive at the guild base!" The group looked at this guy, their expressions first envious, then turning fierce! "Brothers... let''s take him down!" With a scream, the player showing off his resurrection item lost it. The countdown above reached zero. All the lights in the square suddenly went out! Darkness enveloped. Then, a large amount of purple toxic gas sprayed from the top of the dome, quickly filling the square inside... In a corner of the square, a lone flashlight shone on a handsome face. Not long after, another kind of white mist poured in. The purple mist and white mist merged, quickly turning into a non-toxic liquid. Click¡ª The red and blue doors opened, and a group of black-clothed people wearing four-fanged demon masks entered, beginning to clean up the bodies. Two of the black-clothed people near the red door whispered to each other: "Check which bodies are relatively intact... don''t send them to the incinerator... hand them over to the ''Doctor'' first." "They''ve only been dead for a short while... their organs are still fresh..." PS: Second update! Thanks for reading! Continuing to write the next chapter! Chapter 92 – Third Day A long, dark corridor. A cart piled with the players'' bodies, as if they were mere garbage, was slowly pushed toward the incineration room. The smell of charred flesh mixed with the aroma of meat, creating a bizarre scent that filled the room. The corridor branched off in all directions. They arrived at the incineration room and unloaded all the bodies. Then they began selecting the more intact bodies, briefly examining them before tossing them back onto the cart. "Burn the other bodies. We''ll deliver these later... as usual, keep it confidential, and you''ll get ten percent of the money afterward." A black-clothed person with a four-fanged ghost mask said. The incinerator operator didn''t respond. But the two present knew that the operator had agreed. They had done this business more than once; if something went wrong, the incinerator operator wouldn''t escape responsibility. The two pulled the cart and left the incineration room, heading to the other side along the corridor. On the way, Zhao Yi felt the edge of the cart snagging his silver gun, so he reached into his pants to adjust it. The two pulling the cart seemed to hear something and turned to look. That glance was enough to make them shiver. "Old Wang... don''t you think... the positions of these bodies seem to have changed..." The more burly Old Wang cursed: "Old Xu, look at you, such a coward!" "Even my distant cousin''s dog, Xiao Hei, is braver than you!" "These people are long dead, what are you afraid of!" Old Xu cautiously glanced at the bodies on the cart, noting their general positions. "Who''s Xiao Hei? Your cousin''s third wife''s son?" Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "No, it''s his dog." "Damn it!" "......" ... The two cursing men entered a bright room. Inside was a doctor, wearing medical gloves, preparing tools. "Time will be tight today." "You only have thirty minutes." "In thirty minutes, we must drag the bodies to the incineration room and burn them!" The doctor laid out a row of scalpels, somewhat nervous. Half an hour. How many intact kidneys and organs could he harvest? They lifted a body from the cart onto a makeshift operating table, and the doctor took a deep breath, preparing to cut out a kidney. Five minutes later, his face turned ashen. "Switch bodies, this one''s organs are ruined." The two calculated the time, said nothing, and lifted another one for him. Two minutes later. "No good." "I''m too nervous... time is running short." Old Xu and Old Wang exchanged a glance and lifted another body. "No worries... stay calm, even one organ is a profit..." "Kidneys have gone up in price recently, one can sell for half a million, and there''s still a bit over twenty minutes, take your time." The doctor took a deep breath. Sweat seeped from his forehead. Sliding down his nose, it dripped onto the body. He picked up the scalpel and slowly cut open the body''s skin. Very smoothly. But... Why was this body bleeding? The doctor, stunned by the situation, hadn''t had time to speak when the body suddenly cursed: "With your lousy technique, you''re cutting kidneys..." "Do you even have any medical knowledge?" "Have you practiced the stability of your fingers and wrists?" "Blade number 12 is for cutting facial features, understand?" "And your damn grip technique, using a grasping style... you''re using a grasping style to cut blood vessels and nerves near the organs, I really want to slap you!" "Disgusting, did you ever pass your medical exams in school?" Zhao Yi recalled the times he helped train students in the hospital. One by one, they were terrible. Seeing the body suddenly sit up, not only were the three in the room stunned, but so were the viewers in the live streaming room. "Holy crap! Brother Zhao came back to life?" "Damn it... a scourge lives for a thousand years, the ancients didn''t lie to me!" "He knows anatomy too well..." ... The eerie atmosphere lasted about three seconds. Just as the two were about to draw their guns, Zhao Yi had already aimed the ''Crusher'' at them. A gentle smile on his face. "Move." "Try moving again?" Old Wang and Old Xu looked at the dark muzzle of the shotgun in Zhao Yi''s hand and couldn''t help swallowing. Hands raised high. Eyes filled with shock. They couldn''t understand how Zhao Yi had survived the deadly gas... That gas, just inhaling 1ml could kill a giant elephant! The room had been filled with toxic fumes for an entire hour. Why was Zhao Yi still alive? "Get on the operating table." Zhao Yi smiled at the doctor. The doctor''s eyes widened, unable to hold the scalpel steadily, but he refused to accept his fate, suddenly turning to escape through the door! Just three steps, and he could escape the room! Unfortunately, humans are never faster than bullets. Biu! A faint sound. In silenced mode, the shotgun''s noise was quieter than the sound of the doctor''s head being blown apart. Looking at the headless body that fell to the ground, Old Xu and Old Wang felt their legs trembling... "You want organs to sell for money, right?" Zhao Yi easily lifted the 150-pound doctor with one hand and tossed him onto the operating table. "We..." Before they could finish speaking, Zhao Yi selected a suitable blade and handle from the scalpels, sterilizing them with the candle flame on the table. Then he approached the doctor''s headless body, smiling slightly at the two. "How about a deal?" "I''ll do his job." "I''ll do it ten thousand times better than he did." "And I won''t take a penny, letting you earn a fortune." The two exchanged glances, seeing the greed and hesitation in each other''s eyes. The next moment, the scalpel in Zhao Yi''s fingers danced like a butterfly, agile and graceful, with a technique so exquisite it seemed like an art master at work, leaving the two mesmerized, even forgetting Zhao Yi was their enemy. Three minutes. Zhao Yi had extracted all the organs from the doctor''s body, placing them in specially prepared bags, handing them to the two. "Of course, as part of the deal... you''ll need to do something for me too." "How about it?" Looking at the transparent bags filled with fresh red organs, the two''s hands trembled slightly. Their hearts trembled too. Should they take it? These... were worth millions! Old Xu clenched his fists, swallowed hard, resisted the urge to grab the bags, and looked up at Zhao Yi, gritting his teeth: "There will be many bodies in the next game... if you can maintain today''s cutting efficiency, after the second game, we can help you leave here!" Hearing this, Zhao Yi''s smile grew more audacious, making the two''s hearts race... "Leave here?" "Who told you... I want to leave here?" Chapter 93 – Third Day For some reason, when the two saw the smile on Zhao Yi''s face, they couldn''t help but shiver. "What do you want to do?" Zhao Yi squinted his eyes, coaxing them gently. "I ask you, if your boss finds out that you''re secretly dealing in human organ trafficking, do you think he''ll let you off?" Old Xu and Old Wang fell silent at his words. The answer was obvious. Although the organization hadn''t explicitly forbidden the cutting of organs from corpses, they absolutely prohibited any contact between their masked members and outsiders! Once discovered... they would disappear from the world! "So... even if you manage to sell these organs on the black market for millions, how would you spend it?" The two remained silent. After a long pause, one of them said: "Once we leave here, we can spend it." Zhao Yi kicked the headless corpse, sending the doctor''s body rolling onto the floor, raising a cloud of dust. Then Zhao Yi sat down on the operating table. "Leave here?" "Are you really that naive?" "The person behind the scenes cut off your contact with the outside world and changed your identities. Why do you think that is? Don''t you have any idea?" "Looking at you, being able to secretly contact outsiders to sell organs, you must have been working for the mastermind for some time... Have you ever heard of anyone leaving here alive?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two didn''t speak, cold sweat slowly seeping from their temples, dripping down their hair. Sometimes, it''s not that people can''t think of the worst, but they don''t want to. The unknown often brings more despair and fear. If they knew from the start that they would surely die, they might have accepted it. Read this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at the "pawread dot com" But now... They didn''t know if they would die. With the hope of living, they naturally feared death even more! "Help me, and if it works out, you can leave here with a lot of money, free as a bird." "If it doesn''t... I won''t drag you down." "After all... your boss has a reason to kill you, I don''t." The atmosphere in the small room was tense. The smell of blood mixed with dust was unpleasant. Just like the expressions on their faces, complex and unsightly. After a long contemplation, Old Xu gritted his teeth and said: "Alright." "We can help you... but only within our capabilities!" Zhao Yi smiled slightly. "I won''t make things difficult for you." "After all, we''re in the same boat now." "Next, I need to know two things." "First, who is behind the Abalone Game?" "Second, what is the next game, and how difficult is it?" Zhao Yi''s intentions were clear. One main quest, one side quest. This game couldn''t end with only him surviving. If Luo Qili died, he would enter a wrong timeline and reach a wrong ending! Old Wang thought seriously for a moment. "We don''t know who''s behind the Abalone Game... but it''s said that after the third game, he personally meets the survivors and gives them a precious gift." "If you want to meet him, you''ll have to wait until the third game is over." Old Xu added: "The next game is called ''Prisoner''s Maze''!" "The players who survived the first game will all be sent into a giant underground maze." "There, they''ll have a fragmented map and will move from the outskirts of the maze toward the center!" "Five minutes after the players enter the maze, ''Hunters'' will also enter from the outskirts!" "They will relentlessly hunt the players until all the players... are dead!" Zhao Yi asked curiously: "Hunters? Are they human?" Old Xu shook his head. "They are a kind of ''bloody weapon'' created by humans." "We don''t know much about them, only that they seem to be some X-series product from a mysterious organization." "This weapon is said to use a meme of a mysterious lizard-like species, injected into the human body." "Those injected develop a strong hatred for humanoid creatures, their bodies become stronger, and they heal quickly from injuries..." "The most terrifying part is... when they are killed, they revive within five minutes, becoming even stronger than before!" "These bloody weapons are usually kept frozen in nitrogen chambers, only released at special times." "When they re-enter the nitrogen chamber, their evolved state slowly regresses in the cold, returning to their initial state." Hearing this, Zhao Yi immediately thought of a peculiar figure. ¡ªA creature that shouldn''t exist in this world. "Can you get detailed information on them?" Old Wang hesitated. "It''s difficult." "The reason we''ve been able to keep our communication with the outside world hidden is because there''s a skilled hacker, Old Wu, in the surveillance room, who''s one of us!" "He can help get information on those bloody weapons." With that, Old Wang handed a communicator to Zhao Yi. "Stay in this small room and don''t wander around. He''ll send you the information later..." "You can also contact him through this communicator." "But don''t disturb him between 9 and 11, as the surveillance room will be under strict inspection then!" Zhao Yi agreed. Seeing that it was about time, one of them took care of the fresh organs, and the other handled the corpse. After they left, they locked the door and left Zhao Yi with a spare key. "There''s food and water in the storage box." "If you need to go out, let Old Wu know in advance, and he''ll find a way to keep you off the surveillance." After giving some cautious instructions, they left the secret room. After they left, Zhao Yi sat on the operating table, opened the system panel, and sent a message to Luo Qili, informing her about the next game. Luo Qili replied, saying they were currently resting in different rooms and that the second game would start the next day. After finishing, Zhao Yi contacted Old Wu in the surveillance room. Besides the information Old Wu sent, Zhao Yi also asked if he could secretly enter the Prisoner''s Maze. Soon, Old Wu replied. It was a route and a specific time. "There are no surveillance cameras in the maze." "Follow the route and timing I gave you, and you can enter the maze." "But don''t approach the center. Your identity is marked as deceased, and if you get close... you''ll be executed!" Looking at the message Old Wu shared, Zhao Yi''s eyes lit up with interest. The maze for the second game... actually has no surveillance cameras? That doesn''t make sense... Whether the person behind the scenes is a psychopath who enjoys watching people kill each other in despair, or someone using the game to select or purify something... shouldn''t they observe more, compare more? Not installing cameras, does he have clairvoyance, or does he have other motives? Thinking of this, Zhao Yi considered another possibility. Could it be... PS: Taking a break for a meal, keep up the good work with your studies and jobs! Three updates today! Chapter 94 – Third Day: Prisoners Maze Zhao Yi stayed in the secret room and opened the message Old Wu had sent him. The content was quite chaotic, but it was clear that it had been deliberately organized to some extent. Old Wu had also left him some words: ["The meme of the ''Bloody Weapon'' was obtained from a mysterious organization. The boss behind the Abalone Game negotiated some terms with them a few years ago and repeatedly squeezed the chips of the deal."] ["What''s curious is... they didn''t seem to care how much their product could sell for; the entire meeting seemed somewhat absent-minded."] ["I''m not a core member, so I don''t know much about that transaction or the meme."] Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ["I only know that the organization seemed to have picked up some unknown giant lizard fragments from some ruins and obtained this meme from them."] ["They said, based on their years of research and archaeology, that the owner of these giant lizard fragments was a creature that couldn''t be killed."] ["But it eventually died..."] [...] Zhao Yi read through the information sent to him over and over. His eyes focused with a divine light. He became more and more certain... The giant lizard that provided this meme... came from the Foundation. "The giant lizard was contained and protected..." "Does the death of the giant lizard mean... the Foundation has also perished?" "If so, what could possibly destroy such a massive organization?" "Could it be those unspeakable darknesses..." Endless thoughts flew through Zhao Yi''s mind. Numerous speculations surfaced one by one, all unable to be confirmed. The world''s horrors and mysteries were too many. What mortals touched was ultimately just the tip of the iceberg. ... The next day, the players were sent to the edge of the maze while unconscious. When they all woke up, the loudspeakers on the maze''s perimeter emitted a noisy sound: "Congratulations on surviving to the second game." "This round is called the ''Prisoner''s Maze.''" "You are currently on the outskirts of a giant maze, and each of you has a piece of paper and a pen to conveniently record the map." "You need to reach the center of the maze within 12 hours, where there is a completely transparent safe room." "It''s worth mentioning that there are 200 of you, but the Prisoner''s Maze can only accommodate 21 people." "Five minutes after the timer starts, ''Bloody Weapons'' will enter the maze from various corners of the perimeter. They will stop at nothing to kill you!" "The 21 survivors will qualify for the third and final game!" "Now... the game begins!" As soon as the loudspeaker''s voice fell, the players rushed into the vast maze at the first opportunity! They entered from two hundred different entrances, beginning to explore towards the center! No one knew how big this maze was, nor did they know which of the countless paths ahead was the real one... At this moment, Zhao Yi also headed towards the maze according to the route and timing given by Old Wu. Although there were no surveillance cameras inside the maze, the players'' initial entry points were recorded. Old Wu had informed Zhao Yi of Luo Qili''s starting position and the maze''s map, and Zhao Yi quickly headed towards Luo Qili''s location, following the map etched in his mind. Once they teamed up, they could communicate simply within the game system. However, the daily word count for communication was limited, mostly reserved for crucial information. Luo Qili waited in place for five minutes, but the maze was so large that Zhao Yi needed some time to reach her. Yet, the frozen corpse lying in the transparent coffin behind her had already opened its eyes! Seeing this situation, Luo Qili had no choice but to flee into the maze! Zhao Yi had already shared with her the horror of the Bloody Weapons last night, especially how they evolved each time they were killed, a nearly bug-like ability that was simply maddening! Not fighting back would mean getting beaten. Fighting back was of little use, as the opponent''s self-healing ability was too IMBA (imbalanced). If you managed to kill it, you could get a moment of peace... but once it was over, it would be even harder to deal with... Five minutes had passed. Outside the maze, the lids of coffins were violently blasted open! A quick look at bit.ly/3iBfjkV will leave you more fulfilled. Killing intent surged out from within the coffins! One by one, corpses with eerie purple eyes sat up, and after just a moment of adaptation, they rushed towards the depths of the maze! Along the way, some players encountered the Bloody Weapons brimming with killing intent and had no choice but to stop and engage them! Boom! A slender, agile girl pulled out an RPG from who knows where and sent the opponent a shot of the brightest star in the night sky! However, after the fireworks, the opponent still charged towards the girl with half of its body blown apart! "What the hell is this thing?" The girl screamed and hurriedly fled backward! The Bloody Weapon with the blown-apart body had only a tiny bit of skin left on its head, yet it followed the girl relentlessly, bouncing along as if nothing had happened! She initially thought it was a zombie, but now... she realized how wrong she was! Countless Bloody Weapons had been released into the maze, aiming to tear apart the players participating in the Prisoner''s Maze game! "Ah!!!" A middle-aged man let out a scream as his arm was torn off by a Bloody Weapon and swallowed! Immediately after, a sharp bloody hand pierced into his chest and abdomen, tearing it open alive! ... Luo Qili was fleeing all the way, occasionally glancing back. Although the walls inside the maze were made of vines and flowers, they had a high-strength alloy core that players couldn''t break through with force! Moreover, there were visible electric arcs on them. Who knew what level of voltage was on them? Climbing over and destroying the walls had become a pipe dream, forcing players to obediently find their way. That terrifying Bloody Weapon seemed to have a lock on Luo Qili''s position. No matter how she dodged or ran around in the complex maze, it always managed to track her precisely! This thing seemed to have unlimited stamina, but the players'' stamina was limited. In a chase lasting about three minutes, Luo Qili clearly felt her stamina waning! "No... if this continues, I won''t last until Zhao Yi arrives... I need to find a way to kill it once!" Panting, Luo Qili quickly filled the slightly narrow passage with sharp threads, waiting for the Bloody Weapon to walk into the trap! "Hehehe..." The Bloody Weapon appeared around the corner, and upon seeing Luo Qili standing still, its face was filled with extreme excitement as it charged at her! Splat! The threads sliced through the air, creating splashes of blood! The Bloody Weapon immediately turned into a pile of shredded corpses... Just as Luo Qili relaxed slightly, she suddenly saw that the pieces on the ground were reassembling and healing at a speed visible to the naked eye... She stood there in shock for a moment, then uttered a single word: "Shit..." PS: There''s one more chapter, but don''t wait up, it''s quite late, get some rest early! Thanks for reading! Goodnight, brothers! Chapter 95 – The more people there are on the third day, the more fun it is Luo Qili attempted once more to destroy the Bloody Weapon with her threads, but this time, she found that her opponent was completely immune to her attack! When her sharp threads touched the opponent''s body, the cells would automatically separate, evading her attack! This bizarre change left Luo Qili utterly stunned! The sharp threads were her most proud attack method! If this didn''t work, would any other attack be effective? Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the Bloody Weapon about to revive in front of her, Luo Qili didn''t hesitate any longer and turned to flee! This thing was truly deadly! This time, she retraced her original path. Luo Qili was gambling. Gambling that Zhao Yi was close. She sent a message to Zhao Yi, telling him she would return to the starting point, and then she ran without looking back... The Bloody Weapon''s revival was brief, and soon it stood up again, madly chasing after Luo Qili! Its hatred was fixed on Luo Qili, and no matter where she ran, it could easily lock onto her! The killing intent came like a cold winter wind, attacking from behind and chilling Luo Qili to the bone! She turned back in horror, seeing the Bloody Weapon with an exaggerated, hideous expression rapidly closing the distance! At this moment, her stamina was nearly depleted, and she could no longer maintain her speed! Panting heavily, Luo Qili continued to run while calculating her remaining stamina. The starting point was just ahead! But there was no sign of Zhao Yi! Luo Qili felt a chill in her heart... What the hell is this game?! In her current state, fighting the Bloody Weapon would be a sure loss! Just as she was in despair, Zhao Yi suddenly sent her a message. "Lie in the coffin and close the lid!" Hearing this, Luo Qili''s eyes lit up slightly. She quickly ran to the transparent coffin, lay inside, and closed the lid! "Roar!" The Bloody Weapon arrived in front of Luo Qili, its expression terrifying, its features twisted beyond recognition! However, it seemed to have a slight... intelligence problem. It raised its hand, its nails extending twenty to thirty centimeters, and fiercely stabbed at the coffin lid! Bang! A loud noise erupted. Blood splattered. Of course, it wasn''t Luo Qili''s blood. It was the Bloody Weapon''s own blood. Although its nails were exceptionally hard, they couldn''t withstand its own anger-fueled strike and broke off, spraying blood everywhere! However, this bit of damage didn''t affect the Bloody Weapon at all. Soon, its nails grew back, even harder! Bang! Bang! Bang! A series of ordinary punches. Although the terrifying vibrations made Luo Qili and the viewers in the live streaming room''s hearts jump to their throats, the coffin lid only gained a few more cracks! The material of this coffin was indeed different. Just as the Bloody Weapon was frantically attacking the coffin lid, a scalpel suddenly pierced through its chest, stabbing its heart! Zhao Yi! The moment Luo Qili saw the scalpel, her heart pounded fiercely! Like a train crashing! It was the feeling of excitement! She suddenly lifted the coffin lid and saw Zhao Yi skillfully dismembering the Bloody Weapon! "You finally came!" Luo Qili panted heavily, her tone uncharacteristically filled with excitement and thrill! Zhao Yi, while pulling out a large metal box, replied: "I need you to do something for me later." Support us at . Luo Qili responded: "No problem... but let''s get out of here quickly, this thing will revive in two or three minutes... damn, what are you doing?" Seeing Zhao Yi engaging in strange behavior again, Luo Qili couldn''t hold back. Zhao Yi stuffed the Bloody Weapon''s body parts into the shredder: "This way, it won''t revive." Zhao Yi wasn''t sure about the quality of the shredder, but it was clearly a rule-based weapon, and such weapons don''t adhere to logic or reason. Unless you have the strength to defy the rules, if it says you''re dead... you''re dead! Looking at the pile of minced meat on the ground, Luo Qili felt a bit tense, but after waiting a few minutes, she confirmed that the meat wouldn''t revive. "You mentioned you wanted me to do something, what is it?" Zhao Yi put away the shredder, took paper and pen from her, and began quickly drawing a map. "I''m currently a ''dead man'' and can''t approach the center of the maze. I''ll send you to the middle, and you need to follow this map to quickly reach the center and enter the safe zone." "In the safe zone, you need to watch the remaining players entering, and note those who aren''t injured or haven''t been attacked by the Bloody Weapon." Luo Qili watched Zhao Yi''s hands move at lightning speed, almost leaving afterimages, and replied in awe: "Okay." Before long, Zhao Yi handed Luo Qili an extremely complex maze map. "Before entering the safe zone, find a way to destroy this map... just in case!" Luo Qili nodded at his words. "I know." "This map is too detailed, it would be troublesome if discovered." "But... why do you want me to watch those who aren''t injured?" As they walked along the map towards the interior, Zhao Yi asked: "The first game, 67 pinhole surveillance cameras in the hall... for what?" Luo Qili answered without thinking: "To monitor players, to observe the current player status." Zhao Yi smiled: "Right, but the second game... clearly just as intense, just as desperate, yet they didn''t install cameras... do you understand?" Luo Qili''s expression gradually turned serious. "You mean... someone following?" Zhao Yi: "Not necessarily." "There are two possibilities, the first is what you said, someone following, but the chances of that are very small, like taking off your pants to fart." Luo Qili''s eyes shifted. "And the other possibility?" Zhao Yi turned his head, a strange smile on his face. "The observer behind the scenes... is participating in this game themselves." "That''s why they didn''t set up surveillance." "After all, in the game, they can see what they want to see most directly and vividly." Pausing, Zhao Yi added with a smile: "And if I''m not mistaken, there will be many players at their entrance, and there will be more than one ''Bloody Weapon''..." "After all, the more people... the more fun it is..." Chapter 96 – Third Day Bloodline - Red Clothes In this area, there aren''t many players, so the bloody weapons hunting them are also few. After dealing with one, Zhao Yi and Luo Qili didn''t encounter any more. As they were about to reach the inner area, Zhao Yi stopped and let Luo Qili go ahead on her own, while he took another path. He didn''t return to the secret room but continued wandering in the maze. With the map and his guidance, no one could reach the center of the maze faster than Luo Qili. Others might have only made it halfway or just a little further. They were like ants on a hot pan, anxious and scurrying aimlessly. ... On the west side. A few people were fleeing frantically, their bodies covered in wounds. "What the hell is that thing?" A female player screamed in terror, her blood-stained face bearing deep, bone-revealing scars. Beside her, a middle-aged fat man gasped for breath and said, "I don''t know!" "It''s terrifying!" "The head was cut off, and it still came back to life!" Whoosh! From the distant corner behind them, a black shadow leaped out like a fierce tiger, chasing them with a grotesquely twisted posture! Seeing this shadow, their faces turned pale! "Damn it, why is it like a sticky plaster, can''t shake it off?" A short dwarf looked at the terrifying shadow getting closer and the others running faster ahead, and a Magnum appeared in his hand. He fired at the leg of the middle-aged man not far ahead! Bang! The middle-aged fat man let out a muffled groan and fell to the ground before he could even react in fear! The dwarf quickly overtook him and ran off with the other players... The middle-aged man looked up at the dwarf''s retreating figure, cursing hoarsely, trying to stand up, but the heavy footsteps behind him seemed to pound on his chest, making his already powerless legs even weaker! Damn it! Fear gripped his heart. He looked back to see the shadow slowing down, its eyes filled with a deathly aura fixed on him! "No, don''t kill me!" "Please..." He sat on the ground, retreating continuously, pleading with a pale face. But before he could retreat far, he bumped into something. Before he could even turn around, a cold scalpel appeared from behind, gently and swiftly slicing across his neck! First the skin, then the blood vessels. Scarlet sprayed out. The middle-aged man clutched his neck tightly, unable to utter a word, and collapsed on the ground. In front of him stood a young, thin man. His face was blurry, unrecognizable. "You won''t survive until the end of this game, let me help you leave faster." The man smiled slightly. The middle-aged fat man completely lost consciousness. His hands fell open. His face showed relief. Zhao Yi looked up again, at the bloody weapon that had evolved two or three times, the scalpel in his fingers letting out a joyful hum. With a primal desire. It wanted to touch, to kiss the opponent''s body... with its sharp side. "Hello, let me introduce myself..." "My name is... Zhao Yi." As Zhao Yi finished speaking, their figures suddenly crossed! The bloody weapon''s hand pierced through Zhao Yi''s chest, while Zhao Yi''s scalpel sliced its neck! Before losing strength, Zhao Yi kicked the bloody weapon''s chest, retreating several steps, and the wound on his chest began to heal rapidly! Weakness dissipated, strength returned to his body! The bloody weapon''s wound was also healing, blood vessels and muscle nerves growing from the neck''s severed end, trying to reconnect with the body! But Zhao Yi wouldn''t give it the chance. His scalpel danced, brutally and smoothly slicing open the bloody weapon''s body, throwing its body parts one by one into the shredder! The large metal box beside him trembled with excitement! Clearly, it hadn''t had such a satisfying grind in a long time! Finally, Zhao Yi left a heart and a head. He sat cross-legged on the ground, looking with interest at the bloody head and heart, his eyes shining, lost in thought... The opponent clearly hadn''t given up on the possibility of revival, the heart and head continuously splitting new cells, trying to grow a new body... However, every time it grew a little, Zhao Yi would cut off a piece with the scalpel and toss it into the shredder... At first, the head showed a ferocious anger and resentment, but gradually, it revealed a look of fear... The metal box beside the man was an unknown entity, but once something was thrown in, it was completely cut off from the rest of its body... Though it had strong self-healing and regenerative abilities, it couldn''t escape the law of conservation of mass. After less than ten minutes... it couldn''t hold on anymore... Zhao Yi looked at it with a grin, patting its head. "Not so tough now?" "Keep going?" "Weren''t you getting stronger the more you killed?" The bloody weapon''s eyes were hollow, its brain matter exhausted from the forced self-healing. Its eyes retained the fear and confusion from before death. It couldn''t understand why such a freak existed in this world, actually guarding a corpse with a shredder... How excessive... ... In the live streaming room: : Damn, I''m sick of watching this! : Brother Zhao''s condition is getting worse, can someone treat him? : I don''t get it... but I''m deeply shocked! S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. : First time seeing someone guarding a corpse with a shredder... it''s absurd! ... Finally, Zhao Yi''s scalpel sliced open its head. Inside, it was already empty. [Congratulations on killing the ''Bloody Weapon'', your Soul Weapon has been enhanced.] [You have obtained a new meme fragment, merging... merge failed, meme mismatch... devouring...] [Evil Deity Meme devoured successfully, starting reconstruction... 0.15... meme reconstruction failed, insufficient energy... please try harder...] [In this meme reconstruction, the player gained 13 Strength, and your innate bloodline ''Red Clothes'' was awakened by a faint Evil Deity power.] ... [Bloodline: Red Clothes] [Type: Innate] [Quality: ???] [Level: 1] [Note: Low-level bloodlines can be upgraded to level 3, mid-level to level 5, high-level to level 7, legendary bloodlines to level 9, and divine bloodlines to level 10] ... Zhao Yi saw the system message and was slightly surprised. Red Clothes. These two words felt familiar to him. But he couldn''t recall any clues related to Red Clothes. For the full version, visit [ ]. "Related to my missing memory?" Zhao Yi squinted, smiling even more happily. He had a memory that was missing. Though he didn''t know what he had forgotten. But when the Red Clothes bloodline appeared, he distinctly felt an indescribable familiarity. What an... unexpected gain! PS: Thank you all for reading. Five updates today. Trust me, no problem! Chapter 97 – Third Day Using his Soul Weapon, Zhao Yi successfully killed a Bloody Weapon and obtained its meme data. The meme of the giant lizard was indeed powerful. Even in its broken state, it managed to reconstruct 0.05% of Zhao Yi''s Evil Deity Meme data, just like X-3! This was no small amount. "System, how do I upgrade my bloodline?" Seeing his bloodline revive under the influence of the Evil Deity Meme, Zhao Yi casually asked. [Bloodlines are divided into innate and acquired bloodlines.] [Innate bloodlines are those the player is born with, while acquired bloodlines can be exchanged in the store or obtained by chance from dungeons.] [Generally, innate bloodlines come with their own upgrade methods once awakened.] [Your bloodline data is abnormal; the system cannot detect its quality or provide more information.] Data abnormality. Zhao Yi shook his head. What a trash game. He looked at the nearly empty heart on the ground, raised an eyebrow, and a rather good idea popped into his mind. After collecting the heart, Zhao Yi retraced his steps back to the secret chamber along the route Old Wu had set for him. Then he placed the heart into a bag Old Wang and Old Xu used specifically for storing human organs. Hmm... what would happen if he sold this organ, still covered in giant lizard meme fragments? Would it come back to life? Zhao Yi grinned. Fing hell, I''m a genius! Hours later, Luo Qili sent Zhao Yi a message. "Twenty-one people completed the game in total." "There''s an old man, though he''s not very mobile, he was never targeted by the Bloody Weapons... I think he might be the Abalone Game''s observer behind the scenes." "Should we take action?" Zhao Yi replied: "Remember his appearance." "Don''t act now; if you do, you''ll die too." "Wait for the right moment." ... After the second game ended, Old Wang and Old Xu once again brought Zhao Yi a large number of corpses. This time, Zhao Yi showed them what it meant to be a ruthless dissection machine. When all the special storage bags were filled with intact human organs, the two couldn''t stop grinning. Fing hell... if we sell all this... How many billions would we get? Looking at Zhao Yi sterilizing the scalpel beside the operating table, Old Wang hesitated for a moment but still asked: "Dr. Zhao, you really don''t want any money?" Zhao Yi replied with a smile: "I''m not interested in money." "I never touch money." "Because my happiest time was when I earned two hundred bucks a month, back when I was a teacher..." "Back then, I saved every month, knowing that in a few more months, I could buy a fresh corpse..." At this point, Old Wang and Old Xu shivered inexplicably. Buy... buy a corpse? "What... do you buy corpses for?" Zhao Yi slightly raised his head, the flickering candlelight casting shadows on his smiling face. "Nothing..." The two shivered. Fing hell! Is this guy mentally ill? He doesn''t do human things! "By the way... you haven''t told me about the third game''s content." The main quest requires players to complete three games, which is why Zhao Yi has been holding back from taking action against the mastermind. Once the mastermind dies, the game will end prematurely. Old Xu said: "The third game is a massacre." "The surviving players must kill each other. Only when there''s one person left in the hall will they qualify to enter a special room and receive their reward." Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi''s expression became subtle. "So where did the previous winners go?" Old Xu and Old Wang looked at each other and remained silent for a long time. "Don''t know... maybe they''ve already left." In truth, they knew that the winners of the Abalone Game likely met the same fate. No player has ever left the underground arena alive. A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled. At least... they haven''t seen it. Zhao Yi pondered for a moment, muttering to himself: "This old man... wants to snatch my meat..." "I''ve been raising it for so long, I can''t let others get ahead." After a pause, he looked up and asked: "Where is the mastermind of this third game?" Old Wang: "The VIP room." "There will be quite a few guests there." Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow: "Is there a way to sneak in?" Old Wang carefully scrutinized Zhao Yi and shook his head. "No way." "There are only female attendants inside, no male attendants." "And the women they choose... all have nine-head figures, front protrusion, and rear lift. You can''t possibly sneak in." Zhao Yi''s eyes twinkled with amusement. "No, I can." Old Wang looked at Zhao Yi''s unremarkable chest and not-so-lifted rear, showing a puzzled expression. Zhao Yi gave him a pat on the shoulder, interrupting Old Wang''s baseless fantasies. "I know a female player." "She has a great figure... maybe she can sneak into the VIP room... of course, this requires your help." Old Wang seemed to understand Zhao Yi''s plan. "There are many super soldiers outside the VIP room. Once the mastermind dies, no one will be able to leave alive..." Zhao Yi said slowly: "What if... there was an external force that could make those super soldiers leave?" The two were stunned. Zhao Yi looked into their eyes: "Next... you just need to do as I say..." "Soon, you''ll be able to leave this underground arena with a huge sum of money and disappear..." ... The third game. After a day''s rest, everyone appeared in the hall once again. The twenty-one survivors were the strongest and most suitable players for survival out of the six hundred. However, if anyone paid close attention, they would notice that two of the twenty-one had been swapped. One was the old man. The other was a woman. In the corner, Bal seemed somewhat absent-minded. In the last dungeon, he didn''t see Zhao Yi. This meant Zhao Yi was dead. But Bal didn''t want to believe it. The voice in his heart told him... Zhao Yi was still alive. If this guy died at someone else''s hands... then the psychological shadow would haunt him for life! But soon, as the third game began, Bal spotted the figure that had kept him tossing and turning, sleepless at night, in a corner of the arena! Zhao Yi! "Wasn''t he dead..." Bal rubbed his eyes, his previously dejected expression turning ferocious once more! He confirmed he wasn''t mistaken! The man standing in the distance, hands in pockets... was Zhao Yi! He wasn''t so easy to kill! "You are destined to die by my hand!" Bal drew his Soul Weapon... the Screaming Cleaver, and his murderous aura exploded as he charged at Zhao Yi! The latter also drew his scalpel, a satisfied smile on his face. "You''ve grown well, Bal!" With one slash, Zhao Yi was forced back several steps by Bal''s terrifying strength! Even though Zhao Yi was only Level 5, his strength had already reached 70! Ordinary players, even at Level 8 or 9, would find it hard to match Zhao Yi''s formidable strength! However, in front of Level 12 Bal... Zhao Yi still seemed like a little brother! Slash! The cleaver sliced across Zhao Yi''s arm, spilling a large amount of blood! "Dr. Zhao..." "After all these years, you''ve disappointed me quite a bit..." "My cleaver... is already thirsty!" Bal''s smile had reached a pathological extreme. Years of fear and suppression could finally be vented today! The Zhao Yi before him seemed much weaker than he had imagined! Crack! After swinging his cleaver, he suddenly lunged forward, kicking Zhao Yi''s blocking arms with a leg, and the sound of bones cracking rang out! Zhao Yi staggered back a few steps, his back slamming into the wall! His forearm had bent into a strange arc. White bone fragments pierced through the flesh, exposed and menacing. By this point, anyone could see that the gap in their combat power was too vast! The audience in the Live Streaming Room finally began to worry for Zhao Yi! "It looks like Zhao Yi is really going to lose this time!" "There''s no way to win! Bal is Level 12, and a killing maniac with strength far beyond his level, Zhao Yi is doomed!" Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Tsk tsk tsk, what a pity, this year''s rookie king is going to fall like this..." "For some reason, watching Zhao Yi get slaughtered seems like a strange kind of enjoyment!" ... Seeing Zhao Yi covered in blood, with multiple fractures, Bal flicked the blood off his cleaver and sneered: "Don''t worry, Dr. Zhao..." "Before you die, I''ll let you see clearly..." "The bloodline passed down through the Bal family for generations, just how powerful it is!" "The shame left by my father to the family will be washed away by me!" Chapter 98 – The Third Day: Darkest Hour Zhao Yi''s "Plunderer" could heal his injuries. But the prerequisite was... there had to be a living creature for the "Plunderer" to parasitize! Bal''s attack on Zhao Yi was a complete overpowering of attributes; Zhao Yi simply didn''t have the ability to harm Bal! Yet, he didn''t kill Zhao Yi immediately. Instead, he turned around, holding a cleaver, and locked his gaze onto the other players. His eyes were blood-red. The sickness on his face had reached an extreme. The power of his bloodline was about to break through that thin barrier. Bal was boiling with excitement. He knew that if he could kill Zhao Yi, kill his inner demon, he could fully awaken his bloodline! But before that, he didn''t want to share this wonderful moment with others. After all, Zhao Yi couldn''t escape. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A cooked duck, could it possibly fly away? "Everyone, attack together!" "If he doesn''t die, we all will!" Among the players, Bal was far stronger than the others, standing out like a crane among chickens. Moreover, his notorious reputation was known to almost every new player! Lv7 female player Long Xiaoxiao spun a deck of glowing cards in her hand, streams of light converging towards Bal, aiming to pierce him! Bal raised his cleaver, his figure burst forth, and the cleaver in his hand was unstoppable! Splat! Long Xiaoxiao''s head flew high, accompanied by a spray of blood and a look of terror! Boom! A square-faced man grabbed a grenade launcher and fired directly at Bal''s position! However, as the smoke cleared, Bal''s body remained unscathed! A golden light shimmered on the outside of his body! "Do you think this level of hot weaponry can harm me?" "You seem unaware of what kind of existence stands before you now!" "But no worries... I''ll help you understand!" Bal grinned wickedly, his figure moving like lightning, wielding nothing but a cleaver, slaughtering as if chopping vegetables! Blood splattered on the side of his face. Rendering him as crimson as a fierce ghost. A young girl unleashed a sonic attack, but in the face of the countless wailing Vengeful Spirits within Bal''s cleaver''s shriek, it was shattered like a joke! The sharp ghostly wail from the cleaver could significantly lower players'' spirit value, leaving them in a daze! Crack! The girl was split in half from top to bottom! The gruesome scene terrified many players in the distance, and they frantically rushed towards the door, attacking it with all their might, trying to escape! However, both the door and the walls here were terrifyingly sturdy! Impossible to destroy! "Help!" A player screamed desperately! Thud! A cleaver flew from behind, smashing his skull with the back of the blade, painting the wall red and white! The other players quickly scattered, but the space was only so big, and they had nowhere to run! Blood and shadows intertwined, souls and sins rested together! Bal, covered in blood, turned around, as if crawling from the depths of Hell, his smile blooming with madness! The hall was littered with corpses. He slowly stepped towards Zhao Yi, who was slumped in a corner... "It''s your turn... my..." "Lover." The hand holding the cleaver trembled. He couldn''t suppress it. His soul had already reached a climax. ... At this moment, the expressions of everyone in the VIP room varied. Many distinguished guests were gathered here, perhaps wealthy tycoons or bosses of certain black forces... Inside, the music was elegant, and the lights were dazzling. Beautiful women dressed scantily served drinks and delicacies. "I like this beast, he''s... so fierce!" A fat man in a pink robe praised. He swirled the red wine in his hand and sipped it. "This guy is much fiercer than the big cat I keep at home!" Another tycoon sighed. "Turning him into a weapon... seems like a waste." "Not a waste." The elderly man sitting in the center slowly spoke. "Our project is not just one." "He has potential, can be made into something better." "The only thing that surprises me is... previously in the Prisoner''s Maze, two Bloody Weapons were found missing during recovery." "Strange, the army searched every corner of the maze, but didn''t see those two Bloody Weapons." In a corner. A masked maid holding a drink stared at Zhao Yi on the screen, her eyes full of worry and tension... ... "Dr. Zhao, do you have any last words?" "I''m usually not very patient with others, but you''re different..." "I''ll be gentle enough with you..." Bal, covered in shredded flesh and blood, slowly squatted in front of Zhao Yi, looking at Zhao Yi''s miserable state, feeling incredibly pleased! Zhao Yi, however, started to laugh. His head leaned against the corner. "A tree grows roots, sprouts, blooms..." "It has to bear fruit eventually." "Your ''slaughter desire'' has finally evolved to an unprecedented level, leaving even your father far behind!" "To be honest... a few years ago, I was very dissatisfied with your father''s illness..." "So I decided to cultivate one myself." "It took me a long time... to wait." Zhao Yi spoke slowly, his pupils suddenly undergoing a bizarre change. As if ink was spilled. Pure black. Like a bottomless abyss. "What are you talking about?" Bal tightly gripped the cleaver in his hand, his expression extremely twisted. He vaguely felt something was wrong. But couldn''t pinpoint it. The smile on Zhao Yi''s face grew happier. "Curing your illness requires a great price, but obviously... I''m willing to bear that price." "Bal... the last piece of the slaughter puzzle..." "Let you complete it..." "It''s coming out..." "Wish you... have fun..." As soon as he finished speaking, The lights in the hall flickered! Bal instinctively looked up. The lights... flickered faster and faster! Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. Even many bulbs directly exploded! ... [Warning! Player Zhao Yi''s spirit data is severely declining!] [Warning! Player Zhao Yi''s spirit data is severely declining!] [Warning! Player Zhao Yi''s spirit data is severely declining!] [Please quickly use items to restore SAN value, or you will be assimilated into a dungeon creature!!!] [Please quickly use items to restore SAN value, or you will be assimilated into a dungeon creature!!!] [Your current spirit value remains at 97... 92... 54... 21... 5... 1...] [Your current spirit value remains at 1...] [Your current spirit value remains at 1...] [Your current spirit value remains at 1...] [...] [Character data updated] ... [Character: Zhao Yi (Darkest Persona)] [Strength: 999] [Spirit: 1 (0+1)] [Ability: ???] [Form: Initial (Unevolved)] [Bloodline: Red Garment] ... nfo.ca(¡¯7¡¯¡¯ PS: Thank you all for reading! Unknowingly, I owe you three more chapters! Alright! Brothers, rest early, good night! Chapter 99 – The Third Day mission is over... Zhao Yi is calling Live Streaming Room: : What the heck? Why did the live stream suddenly go dark? : What does "data lost" even mean? : Damn it! I wanted to see Zhao Yi, that bastard, die! : Where''s Bal, that killer''s, live stream? : He never streams... Damn it! Stupid system (¡ª¡ªdata deleted¡ª¡ª) ... VIP Room. After a burst of signal disruption, all the images on the projection screen vanished! All the monitors in the underground arena turned to static! "What happened?" A fat man in a pink robe shouted loudly. "Damn it... It was just getting to the good part!" "Exactly, Sixth Master, is your equipment working or not?" "We spent tens of millions to watch this?" "..." The crowd was in an uproar, and the old man known as ''Sixth Master'' looked extremely displeased. Just as he was about to lose his temper, he suddenly heard a piercing scream from the monitors... "No... you..." "What the hell... are you...?" "Ah...!!!" Although the scream was hoarse, everyone could vaguely tell... it was Bal''s scream! What''s going on? The one who should be screaming... was Zhao Yi! "Quick! Dispatch part of the special forces to check the situation in the arena hall!" Sixth Master erupted, his hair and beard bristling! A maid serving him immediately turned and ran out to deliver the orders! At the door, Luo Qili, wearing a cheongsam and high heels with a fox mask, looked at the old man with eager eyes, but remembering Zhao Yi''s earlier instructions, she suppressed her eagerness. It''s not time yet. A small part of Sixth Master''s mobile task force quickly headed to the arena hall. Meanwhile, other technicians began to repair the equipment. Although... in the eyes of these technicians, there was nothing wrong with the equipment. But they had to put on a show... "Team A, what''s the situation over there?" "Team A?" In the VIP room, a waiter with an eagle mask took out a walkie-talkie, trying to communicate seriously, but all he heard was the dense sound of bullets, nothing else! "Zzz¡ª" The walkie-talkie emitted static, and just as the eagle-masked waiter was about to turn it off, a voice that made his skin crawl came through! "I hate it the most..." "Being disturbed while eating..." Although the voice was speaking human language, its essence was anything but human! It was like a synthetic sound pieced together from thousands of indescribable things, and just hearing it once, one could feel a strong sense of contamination! After a brief moment of distraction, the eagle-masked waiter''s eyes filled with immense fear, and the walkie-talkie fell to the ground! Immediately, the walkie-talkie emitted countless hysterical screams, as if the other side had descended into hell on earth! "Ah!!" "Retreat! Team A''s defense line has fallen, requesting support! Requesting... ugh..." "Retreat quickly!!!" ... A brief silence enveloped the VIP room, and fear spread... The top tycoons from various factions couldn''t sit still. They sensed danger and wanted to leave! "Sixth Master... it''s not that I don''t trust you! It''s just that I have a stomachache, and I can only use my own toilet at home..." "Sixth Master, I won''t bother you, I''m leaving now!" Seeing the old man''s displeased face, a tycoon who was about to sneak away chuckled awkwardly: "Sixth Master, my wife just told me she''s about to give birth, and I need to hurry back... The baby is stuck, and won''t come out without seeing its dad..." The old man''s face turned even darker. "You haven''t even turned on your phone, how did your wife tell you?" The man''s eyes rolled. "Ah... to be honest, Sixth Master, my wife and I are deeply connected, we usually communicate through brainwaves... Anyway, you wouldn''t understand, I''m leaving now, let''s get together sometime..." As they were about to leave, several super soldiers appeared outside, blocking their way. "Enough!" "It''s just a little trouble, isn''t it?" "Look at you all, panicking like this?" "I have five hundred super gene-enhanced soldiers here, are we still afraid of whatever''s in the arena?" "Sit down, all of you!" "Eagle Mask, take all the soldiers and head to the arena hall, solve the problem for me!" "Quickly!" The eagle-masked waiter bowed slightly to the old man. To be honest, he didn''t want to go. The noise from the walkie-talkie... was so eerie it chilled him to the bone. But he had no choice. With a heavy heart, he took most of the super soldiers to support the arena hall, leaving only two soldiers to guard the door here. As soon as they left, Luo Qili knew her chance had come. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although she was also curious about what was happening in the arena hall, she had a more important task to complete! She carried a tray of drinks and slowly approached the old man, pouring him a drink. An almost invisible sharp thread appeared at her fingertips. But she didn''t kill the old man immediately; instead, she thoughtfully poured drinks for every ''VIP'' in the room, then told the old man she needed to use the restroom. The old man''s attention was entirely on the arena, so he just told her to hurry back. Luo Qili smiled slightly and turned to leave. Around the corner. She retracted the sharp thread in her hand. The old man, who was speaking into the walkie-talkie, suddenly had his pupils contract and then dilate. A bloodline appeared on his neck. Smooth. The blood''s viscosity was clearly insufficient to support the weight of his head, and after a difficult two seconds, Sixth Master''s head rolled to the ground... Then, blood gushed from his neck! To read the uncut version, go to ]. This sudden bizarre scene terrified everyone in the VIP room! After a few seconds of shock, someone finally panicked! The fat man in the pink robe jumped up and ran towards the door, but after a few steps, his head also fell to the ground... Even in the process of dying, he didn''t make a sound... Seeing this, the others dared not stay in the VIP room any longer and rushed towards the door, only to have their heads cut off one by one by the fine, almost invisible sharp thread... The two super soldiers outside heard the commotion and quickly entered the room, only to meet the same fate... [Congratulations to Player Zhao Yi and Luo Qili for completing the main quest. Based on contribution, Zhao Yi receives 120 experience points, and Luo Qili receives 90 experience points.] [Congratulations to Player Zhao Yi and Luo Qili for completing the side quests. Rewards have been sent to your personal inbox, please check...] Luo Qili received her reward and immediately followed Zhao Yi''s instructions to insert the battery into her phone. ... [Item: Nokia Phone] [Quality: Quest Item] [Description: A communication tool that can call 48 hours into the past.] [Note: You can also use it to crack walnuts. It''s said that Nokia phones are notoriously durable.] ... She installed the phone battery and headed straight for the arena. Through a metal door, she heard the screams that made her hair stand on end! One after another, over and over... Wailing everywhere, rising and falling... What on earth was happening over there? Her slightly trembling hand pressed the electronic control button next to the metal door. Just as she was about to press it, her phone rang! "Dear, take your time flying..." Luo Qili answered the call. On the other end, Zhao Yi''s voice came through: "Listen..." "If you don''t want to die, you''d better not open the door in front of you right now..." Chapter 100 – The first logical loop of The Third Day "How do you... know where I am?" Luo Qili sensed something was off. Even if Zhao Yi called from the future, how could he know her exact location now? "Because soon you''ll be coming out to meet ''me.''" Zhao Yi''s tone was calm. It contrasted sharply with the heart-wrenching screams outside the alloy door. Luo Qili was dumbfounded. "Didn''t you say that if I don''t want to die... I shouldn''t go out?" A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled. The Zhao Yi on the phone replied: "If you walk out just like that, you will indeed die." "The ''me'' outside is not the same as the one you saw before." "If you want to survive, turn up the phone volume to the maximum and switch to speaker mode." "Let me talk to ''him.''" Luo Qili''s heart skipped a beat. "Hurry up, we don''t have much time..." The Zhao Yi on the phone urged her. Luo Qili hesitated for a moment, then gritted her teeth, immediately switched to speaker mode, and turned the volume to the maximum! This Nokia was indeed absurd; the volume was so loud it made her ears ring. Then, she pressed the button to open the door. The alloy door opened. The hellish scene before her pierced Luo Qili''s eyes like a sharp sword, stabbing straight into her soul! The ground was littered with severed limbs, and blood spread like splattered ink. The thick stench of blood made Luo Qili feel as if she were in a slaughterhouse! Many of the dismembered people were still alive, lying on the ground, wailing in agony! It seemed they had suffered severe mental contamination; many had gouged out their own eyes and continued to dig into their sockets with their fingers, the flowing blood even tinged with white... The man standing in the center... held Bal''s lifeless body in one hand, a bizarre smile on his face, quietly watching her. His body was covered in hideous black veins, leaving terrifying patterns on his skin that were unbearable to look at. Just one glance, and Luo Qili could clearly feel her SAN value plummeting! The once familiar Zhao Yi... had become strange and terrifying! In the moment of distraction at the door, Luo Qili suddenly snapped back to reality. However, the scene that made her soul tremble appeared! Zhao Yi, who had been two hundred meters away, had vanished! He... Where did he go? An indescribable sense of danger enveloped Luo Qili''s heart, her eyes frantically scanning, trying to find that terrifying figure among the scattered limbs. Left... nothing! Right... nothing either! Where is he? Where is he? At that moment, a sinister voice came from right behind her: "Are you looking for me?" Luo Qili shuddered, her body stiffening. Her blood seemed to freeze, her mind blank. Even though she had been mentally prepared, determined not to give in easily in the face of danger, the voice behind her still made Luo Qili experience a fear that came from the depths of her soul! Like a newborn fawn facing a fierce tiger. Even with healthy legs, a tiger''s roar would leave it trembling on the ground, awaiting death! A pair of hands covered in black veins slowly caressed her cheek. Luo Qili felt as if she were falling into a bottomless abyss... Everything before her was drifting away... The world grew darker and darker... Just as the last trace of color was about to vanish from her sight, a voice came from the phone: "Friend." In an instant, Luo Qili''s vision returned to normal. Her body was drenched in cold sweat! A hand took the phone from her, and Luo Qili dared not look back, standing there like a piece of wood. After Zhao Yi took the phone, he canceled the speaker mode, and it was unclear what was said on the other end. After a long while, Luo Qili felt the chilling presence from the abyss behind her disappear. "Ready to complete the logical loop." Zhao Yi''s warm voice sounded. Luo Qili turned around, panting, and asked Zhao Yi behind her: "What just happened to you?" Zhao Yi didn''t answer her, dialing a number instead. A hotel number. On the first day he received the call from the future, he had deliberately checked the bottom of the phone and memorized the number. The ringtone played: "La~ lalala~ lalala~" "The pink fan dances~" "La~ lalala~ lalala~" "I want to stroll with you~" "The heartbeat of love, how fast~" Damn! What a strange ringtone! It didn''t match the heart-wrenching screams around at all! "Hello?" The phone was silent, seemingly not yet connected. Soon, there was a crackling interference from the other end. Zzzzz¡ª Seeing the call connected, Zhao Yi spoke: "Take a camera to Kala Asylum." After speaking, Zhao Yi hung up. Then he handed the phone back to Luo Qili. Not long after, Luo Qili also received a call from her future self, instructing her on when to call herself on the first and second days to provide important information. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once Luo Qili provided the correct information to her first-day self in the hotel, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least their first logical loop had been successfully established. The second logical loop was to be established on the fourth day. The two of them needed to call their ''selves'' on the second day at a fixed time and place, providing the next correct piece of information. Watching Zhao Yi fiddling with his camera, Luo Qili suddenly posed a thought-provoking question. "Zhao Yi... why did our fifth-day selves tell us all about our itinerary for the fourth and fifth days?" "According to the previous pattern, it should have been our sixth-day selves calling our fourth-day selves, explaining the fifth day''s itinerary..." This was something easily overlooked. On the first day, they received a call from their third-day selves, telling them where to go on the second day. On the second day, they received a call from their fourth-day selves, telling them where to go on the third day. But on the third day, their fifth-day selves called to inform them about the events of the next two days. This seemed to disrupt the pattern. Zhao Yi pondered for a moment and replied: "Remember when I told you that the system might pull some tricks on the sixth and seventh days?" Luo Qili thought for half a second, her eyes lighting up. At that time, Zhao Yi had even been silenced for three minutes. "I have a hypothesis, but I''m not sure yet..." "Once we enter the fourth day and I get the last component of this camera¡ªthe battery, I can confirm whether my hypothesis is correct." PS: Thank you for reading. I''ll write the next chapter soon!! Chapter 101 – Sweet and salty debate Zhao Yi had already more or less guessed why the version of them on the fifth day had to hand over the itinerary for the next two days to the version of them on the third day. However, adhering to the principle of caution first, Zhao Yi still felt the need to wait until the camera in his hand was successfully assembled before drawing any conclusions. Currently, he already had the film, the lens (Murderer''s Eye), and the viewfinder of Shattered Time and Space. He was just missing the last piece, the battery, to complete his camera. By then, Zhao Yi would be able to see the specific effects and functions of the camera, rather than being left with nothing but question marks. "Your face looks a bit pale... Are you okay?" As the two left the underground arena, Luo Qili casually asked, to which Zhao Yi replied with a smile: "I''m fine." Releasing the Dark Persona had indeed cost Zhao Yi quite a bit. But it was worth it. The pieces of different dark personas could help him enhance the power of the Dark Persona. And the strength of the Dark Persona could further expand that edge of his spiritual world. "Where are we going tomorrow?" Luo Qili asked. It was certain that for the next few days, she would have to stick with Zhao Yi. Whether it was her own will or the objective situation. Zhao Yi replied, "To a Ming-style eerie old mansion." As they approached the target location, even from afar, they could feel the desolation and decay within the mansion. The mansion was quite retro, whether it was the choice of building materials or some exquisite little details, the layout of the building showed that it was not a modern creation. It was full of rules and seriousness. Something that post-modern young people disliked the most. "Hello... Are you here to complete a task in this mansion too?" While the two were observing the mansion, a bright and sunny girl with twin ponytails walked over. Luo Qili glanced at Zhao Yi and softly said, "Yes." She didn''t like strangers. Not safe. "Great!" "So are we!" "This area looks just like a mansion exploration, and it seems that players need to help each other to pass safely... Since we''re all in the same boat, I suggest that when the dungeon starts at midnight tomorrow, we help each other as much as possible!" "Oh, by the way, my name is Pan Sensen." "This is the thug Bai Zhihai, although he looks like a thug, he''s actually a nice guy!" "And there''s Honest Person Wang Hua, and Warm-hearted Aunt Liu Mei..." The sunny girl extended her hand and shook hands with Luo Qili, while the others nodded warmly in greeting to Zhao Yi and Luo Qili. Zhao Yi glanced at them, his gaze falling on the sunny girl Pan Sensen, and he inadvertently licked his lips. His throat moved slightly. When Pan Sensen''s eyes met his, Zhao Yi smiled and greeted her. The smile on Pan Sensen''s face became slightly stiff. Just now, she suddenly had a... feeling of being seen through. A chill ran through her body. "Relax... Pan Sensen..." "This kind of thing... it''s not the first time you''ve done it..." "Your acting is so exquisite, no one will notice..." In her heart, Pan Sensen kept comforting herself, trying to dispel that shadow. But for some reason. That unease seemed particularly stubborn, no matter how hard she tried to drive it away, it had no effect. The group chatted warmly for a few hours, and when they found no other players joining, they were basically certain that this was a dungeon with relatively few people. Or rather... fewer and fewer players were successfully escaping from the third day. "It seems there are only six of us for this task..." Pan Sensen sighed softly. There was a hint of fake concern between her brows. "The Tide of Demon Spirits is already very dangerous, and now with so few people, once we enter the dungeon, everyone must not have internal conflicts... If there''s anything, let''s communicate calmly!" Everyone agreed. They entered the Ming-style mansion together and began to carefully survey the terrain. It was really big here. And the main house had two floors. Both floors were large, with many rooms. However, it was severely damaged, completely unrecognizable from its original appearance. The furniture on the ground was also shattered everywhere, a complete mess, and it was unclear what had happened back then. Most dungeons brought players into a past timeline, and once the dungeon started and NPCs appeared, players would face a huge crisis. At that point, trying to scout the terrain would be extremely difficult! "Strange..." "Why is there glutinous rice scattered on the stairs?" Luo Qili frowned. She had made a new discovery. There was only one staircase leading to the second floor, shaky and dilapidated, but among the wood chips, there was actually glutinous rice mixed in. Zhao Yi patted her shoulder and, rubbing his chin, said: "Maybe someone likes to eat zongzi?" Luo Qili nodded. "That''s possible." "But I always feel like there''s more to what you''re saying." This novel is available on ". Zhao Yi chuckled. "Relax!" "When we enter the dungeon, maybe we can even get some zongzi to eat." "By the way... do you like sweet or savory zongzi?" Luo Qili and Zhao Yi exchanged a glance, and she slowly replied. "I like..." Ten seconds later, the two started fighting. Pan Sensen, who was surveying the terrain from afar, hurried over to stop them! "Stop it!" "You two, stop fighting!" "This way, you won''t kill anyone... oh no, you will kill someone!" As she stepped forward to break up the fight, she secretly rejoiced in her heart: "Great, these two don''t seem to get along!" "They actually started fighting while surveying the terrain..." Zhao Yi, red-faced and neck bulging, pointed at Luo Qili''s nose and said: "I''m telling you, those who eat sweet zongzi are heretics!" S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Qili retorted, baring her teeth and claws: "Nonsense!" "Those who eat savory zongzi have brains full of holes!" Pan Sensen''s smile froze as she tried to break up the fight. "You two are fighting over this?" "What else?" The two replied in unison. The three looked at each other. A few seconds of silence later... Pan Sensen joined the fray. Two women against one man! "All sweet zongzi can just die!" "Those who eat savory zongzi have no mothers!" "......" PS: Sorry for the late update! Just laying some groundwork, filling a chapter, and starting the outline for the next story tomorrow. Thank you all for reading. Goodnight, brothers and sisters!! Chapter 102 – Fourth Day Ghost House On the third day, everyone stayed inside the ancient Ming-style mansion. The fourth day, early morning. As usual, the air wall rose. Everyone''s consciousness became blurred. When they woke up again, they were already standing outside the mansion. The sky was as dark as a tomb. The sound of crows flapping their wings cast an ominous shadow over everyone''s hearts. The mansion had been restored to its original state, no longer in ruins, but the dim, eerie lights inside only added to its creepiness. It seemed to directly tell the visitors¡ªyes, this is indeed a haunted house. The wooden door at the entrance was weathered, and the plaque above was so faded that only the word "Wang" could be vaguely seen. There were no other words. So this indicated the owner of the mansion was surnamed Wang. Frost covered the stone lions outside the door. "Damn... it''s so cold..." Auntie Liu Mei shivered and rubbed her arms. Everyone carefully pushed open the slightly ajar door and entered one by one. As soon as they entered the mansion, the system immediately delivered a task prompt. ... [Dungeon: Ming-style Haunted Mansion] [Main Quest: Find the heart of the mansion''s owner] [Side Quest: Eliminate the mansion''s owner] [Main Quest Reward: 300 experience points, air wall removal] [Side Quest Reward: Battery providing suspended time-space energy (different rewards for different players)] [Note 1: In this dungeon, the player''s item inventory is sealed, and no items can be used.] [Note 2: All players'' strength is locked at 10 until the dungeon ends.] ... The task notification ended, leaving the players bewildered. Sealed item inventory? Locked strength? This... doesn''t it just make the dungeon much harder? Zhao Yi curiously stared at the main house in the distance, as if something there had caught his attention. Luo Qili was the first to notice Zhao Yi''s unusual behavior and asked curiously: "Zhao Yi, what are you looking at?" Seeing everyone''s eyes on him, Zhao Yi raised his hand and pointed to a window on the second floor of the main house, to the right. "Look¡ª" In the faint starlight and the dim candlelight from inside the house, everyone saw a decaying face staring at them from that window! Its eyes glowed with a ghostly green light, and it wore a hollow and eerie smile, sending chills down everyone''s spine! S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "WTF!" Caught off guard, the thug Bai Zhihai was startled and blurted out in his native dialect. All the players'' strength had been severely weakened, and now they had lost the ability to confront specters head-on. Facing a fierce ghost, they were like fish on a chopping board, how could they not be panicked? "Is it warning us... not to enter that main house?" Wang Hua''s face looked grim. Without items and strength, they were reduced to fools. The pressure hit them like a mountain! Originally full of ideas and plans, they now dared not act rashly. "Zhao Yi, do you think we should... hey? Where are you going?" Luo Qili was about to consult Zhao Yi when she saw him stride towards the main house. "Going to the main house!" "There must be important clues there." Luo Qili wanted to grab Zhao Yi, but saw him suddenly speed up and dash into the main house... Luo Qili: "..." The others were dumbfounded. "Has he always been this brave?" Pan Sensen was flabbergasted. This guy really is... beyond words. Luo Qili sighed, said nothing, and surprisingly followed him into the main house. If Zhao Yi died, she wouldn''t survive the Tide of Demon Spirits either, so she had no choice but to follow. "Boss... should we go in?" Wang Hua whispered. He felt it was too dangerous inside. Because just as Zhao Yi ran into the main house, the terrifying ghost face on the second floor also disappeared! Where did it go? "Follow them in... don''t forget the call from our future selves..." "These two must die by our hands!" "Otherwise..." Pan Sensen gritted his teeth. They braced themselves and followed, and as soon as they entered, they felt an uncomfortable dusty air. A strange sigh echoed in their ears, almost making their hair stand on end! "Pity my master..." "A lifetime of battles, never a scar from a sword..." "Yet ended in such a way..." The sigh was haunting, coming from nowhere, making it impossible to discern. Zhao Yi stood at the staircase leading to the second floor, where each step was sprinkled with glutinous rice. At the turning corner stood a tall paper figure, holding a Guan Yu sword, stroking its beard, its face painted with bright colors, looking particularly eerie! It just stood there, blocking the way upstairs. "Just as I thought." Zhao Yi muttered to himself. "Zombies fear glutinous rice, so at least one zombie is imprisoned on the second floor of the main house." "Does this indirectly mean... there are no zombies on the first floor?" After saying this, he extended his foot, pretending to step on the glutinous rice to go upstairs. Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. But it was just a feint. And with this fake move, the paper figure on the second floor swung its Guan Yu sword, slicing through the air above the first step with a fierce wind! Fast! Accurate! Ruthless! If Zhao Yi had stepped on the wooden step just now, he would have been cut in half! "We can''t go to the second floor yet, there must be a key task that hasn''t been triggered, or a crucial item hasn''t been obtained..." Under the tense gazes of the others, Zhao Yi calmly retracted his foot. He began inspecting the hall. Pan Sensen exchanged glances with the others, then suddenly clapped his hands and said to Zhao Yi: "Zhao Yi... I have a good idea!" Zhao Yi was tapping on the table, feeling around. Pretty clean. "What idea do you have?" He casually picked up an exquisite purple clay teapot, opened the lid, and sniffed lightly. Such fragrant hot tea. Pan Sensen replied: "From the current situation, this seems to be a puzzle-solving dungeon, and the first floor looks relatively safe. Why don''t we split up to find clues? This way it''s more efficient, and we avoid unnecessary danger from staying too long!" Zhao Yi nodded. "Good idea, let''s search different rooms..." "See if there are any clues." "Let''s meet back in the hall in half an hour." Everyone agreed with the idea. Zhao Yi turned around and patted Luo Qili on the shoulder. Luo Qili understood. The hall had two corridors, leading to different rooms. Zhao Yi and Luo Qili split up, one heading east, the other west. Seeing the two split up, Pan Sensen''s face showed a hint of delight and malice, and he signaled to Bai Zhihai and Liu Mei. So they also split into two groups, following Zhao Yi and Luo Qili down the east and west corridors... Soon, the six figures disappeared into the darkness of the corridors. And at that moment, the door of the hall was pushed open... Chapter 103 – Is there... a living person in the Fourth Day haunted house? A petite and beautiful woman in a white embroidered cheongsam appeared at the door. Her makeup was subtle yet elegant, with charming eyebrows full of grace. However, she was thin, and her deep almond eyes held a profound gentleness. She stepped inside on a pair of faded embroidered shoes, crossing the threshold. She reached the staircase leading to the second floor and bowed to the paper figure. "Chief Che, you''ve worked hard." The paper figure did not respond but made way for the woman. She walked up the stairs covered in glutinous rice, entered the second floor, took off her shoes, and silently stepped into the darkness... ... The mansion was indeed large. A dark corridor stretched about three to four hundred meters. There was no light. Deathly silence. It felt as if one was in a graveyard. But Zhao Yi was prepared. ¡ªDing ding ding ding! A flashlight! This flashlight was extraordinary. It was borrowed from Luo Qili during the first game on the third day. And he hadn''t returned it. Nor had he put it into the item inventory. Snap! The flashlight beam turned on. A bright light shot out, barely dispelling the darkness ahead. Hmm... even scarier now. The viewers in the Live Streaming Room were typing harsh comments like [Is that it? Is that it?] while secretly pulling their feet back under the covers. According to the first rule of the human-specter treaty, if a human hides under the covers, the specter cannot continue the chase, must leave the room, and quietly close the door. A man followed Zhao Yi, tiptoeing behind him. He had taken off his shoes and was quietly approaching. He was well hidden. Not a sound. He tightly gripped a small vase in his hand. It was something he had casually picked up on the way. At this moment, he only needed to do one thing¡ªraise the vase and strike Zhao Yi on the back of the head! Everything... was going according to plan! Zhao Yi was completely unaware of the person behind him! Heh heh... this fool! Bai Zhihai sneered, slowly getting within five steps of Zhao Yi. Next, he just needed to jump up and smash the vase on Zhao Yi''s head! Heh heh heh... Heh heh heh... Bai Zhihai chuckled a few times, then crouched down... Gathering strength! Exerting force! Launching! In that instant, he seemed to transform into a world-class long jumper, adrenaline surging, arm raised high with the vase, expression ferocious! Die! His vase swung down fiercely... Zhao Yi''s hand clenched the scalpel to the extreme... But at that moment, A pair of withered black ghostly claws suddenly reached out from a door on the side, grabbed Zhao Yi''s neck, and pulled him into the room! The next moment, Bai Zhihai wore an expression as if he had eaten something foul, lost his balance, and fell to the ground! He instinctively used his hands to brace himself, but his heart sank! This instinctive action... might just kill him! Sure enough. The vase shattered against his chest, and then, under the dual influence of gravity and inertia, his body slammed down, sharp shards slicing across his throat, a large swath of crimson seeping out... Bai Zhihai''s eyes widened like copper bells, tightly clutching the gushing wound on his neck, but it was futile! "It''s over..." "Barbie Q''d!" "Damn it... even the ghosts are helping him!" He never thought he would die so disgracefully. Screwed. He frantically fumbled, trying to pull out a hemostatic item from the inventory... Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "My hemostatic medicine... stop the... stop your damn bleeding!" "The damn system locked my inventory, I (¡ªdata deleted¡ª)!" His consciousness gradually blurred. Bai Zhihai''s face grew paler. In the end, unwillingly, he used all his strength to raise a middle finger at the room beside him! This was his last act of defiance... ... Inside the room, a terrifying paper ghost face was almost touching Zhao Yi''s face. But from Zhao Yi''s eyes, it saw no fear. Hmm... damn it! Why aren''t you afraid? The paper figure let out a chilling ghostly laugh, about to utter some harsh words, but Zhao Yi reached out and shook its hand. "Hello, Paper Granny." "Uh, hello... uh? Wait, no!" The paper figure realized, slapped Zhao Yi''s hand away, and pointed a finger at Zhao Yi''s chest, saying fiercely: "Don''t try to get close to me!" "I''m telling you!" "I''m about to eat you, raw!" "How about that? Scared now?" "Hahahahaha..." The paper figure laughed to itself triumphantly. It laughed for a while, but seeing Zhao Yi''s lack of reaction, its laughter gradually subsided. It seemed to feel the atmosphere was a bit awkward. "Young man, you''re being quite rude, you know?" "You should... you should have some reaction!" The paper figure glared. Zhao Yi shrugged and said: "You wanted to save me, right?" "Actually, I knew someone was behind me, even if you hadn''t intervened, I would have killed him." The paper figure was slightly surprised, scrutinizing Zhao Yi carefully, clicking its tongue: "So many people have come to this haunted house, but you''re the first like this..." "But I still advise you... get out of here quickly!" "The horrors in this haunted house are beyond your comprehension..." Zhao Yi didn''t take the paper figure''s words to heart, pulling over a chair to sit down. "Let me ask you something... is there still a living person in this haunted house?" The paper granny''s terrifying face froze instantly. "You... what nonsense are you talking about?" "How could there be a living person in the haunted house?" Zhao Yi smiled: "The tables and chairs in the hall are neatly arranged, they''re very clean, no dust." "The tea in the purple clay teapot on the table is still hot, and besides the tea fragrance, there''s a faint scent of women''s makeup." "The stairs leading to the second floor are covered with glutinous rice, which hasn''t molded, discolored, or clumped, indicating the rice is from the past two years. I don''t think a bunch of ghosts could clean the house regularly or sprinkle rice on the stairs periodically..." Pausing, Zhao Yi leaned in a bit, sniffing the paper granny. "Nor would they drink hot tea or apply makeup." The paper figure stepped back, putting some distance between itself and Zhao Yi, sneering: "You''ve got a keen eye... but unfortunately, this place is beyond what you weak humans can understand!" "Young man, take my advice... leave quickly!" "Any later... and you won''t be able to leave even if you want to!" Zhao Yi shrugged. "Can you tell me where that woman is?" "And... what exactly happened in this mansion?" The paper figure said harshly: "You didn''t listen to a word I said, did you?" Zhao Yi stared into its eyes, smiling: "Thank you..." "But I insist." After a brief silence, the paper granny hummed: "If you want information from me, it''s not impossible..." "But, you have to exchange it with a story." "Preferably one for children..." "The old master always said I couldn''t tell stories to children, and when his child was born, I wouldn''t be able to lull them to sleep..." Zhao Yi''s eyes lit up at this. "Fairy tales?" "That''s my specialty!" "Let me tell you the story of the farmer and the snake..." Chapter 104 – The Fourth Day "The Farmer and the Snake?" "What a clich¨¦ story!" Paper Granny looked utterly disdainful, seemingly dissatisfied with it. Zhao Yi, however, continued on his own: "On a scorching summer noon..." "Huh? Isn''t it supposed to be winter?" "Don''t interrupt, please!" "Alright." Zhao Yi began his tale: "On a scorching summer noon, a farmer finished his work and was heading home. On the way, he encountered a snake that was about to die from the heat. The snake stared at the bucket in the farmer''s hand and said to him: ''Farmer, farmer, if you let me cool down, I will repay you!''" Upon hearing this, Paper Granny''s eyes lit up: "So the farmer poured water on it, right?" Zhao Yi shook his head: "No." "The farmer took the sickle from his waist and skinned the snake right there." "He said to the snake: ''This way, you won''t feel hot anymore.''" Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. "Sure enough, the snake no longer felt hot." Paper Granny: "..." After a moment of silence, she asked: "Do you have something... more suitable for children?" Zhao Yi: "This story isn''t suitable for children?" "Well... never mind, I have plenty of stories. Let me tell you another one¡ª''The Little Girl Selling Lotus Pills.''" Paper Granny: "Lotus Pills?" "Wait... something seems off here!" Zhao Yi had already started: "Once upon a time, there was a little girl. She was very poor and had no money, so she could only carry her ancestral lotus pills to sell on the streets. But people were very indifferent. She called out all day in the heavy snow, yet didn''t sell a single pill..." "At night, the little girl felt very cold, so she lit a match. In the light, she saw her grandmother..." "But the match didn''t burn for long before it went out..." Paper Granny tentatively asked: "So she lit a second match?" Zhao Yi replied: "No, she lit the lotus pills." "And that night, everyone in the town saw their grandmothers." Paper Granny: "???" Live Streaming Room: "I''m dying of laughter, this ghost probably hasn''t met someone this wild before... poor thing..." Zhao Yi''s eyes sparkled with excitement as he continued: "And there''s more..." Paper Granny couldn''t take it anymore: "Alright, alright, alright!" "Thank you for your stories, young man, I''ve fully felt your enthusiasm..." Zhao Yi curbed his eagerness to continue storytelling. "So, can you tell me what happened in this mansion before?" Paper Granny sighed: "Although I was attached to some vengeful spirits after death, I don''t remember most things about this mansion." "I can only tell you, never go to the second floor!" "Only the Second Madam can enter there!" "Anyone else, whether human or ghost, will surely die if they enter the second floor!" Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow: "The Second Madam... is she the living person?" Paper Granny''s gaze shifted to the window, looking at a brightly lit tall building under the cold moonlight. "The Second Madam is named Su Mei, a concubine taken by the master, and the only one." "After the terrifying incident in the mansion, everyone died, except for her and the First Madam, Fang Qian, in the Moon Tower." Two living people? Could the terrifying incident in the mansion be related to them? Zhao Yi pressed further: "Where does Su Mei live?" Paper Granny replied: "In a small side residence not far from the main house." "But there''s a terrifying pair of twin fierce ghosts there. If you don''t have a token... you''ll surely be killed!" Upon hearing this, Zhao Yi knew he was about to get crucial information. "May I ask what the token is and where to find it?" Paper Granny fell silent. "The token is in Chief Che''s room, but his room is filled with intense resentment and killing intent. These have merged into a strong spiritual pollution, and it''s easy for someone to get lost in there forever..." Zhao Yi inquired about Chief Che''s room from Paper Granny, thanked her, and left the house. As he exited, he heard a faint sigh from inside the room. "Young man... be careful..." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Not all the ghosts in this haunted mansion are as kind as I am..." "If you see something chasing you... run quickly... and never look back!!" Zhao Yi nodded slightly and closed the door. Bai Zhihai''s corpse on the ground was already cold, lying quietly in the corridor, with his middle finger pointing towards Paper Granny''s room. Zhao Yi took a serious look, then went up and stomped on his middle finger, breaking it! He walked a few steps, felt uneasy, returned, and took out his soul weapon, the scalpel, to sever Bai Zhihai''s hands, feet, and head. Then he meticulously knocked out all his teeth, cut off his tongue, peeled off his scalp, and removed his nails... This way, even if Bai Zhihai turned into a zombie or something, he wouldn''t pose any threat to him. Looking at the pile of body parts on the ground, Zhao Yi showed a satisfied smile. Done! A perfect work of art! After finishing, he got up and left. About five minutes after he left, the door of the nearby room slowly opened, and Wang Hua''s pale face peeked out from the crack, staring intently at the pile of human remains on the ground, his legs trembling... What kind of monster had they encountered? Not only did he kill, but he also mutilated the body like this... Zhao Yi''s bizarre behavior sent chills down Wang Hua''s spine, more terrifying than seeing a ghost! He had to... Kill such a madman? What a joke! "No way... no way..." "I have to wait until I meet up with them before making any plans..." "If I go find him now, he''ll definitely skin me alive!" Wang Hua''s eyes were vacant as he muttered to himself. The thought of Zhao Yi standing in front of him with a scalpel and a smile made him shiver uncontrollably! ... Chief Che''s room was in the back part of the main house. Zhao Yi walked along the dark corridor, occasionally feeling a bone-chilling wind blowing from the tightly closed rooms beside him, faintly hearing some eerie laughter and whispers... "So fragrant... the smell of human flesh..." "Hee hee... how long has it been since a living person came to this haunted mansion..." "..." Zhao Yi ignored these voices and arrived at the room Paper Granny had told him about. There was no sound inside. A dead silence. There was no one here, not even a ghost. But just standing here could evoke a suffocating sense of fear. Zhao Yi slowly pushed open Chief Che''s door... In the next moment, countless terrifying black hairs stretched out, wrapping tightly around Zhao Yi''s body, dragging him into the room! Bang! The door eerily slammed shut on its own. In the corridor, the sound of the door echoed. And then... There was no more ghostly sound... :p£¾ PS: 1. Thank you all for reading. 2. My mind is foggy today, and I''m not clear-headed. I uploaded the draft task, mistakenly turning the beginning into something unrecognizable, but I''ve corrected it. 3. Goodnight everyone! Chapter 105 – Memo from Chief Che on the Fourth Day Upon entering Chief Che''s room, Zhao Yi truly felt the malevolence of the haunted house towards outsiders. Countless strands of hair, pieced together by resentment, could kill someone with unstable spirit and weak will in an instant! Even someone like Zhao Yi, who wasn''t easily influenced, found these resentful strands wrapping around his neck and above, making it almost impossible to breathe! Zhao Yi remained calm, shining a flashlight on his palm, activating photosynthesis, allowing his body to become self-sufficient. Seeing that its attempts to entangle Zhao Yi were futile, the resentment tried to burrow into his body through his eyes, nose, mouth, ears... leaving no opening untouched. They frantically surged into Zhao Yi''s mental world, seemingly wanting to devour and assimilate him... Throughout the process, Zhao Yi appeared very relaxed, offering almost no resistance. He even seemed to enjoy it. Soon, the strands that had entered Zhao Yi''s body seemed to encounter something extremely terrifying and desperately tried to escape! They panicked, emitting eerie howls. But it was to no avail. There was some kind of gravitational pull within Zhao Yi''s body, continuously drawing them into his mental world... Three to five minutes later, the resentment disappeared. A bit of color returned to Zhao Yi''s face. He opened his mouth: "Burp." These resentments were truly... Self-destructive. If they had attacked physically, Zhao Yi might not have been able to withstand it. Currently, his strength was sealed by the system, and the release of the Dark Persona in the last game had caused significant chaos, greatly affecting his body. But these resentments insisted on targeting Zhao Yi''s spirit... wasn''t that just asking for death? "What a pity... it only replenished a little." Zhao Yi pouted. He was clearly not very satisfied with the opponent''s attack. The flashlight swept across the corners of the room. It was messy. Cold weapons and exercise equipment were scattered everywhere. It seemed Chief Che was a formidable warrior in life. The token Zhao Yi needed to find was a plaque from Chief Che''s lifetime. The plaque was issued by the court, engraved with the words "Fire Cavalry Commander." It represented Chief Che''s identity. Only by obtaining this plaque could Zhao Yi go to the secondary residence to find the second madam. Fortunately, although the room was dusty, it had few pieces of furniture. Besides a bed, there was only a nanmu table placed opposite the bed. Some papers were scattered on the table, with strange materials written on them: "Mercury... rooster blood... bronze mirror..." Zhao Yi dusted off the table and opened a leather-bound book. It was Chief Che''s memo. ... [January 20th] [A group of strangely dressed guests came to the Wang Mansion, bringing valuable gifts to visit the master, discussing some odd matters, seemingly related to ''immortality''... Sigh, it''s surely another scam from the martial world, these charlatans and sorcerers, always using the guise of immortality to deceive...] [The master, for some reason, actually believed these charlatans. Could it be that the master, who has been through countless battles, is now afraid of death...] ... [January 21st] [The master asked me to find two twin female guards under his command and send them to the second madam as maids. How strange... Not long ago, the first madam also specifically selected two maids for the second madam... What are they up to?] ... [January 22nd] [The first madam''s fortieth birthday is coming up, and the master is busy preparing a birthday gift. In recent years, the first madam has always complained about the master not having children with her, and recently they had a big argument over it...] [In private, the first madam said it was all because of Su Mei, that fox spirit, who had bewitched the master, claiming that the vixen bought from the high-class brothel had ill intentions, and feared that she would drain the master''s very marrow...] [The master said the gift he prepared would show the madam his true heart and calm her anger...] ... [January 23rd] [The master had a peculiar expression this morning, asking me to buy two large vats of glutinous rice and some glutinous rice seeds to plant in his residence... This is the first time; I remember the master never had a habit of eating glutinous rice...] ... [January 30th] [The master looked very pale, gave me some money, and told me to retire and return to my hometown, dismissing most of the servants in the mansion... I didn''t leave, I''ve felt uneasy these past few days.] [I went to see the second madam, but she also advised me to leave, saying something terrible was going to happen in the mansion... but I insisted on staying.] [I''ve followed the master in battles for thirty years, passing through the gates of hell many times, covered in scars, never afraid...] ... [February 5th] [Alas!] [Poor master, a lifetime of battles, never a scar from a sword, yet to end in such a way...] [Enough! I''ve followed the master since I was thirteen, and now I''m fifty-six, the master has treated me well, this worthless life can go with the master...] ... The memo ended there. The text in other places was severely damaged, and Zhao Yi could no longer extract any other information from it. Having found the token, he took it along with the memo. He pushed the door open and stepped out. A gust of cold wind blew from the depths of the left corridor... Zhao Yi caught a glimpse. A strange black shadow rushed towards him! The sinister aura was overwhelming! This ghost... was absurdly strong! Zhao Yi recalled Paper Granny''s instructions and turned to run towards the central hall! Screech! Suddenly, a pale hand reached out from a nearby room and grabbed Zhao Yi''s ankle! Zhao Yi stumbled, but his other leg swiftly stepped forward, and at the same time, a scalpel appeared in his palm, stabbing fiercely into the ghostly hand! A piercing scream came from inside the door, the Plunderer and chaotic damage erupted simultaneously, and the ghostly hand immediately let go and withdrew! This brief delay allowed the specter behind him to reach the door of Chief Che''s room! It seemed to fear Chief Che''s room. But upon discovering that the intense resentment in the room had dissipated, it no longer hesitated, sweeping towards Zhao Yi with a terrifying cold wind! Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi, holding the scalpel, sprinted madly! Any ghostly hands or faces that emerged along the way were shattered! These minor ghosts weren''t very strong, and although Zhao Yi was severely weakened, the scalpel''s chaotic damage and ''Plunderer'' were genuinely formidable! Zhao Yi could still handle the vengeful ghosts in the rooms and along the way, but if the specter behind caught up, it would be certain death! Fortunately, its speed wasn''t too outrageous, and it never caught up before Zhao Yi reached the hall. "Ha..." The specter stood at the corridor entrance, its blood-red eyes fixed on Zhao Yi, emitting a sound of unwillingness. It didn''t pursue further. It glanced at the paper butler holding the Guan Yu sword in the hall, then looked at Zhao Yi, eyes filled with endless resentment, before retreating into the darkness... PS: First update Thank you for reading. I''ll start writing the next update immediately. Chapter 106 – Clues and Speculations of The Fourth Day In the hall, two people were already seated. Wang Hua and Pan Sensen. The two of them were gathered around the fire pit, dispelling the chill from their bodies while whispering to each other, their conversation unknown. When Zhao Yi''s footsteps echoed, both of them looked over. Seeing the person holding a scalpel with an excited smile on his face, Wang Hua was so frightened that he fell on his butt! Damn... He... he... is he going to kill someone? As Zhao Yi approached step by step, the image of Bai Zhihai''s corpse outside earlier flashed in Wang Hua''s mind, nearly scaring him to the point of wetting himself! This guy... is more terrifying than a specter! Pan Sensen, observing Wang Hua''s reaction, also appeared wary, but she was the first to speak: "Zhao Yi... who was chasing you just now?" Zhao Yi sat down beside the fire pit, put away the knife, and replied: "Ha!" "It was an enthusiastic resident who preferred to remain anonymous." "Too enthusiastic!" "Chased me all the way..." "Insisted on giving me a set of the national elementary school radio calisthenics, ''Young Eagles Taking Flight''..." Zhao Yi wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked: "Did you guys find anything?" Pan Sensen shook her head. "I searched a few rooms, but apart from encountering terrifying specters, there was nothing." Zhao Yi glanced at her, smiling and nodding. Her clothes were so clean and tidy, her breathing so smooth, not a drop of sweat on her... You''re trying to fool a specter here! S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He knew this woman hadn''t really explored, just put on a show and then returned to the central hall to wait for their findings. A typical case of using them as pawns. But it didn''t matter. Zhao Yi didn''t intend to expose her. "By the way, Bai Zhihai went your way earlier, did you see him?" Pan Sensen began to probe Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi replied: "I saw him." "He was killed by a specter." "The scene was gruesome." Pan Sensen and Wang Hua exchanged a glance but didn''t expose Zhao Yi. Although Bai Zhihai wasn''t actually killed by Zhao Yi, Zhao Yi did dissect him. Or rather... dismembered him. "Sigh... The haunted house is extremely dangerous, there''s nothing we can do about it." She feigned sorrow for a moment, as if mourning Bai Zhihai. "Did you find anything?" Pan Sensen inquired. Zhao Yi took out Chief Che''s notebook, opened it in front of them, and showed them the contents. There were quite a few key pieces of information inside. "Strange... why say ''again'' for the madam''s fortieth birthday?" Pan Sensen''s eyes narrowed. Any seemingly unreasonable detail could be a deliberate part of the game. "Could it be... the madam is already dead?" Wang Hua chimed in quietly. "After all, the dead... don''t continue to age." Pan Sensen was silent for a moment. "No, if the madam were already dead, how could she have recently argued with the ''master''?" She looked up at Zhao Yi, who was comfortably warming himself by the fire, and asked: "Zhao Yi, what do you think?" After some thought, Zhao Yi said: "Why say ''again''?" "I guess..." "Maybe she already celebrated her fortieth birthday once before?" Pan Sensen: "..." Wang Hua: "..." Damn! This guy is just talking nonsense with a straight face! But seeing the calm smile on Zhao Yi''s face, Pan Sensen felt that Zhao Yi probably knew something. She sighed, shook her head, and continued reading. "The madam and the second madam seem to have a conflict..." Pan Sensen pointed to a part of the text. Wang Hua asked in confusion: "How can you tell?" Pan Sensen explained: "Are you stupid? The madam called the second madam a fox spirit, clearly the master favors the second madam more... and the fact that the master doesn''t want to have children with the madam shows she''s not favored." "As the main wife, it''s normal for the madam to want to get rid of the second madam out of jealousy..." Wang Hua pondered this. Pan Sensen continued: "Based on the information left in this notebook, the master seems very interested in immortality..." "And he had the butler buy a lot of glutinous rice and sticky rice... could it be related to zombies?" "Could he... have turned himself into a zombie?" Though Pan Sensen was not entirely trustworthy, it couldn''t be denied that among the new players, her ability was quite decent. Zhao Yi placed his hand by the fire, warmth spreading through his body. "From what I know, not everyone in the haunted house is a specter... at least the madam and the second madam are still alive." A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled. "One is in the Moon Tower, the other in the secondary residence." Pan Sensen and Wang Hua exchanged a glance, the flickering firelight reflecting on their faces, indicating a certain skepticism about Zhao Yi''s words. They believed, but not entirely. "So, where do you plan to go next?" Pan Sensen, with her deep thoughts, was entirely different from her outward appearance. Even at this point, she was still thinking about how to get Zhao Yi killed and how to make the most use of him. As for herself, she had no intention of personally investigating the clues. Having spent some time in this main residence, she realized that this seemingly eerie hall was actually the safest place in the haunted house. So, she asked, "Where do you plan to go?" "No rush, let''s wait for the others." Zhao Yi smiled slightly, as calm as an old dog. Pan Sensen staying in the main residence actually made it easier for him and Luo Qili to act. The task was to find the heart of the mansion''s master and eliminate him, yet their strength was limited to 10 points. This meant that completing these tasks didn''t require much effort. There must be a way to achieve a ''plot kill.'' Zhao Yi glanced at the paper figures on the staircase, then at the sticky rice on the stairs. The position of the sticky rice had changed. Although a new layer had been laid, the pattern of the sticky rice distribution was different. These details couldn''t escape Zhao Yi''s fiery eyes. "Did the second madam come by..." A strange thought crossed Zhao Yi''s mind. Paper Granny had told Zhao Yi that only the second madam could go to the second floor of the main residence, and anyone else who entered... would surely die. "What exactly is on the second floor of the main residence?" He recalled seeing a terrifying, decaying ghost face at the window on the second floor from outside the mansion earlier. Could that guy... be the ''master''? Chapter 107 – Fourth Day: Secondary Residences Haunting Song Luo Qili soon returned from the west side. She was injured. The wounds were quite severe, but they had already been bandaged. "Why are you alone?" "Where''s Liu Mei?" Zhao Yi feigned indifference. In fact, when he patted Luo Qili on the shoulder, he had already sent her a message. ¡ªTake care of Liu Mei. Killing was not unfamiliar to Luo Qili. But clearly, Liu Mei was not a simple character. At least not as simple as everyone imagined. Even a player like Luo Qili, with a strong Soul Weapon, paid a hefty price to kill Liu Mei! "She was dragged into a house by a ghost. I didn''t dare go in; it was too terrifying." Upon hearing this, Pan Sensen''s face turned a bit sour. How could she not guess that Luo Qili had killed Liu Mei? But she had no evidence and couldn''t accuse her casually. Moreover, they were now in a 2 vs. 2 situation, and even if she tore off the pretense, it wouldn''t help. In a direct confrontation, Pan Sensen wasn''t confident she could take down Zhao Yi and Luo Qili. "You must be careful of that guy named Zhao Yi..." "He... is very dangerous!!" This was a message from her future self not long ago. In a head-on clash, they probably had no chance. Now, with Liu Mei and Bai Zhihai dead, they could only take one step at a time. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After exchanging the memo information with Luo Qili, the four quickly made a decision. Zhao Yi and Luo Qili would go find the second madam, while Wang Hua and Pan Sensen would go to Moon Tower to find the madam. Once Zhao Yi and Luo Qili''s figures disappeared into the twilight, Wang Hua''s eyes turned vicious. "What now?" Pan Sensen looked in the direction the two had left, her once sunny face now appearing particularly cold. "Stay calm." "Let them do the tasks first..." ... On the road. "Why didn''t you kill them?" Luo Qili was puzzled. "Killing can be done anytime." "But keeping them alive might be useful." Zhao Yi walked along, his expression subtle. Luo Qili sighed and asked again: "So... did the master of this haunted house really turn himself into a zombie?" Zhao Yi: "Highly possible." "But the motives behind the master''s actions are worth pondering." Luo Qili was slightly taken aback. "Why?" Zhao Yi: "If the master of the haunted house turned himself into a zombie, why would he have people buy glutinous rice?" "Is he looking for trouble for himself?" Luo Qili raised an eyebrow. "What if it was to restrain himself, to prevent losing his mind and killing innocents?" Zhao Yi chuckled: "That''s the interesting part I''ve always thought about..." "If he feared becoming a zombie and killing innocents, couldn''t he go to a remote mountain to refine himself into a zombie?" "Couldn''t he go to an uninhabited place to do it?" "He has the financial and material resources, but he didn''t do so. Why?" "Think about our main quest..." Under Zhao Yi''s guidance, Luo Qili thought for a moment, and then her body suddenly trembled! "Are you suggesting... the heart?!" Zhao Yi replied: "Exactly." "We can make a reasonable assumption¡ªthe master''s heart, for some special reason, must be stored somewhere in the mansion." "And his body can''t be too far from the heart!" "So he had no choice but to turn himself into a zombie in his own residence." "And to prevent himself from killing innocents, he had people use glutinous rice to confine himself on the second floor of the main house." The more Zhao Yi spoke, the faster his mind worked, and he continued to deduce. "Now, what''s the most peculiar thing in this haunted house?" "It''s the two living people." "Everyone else has turned into ghosts, yet the madam Fang Qian and the second madam Su Mei are alive." "It''s not hard to guess that the heart is likely related to one of them." ... In the live streaming room: : Could it all be orchestrated by the two madams? : Probably not... What would they gain from it? : I still don''t get why the madam''s fortieth birthday uses ''again''? : So confusing! I''m completely lost... : Sigh, let''s watch Zhao Yi continue solving the mystery... Speaking of which, Pan Sensen and those guys are really asking for trouble... trying to scheme against Zhao Yi... ... The moon hid behind the clouds. The sky grew dimmer. Zhao Yi turned on the flashlight, and Luo Qili glanced at it, coughing lightly. "This flashlight looks familiar." Zhao Yi, with a thick skin, replied: "I found it." Luo Qili glared: "You''re lying!" "This is clearly the one I lent you!" Zhao Yi refused to admit: "Hey, flashlights... they look alike, it''s normal. You must be mistaken." Luo Qili was speechless. "My name is engraved on it, okay?" "Have some decency, will you?" Zhao Yi picked it up and looked. Oh! It really was. Caught in his lie, Zhao Yi''s face didn''t turn red, nor did his heart skip a beat, and he even countered: "Wow!" "Are you crazy?" "You engraved your name on a lousy flashlight." "Next time we go to Hanging Valley Town, I''ll show you. Psychological issues need early treatment, or they''ll get worse." Luo: "???" ... The two walked along the eerie forest path of the ancient house for a while. The secondary residence wasn''t far from the main house, visible at a glance. But there was a rather wide ditch in between. Zhao Yi vaguely felt the ditch was dangerous, and he didn''t want to wade through it directly. So he chose to take a detour. As they approached the secondary residence, Zhao Yi tried to take out the Shredder... hmm, the item bar was sealed. Strange, why did he instinctively reach for the Shredder? What a peculiar habit! Zhao Yi internally gave himself a perfect score of 12, and pulled out the butler''s ID card. From the treetops above, two ropes suddenly descended slowly. Stained with blood. The ropes moved with the two of them. Slowly approaching... Then suddenly looped around their necks! In the next moment, their bodies were pulled into the air, Luo Qili kicking frantically, even losing her shoes! Being strangled, it would only take a few seconds to lose consciousness! She couldn''t make a sound, and as her brain was deprived of blood, everything grew darker... Suddenly, she felt her neck loosen. She fell to the ground. Gasping for air, she clutched her neck. Beside her, Zhao Yi was also a bit disheveled, holding the butler''s ID card high! The blood-stained ropes slowly disappeared. "Cough cough... where did you get that card, do you have another?" "Get me one too!" Luo Qili grabbed Zhao Yi''s sleeve, and he pulled her up. "No more, just one." "If you don''t want to die, you''d better stick close to me... hey! Not that close, chest D!" Luo Qili cautiously observed the surroundings, sticking close to Zhao Yi. "No... I feel safer sticking close..." The two continued forward, out of the small forest, and ahead was the secondary residence. A gentle and melodious humming drifted out from inside: "The lover is affectionate, the concubine is willing..." "The mandarin ducks embroider the brocade, carrying spring away..." "Not seeking the wind, not seeking the rain..." "Only wishing for a long-lasting love till old age..." bean;ve ¡¯q¡¯f¡¯ PS: Third update. Thank you for reading. Additionally, my recent state has indeed declined, related to my laziness, and not reading other good works in time to copy... I mean, to enhance my abilities. I''ll adjust as soon as possible! Goodnight, brothers! Chapter 108 – Fourth Day: Flesh Puppet The singing was like the chirping of a spirit bird, beautiful beyond compare, clear and moving. Just hearing a single note dispelled the fear in one''s heart. From a distance, the two saw a graceful woman drawing water by an ancient well in the secondary residence. Under the starlit sky, the mundane aura around her dispelled some of the eerie atmosphere of the haunted mansion. Raising her hand, her jade-like arm bathed in a layer of faint light, the starlight falling on her face, revealing the gentle charm of a southern water town. Such a gentle woman. Her amber eyes were as beautiful as autumn waters, truly capable of captivating one''s heart. As they cautiously entered the courtyard, the woman noticed them, a hint of surprise appearing on her delicate face. "You are..." Zhao Yi scratched his head and said: "You must be Su Mei, the second madam of the Wang Mansion, right?" "We''re outsiders, and due to some special circumstances, we had to come here." Su Mei''s eyes flickered slightly, she invited them to sit and went inside the house, bringing out warm tea for them. "So you are guests from outside the mansion... I apologize for the lack of hospitality." "The mansion has fallen into decline, there''s not much to offer you, but I can cook some sticky rice for you." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes gentle as water. Zhao Yi did not refuse, and soon Su Mei served them two bowls of steaming fragrant sticky rice. She herself cooked some millet porridge. There used to be a rule in the Wang Mansion, if guests came, one must accompany them in eating. If only the guests ate while one watched, it would be impolite. "Why isn''t the madam eating sticky rice?" Zhao Yi asked casually. Su Mei replied softly: "I''m getting older, my stomach can''t handle sticky rice." Zhao Yi glanced at Su Mei. She looked very young, with no signs of age on her face. Her skin was tight and fair. She looked like a young woman in her twenties. But she was dressed very warmly. The haunted mansion wasn''t cold. The three of them ate in silence, the atmosphere harmonious. After finishing the sticky rice, Zhao Yi asked: "Second madam, if I may ask... has the madam celebrated her fortieth birthday many times?" Su Mei''s pupils suddenly contracted. She was quite surprised: "How do you know?" Zhao Yi took out Chief Che''s notebook and explained: "Chief Che told us." Su Mei looked at the notebook, the familiar handwriting evoking a trace of sadness in her eyes. That honest face, that old yet still robust figure... That heart always warm towards the mansion... Now all reduced to cold ink stains on paper. "Sigh..." She sighed softly. "My sister... indeed has celebrated her fortieth birthday many times." Zhao Yi pressed on: "Why?" Su Mei nodded, her lips tightly pressed, eyes closed: "I''m sorry... I can''t say." Luo Qili changed her approach: "Then... was the madam good to you when she was alive?" Su Mei nodded. "My sister was very good to me when she was alive..." She stopped abruptly halfway through. She had been... tricked! Luo Qili''s eyes lit up: "So... the madam is already ''dead'' now?" Su Mei smiled bitterly: "I''m sorry, I really can''t say..." "You should leave quickly, the haunted mansion is very dangerous, and... if you don''t leave soon, I''m afraid you won''t be able to leave at all." These words, the Paper Granny had also said. Zhao Yi replied: "Madam, we can''t leave anymore, so we''re trying to investigate the truth of this haunted mansion to find a way out." "Otherwise... we''ll die here." Su Mei''s hand trembled slightly as she collected the bowls. She stood there for a moment, then gritted her teeth and said: "I''m sorry... I can''t help you." She was about to head inside, Luo Qili wanted to follow, but Zhao Yi held her back. As Su Mei was about to close the door, Zhao Yi spoke: "Madam loves the master very much, doesn''t she?" Su Mei paused, but didn''t turn around. After a long silence, she sighed softly. "The master saved me from the high-class brothel back then, and treated me with utmost kindness, I am grateful for his kindness, and naturally hold affection for him..." "Unfortunately, time was short, and I couldn''t leave him any offspring..." She stood inside the house, glanced at the two of them, her brows furrowed, wanting to say something but stopping. In the end, she gently closed the door. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Qili whispered: "Why didn''t you let me catch up and ask?" "This woman clearly knows something..." "If necessary, we could even..." Zhao Yi: "If you dare threaten her... you''ll die a horrible death." "Facing someone who can live openly in a haunted mansion, how much chance do you think you have?" Luo Qili was stumped, her expression shifting, and when she looked at the room in the secondary residence again, her eyes were filled with seriousness and fear. This woman was so gentle, harmless, she almost fell for it! Having dealt with specters for so long, she had subconsciously regarded people as safe NPCs! If Zhao Yi hadn''t stopped her just now... "We can''t get anything more from the second madam, should we go to the madam''s place?" Zhao Yi responded: "Did you find any useful information when you went to the west side earlier?" Luo Qili, reminded by the question, quickly took out a cloth bag. "I found a special book in a room dedicated to deities on the west side, it records a peculiar puppet technique." "Earlier in the hall, there were too many people, I didn''t take it out." She pulled out the cloth bag and placed a dusty book on the table, Zhao Yi opened it and quickly skimmed through it. Reading at lightning speed. Reading, understanding, digesting. A few minutes later, he finished the nearly thousand-page book. "You... finished reading?" Luo Qili hadn''t dared to disturb Zhao Yi, only speaking now. Although she didn''t believe Zhao Yi could finish the book in such a short time. With hundreds or thousands of words per page, how could he remember anything just by scanning through? Zhao Yi closed his eyes. "Flesh Puppet... page 761." He spoke. Luo Qili flipped to page 761, her pupils shaking! "Damn!" She couldn''t help but curse. On page 761 of the book, there was indeed a record of the method for crafting flesh puppets! "Are you a specter or something?" Zhao Yi blinked and said: "Flesh Puppet¡ªcrafted from a freshly dead, uncorrupted corpse, it can partially carry the master''s memories and emotions from life, but the memories are limited, and the emotions are very unstable, easily triggered by external stimuli." "Its memories will gradually fade over time, and it is prone to anger and jealousy." "Generally, its life should not differ too much from when the body was alive." "When the flesh puppet''s memories completely disappear, it will retain the emotions from before the memories faded, but will no longer have its own thinking ability..." Chapter 109 – Change of the Fourth Day ``` [If you want to maintain the memories and emotions of the Flesh Puppet, you need the blood of a close relative...] [If you want to (crossed out), you need the beloved''s (crossed out).] "Damn it, the crucial part is crossed out!" Luo Qili clenched her small fists. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi quickly took out Chief Che''s memo, his eyes flickering. "No wonder the madam always celebrates her fortieth birthday..." "And the Paper Granny always says she''s still alive and can argue with the master..." "Strictly speaking, she isn''t dead." "The madam was most likely turned into a Flesh Puppet!" Pausing, Zhao Yi turned his head and glanced into the distance under the moonlight. In the direction of the Moon Tower. The lights inside were bright, more so than any other part of the haunted mansion. "Previously, a paper figure from the main residence told me something..." "What did it say?" Luo Qili asked curiously. "If we don''t leave this haunted mansion soon, we won''t have the chance to leave at all." "I think... the timing of our entry into the haunted mansion dungeon might be special, and something terrifying is about to happen here!" Hearing the word ''terrifying'' from Zhao Yi''s mouth, Luo Qili couldn''t help but feel nervous... Even Zhao Yi used the word ''terrifying''... It definitely wasn''t a simple change! "Are we heading to the Moon Tower now?" Luo Qili was a bit anxious. "No..." Zhao Yi remained calm. "We can''t go directly." "Since entering the second madam''s secondary residence required a token, going to the madam''s Moon Tower likely requires one too." "Without the token... going in would most likely mean instant death!" Luo Qili: "Do we have to return to the main residence?" Zhao Yi: "I still need to find that Paper Granny." "She clearly knows a lot, but due to some special reasons, she hasn''t spoken." The two quickly set off, and on the way, Zhao Yi told Luo Qili that the road on the east side of the main residence was no longer safe. At the end, there was a Specter they couldn''t confront directly, lurking around. Under the faint moonlight, Luo Qili suddenly discovered her hands were covered in blood! Her gaze fell to the ground, where a sinister dark red blood trail led all the way into the hall... "Something''s definitely happened..." Zhao Yi seemed to have anticipated this and wasn''t surprised. From the information from the Paper Granny, it was easy to deduce that the haunted mansion would become increasingly terrifying over time! "Is it... because the master of the haunted mansion has come out?" Luo Qili shivered slightly. The two cautiously explored inside. Human remains were scattered in every corner of the hall. Blood covered the floor. A brazier had been kicked over. Ashes scattered in the blood. Beside the brazier was a mutilated human head. Its skin had been torn off, making it almost unrecognizable. The Paper Chief at the staircase was also gone. Glutinous rice was scattered everywhere. Inexplicably. A strong sense of despair and fear surged. "Are they... already..." Luo Qili was not one to scare easily, but at this moment, her voice trembled. She stared intently at the stairs, looking into the darkness at the corner of the second floor. In her mind was the terrifying, rotting ghost face that had stared at them from the second-floor window when they first entered the mansion. Had it... come down? Zhao Yi squatted on the ground, picked up the mutilated head, and examined it. ... Live Streaming Room: : Damn, Zhao Yi is still not running, he''s playing with a corpse... : Really scary... will that ghost from the second floor come down? : Zhao Yi isn''t playing, he''s identifying the owner of the head. Although the skin was peeled off and it''s severely damaged, he''s good at dissection and should be able to deduce from the remaining skull. : Damn, with the Paper Chief gone from the stairs, I''m even more nervous. Hold on, I''m going to grab another blanket! ... "Wang Hua''s head." Zhao Yi was very certain. "Wang Hua? Then Pan Sensen must be..." At this moment, Luo Qili actually hoped Pan Sensen was still alive. The wind was bone-chilling. The darkness, suffocating. "Not sure if she''s dead... but I think she should still be alive." Zhao Yi carefully examined the bloodstains in the hall and the glutinous rice at the staircase. "That thing upstairs probably hasn''t come down yet." "Killing Wang Hua... was something else." "It left bloody footprints, probably fled outside." "There was a fight in the hall, some furniture was broken with very clean cuts, indicating that this ghost thing fought with the Paper Chief, but clearly... it didn''t win against the Paper Chief." "It was chased around by Chief Che." Hearing this, Luo Qili suddenly relaxed a lot. The paper figures not attacking them meant they were at least neutral. Other ghosts fearing the paper figures indirectly meant the Paper Chief was a protective shield for the players. If the Paper Chief were gone, it would mean the players were completely in danger, without even a single safe spot! Fortunately... the Paper Chief was still fine, just off to kill ghosts. Luo Qili looked at Zhao Yi, but saw his brows furrowed. "What''s wrong?" Her heart, which had just settled, suddenly hung in the air again... Zhao Yi''s gaze was deep. "Don''t you find it strange?" "The purpose of the Paper Chief''s existence is to separate the first and second floors." "Without extremely special circumstances, it wouldn''t leave the staircase." "Judging from the scene, the ghost that fought with the Paper Chief was clearly much weaker than the Paper Chief..." "But it still chose to confront the Paper Chief and used some means to lure it away..." Luo Qili''s eyes slowly widened. "You mean..." Zhao Yi looked up. His gaze fell behind Luo Qili. The next moment, Zhao Yi grabbed Luo Qili by the front of her shirt and ran towards the right corridor... PS: Thanks for reading. There''s one more update. ``` Chapter 110 – The Fourth Day Luo Qili didn''t resist. She even cooperated willingly. In that instant, every hair on her body stood on end! What on earth was behind her just now?! She followed Zhao Yi all the way, her heart pounding wildly, until they ran into a dark room, and Zhao Yi finally let go of her hand. The distance wasn''t long, but Luo Qili felt her legs turn to jelly. Panting heavily, she asked, "Was that ghost chasing us just now?" Zhao Yi was surprised, "Ghost?" "What ghost?" Luo Qili: "???" She clenched her fists tightly, veins popping on her forehead. "No ghost, you damn..." She felt that if she stayed with this lunatic Zhao Yi any longer, she''d go insane! Once upon a time, she was a civilized little pioneer. Now, she couldn''t help but curse. She looked down, adjusted her heaving chest, full of frustration, and then her expression suddenly changed. She saw Zhao Yi squatting on the ground, seriously examining a pile of blood-soaked paper. When you''re just trying to make great content at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. "It''s dead." Zhao Yi''s tone was serious. "Who?" "The Paper Granny... yes, the ghost that told me to find the second madam to get Chief Che''s keepsake." He spoke while rubbing the blood on the ground with his hand. "Fresh blood." "It seems it''s not the ghost chasing me." Zhao Yi''s eyes were filled with confusion. The pool of Bai Zhihai at the door was also gone. Who did this? He stood up. He walked to the table and turned on the flashlight. There was a line of bloody words left on it. ... [It deceived the master...] [It deceived all of us...] [Please... stop it!] [To reach the Moon Tower, you must get the Soul-Calming Incense from the storeroom... the storeroom is in the room at the very end...] ... "Damn." Luo Qili scratched her head. Now she really felt overwhelmed. Zhao Yi just said there was a terrifying specter over there... How could they possibly get the Soul-Calming Incense now? "If it comes to it, I''ll distract that ghost for you..." Luo Qili prepared for the worst, knowing that luring a ghost in a haunted mansion was extremely dangerous. But if they didn''t complete the task, they were doomed! "No need." Zhao Yi''s eyes sparkled. "It should already be dead." Luo Qili looked at the dismembered Paper Granny on the ground. "Like this one?" Zhao Yi nodded. "Exactly." "Our previous assumptions were wrong..." "Damn it, we got played by the game system..." Luo Qili was completely lost in Zhao Yi''s train of thought. She was quite a thoughtful woman. But now, faced with all these clues, she was utterly confused. Zhao Yi reassembled the Paper Granny and placed it on the table as a gesture of gratitude, then led the way out. Luo Qili followed closely. "I think I understand the whole story of this dungeon, but I need one more thing to prove my hypothesis." "We have to be quick!" "We don''t have much time!" The two quickly reached the end of the corridor, where there was indeed a horribly mutilated corpse outside the door. Its eyes were gouged out, tongue torn out, and it was cut in half! The chest was split open, and the heart was missing. The warehouse door was also violently opened. Inside, there was a strong lingering resentment! "Just passing through can leave such a strong aura of resentment..." Luo Qili''s right eyelid twitched. The specter that had been in the storeroom... was incredibly powerful! The two entered. They found some Soul-Calming Incense. "Strange... why did that fierce ghost come to the storeroom?" "Is there something here it needs?" Luo Qili pondered for a moment, then heard Zhao Yi beside her say: "It''s looking for a key." She was stunned. "A key?" Zhao Yi smiled: "That guy... wants to go to the second floor!" "If I''m not mistaken, there are three keys in this mansion that can open the second floor. One is with the master, one with the second madam Su Mei, and the other... is in this warehouse." "And this key... used to belong to the madam, Fang Qian." A sense of foreboding swept over Luo Qili... "Who... is it?" Zhao Yi said meaningfully: "An invisible person... never acknowledged." "Let''s head to the Moon Tower." "There might be clues there to help us complete the task." In the storeroom, they found a flint, used some flammable materials to create a flame, and lit the Soul-Calming Incense. The two of them, holding the incense, ran towards the Moon Tower. From a distance, the tower was still brightly lit. The building was three stories high. At the entrance, Zhao Yi was about to push the door open when he suddenly glanced downward. There were bloodstains. Very few. But very fresh. He crouched down, touched it with his hand, and brought it to his nose. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Human blood. "Pan Sensen also came in..." Zhao Yi''s lips curled slightly. He pushed the door open and entered. The first floor was empty, eerily clean. They climbed the vintage wooden stairs, the creaking sound piercing through the darkness. They reached the second floor. The smell of blood was stronger. There were two rooms in the corridor. The door on the left was ajar, and Zhao Yi stepped forward to push it open. It was the madam''s boudoir. Inside... was the gravely injured Pan Sensen. She lay on the madam''s bed, her face pale, her left arm missing, and a large piece of skin torn from her neck. Her eyes had been gouged out, leaving two ghastly bloody holes. Blood stained the sheets. Hearing movement in the room, she curled up slightly and opened her mouth. From it, a blood-soaked eyeball rolled out! The eyeball was filled with malice, even making a strange sound: "Found you..." Smack! Before it could finish its lines, Zhao Yi kicked it. It shattered. But the eyeball was incredibly resilient, quickly rolling, trying to escape. The next moment, a bloodstained scalpel descended from above, pinning it to the ground! The malicious eye let out a piercing scream, sprouting countless tiny tendrils. Before long, it turned into a puddle of foul-smelling pus... "Find any useful clues, then we''ll head to the third floor." The two carefully searched the room, and soon Zhao Yi found a land deed in the bedside cabinet. ¡ªThe Wang Mansion''s land deed. And the name on it was shockingly... b£¾ PS: Time to start wrapping things up. One last clue. I''ll continue writing tomorrow, thank you for reading. Goodnight, everyone! Chapter 111 – The Truth of The Fourth Day and... Crisis "Fang Qian... How could it be?!" Luo Qili gasped softly. The owner of this mansion... turns out to be the madam, Fang Qian! "Isn''t this kind of mansion usually a reward from the court to meritorious officials?" "By that logic, shouldn''t the deed belong to the ''master''?" Zhao Yi explained: "Not necessarily." "Apart from court rewards, it''s also possible that the ''master'' voluntarily retired and returned to his hometown." "If that''s the case, then the ownership of the mansion''s deed is uncertain, as it''s a private matter." "And personally, I lean more towards the possibility of the ''master'' retiring." Luo Qili was curious. "Why?" Zhao Yi took out Chief Che''s memo. "Chief Che said he followed the master through battles for thirty years." "This indicates that earlier, the court was unstable, and the country was in turmoil." "It was people like the ''master'' who stood up to quell the chaos and helped the emperor unify the nation." "But often, these people, when it comes time to reward them... the emperor finds ways to deal with them!" sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Qili''s eyes sparkled. "Too much merit can threaten the ruler... no rewards left to give, nothing to bestow!" Zhao Yi nodded. "Exactly." "But the ''master'' of the Wang Mansion was smart; he retired, voluntarily shedding his glory to enjoy his later years." "So the mansion wasn''t a reward from the court, and the master no longer holds an official position." "Though it''s called the ''Wang Mansion,'' it''s only because the ''master'' is the head of the household." "As for the deed''s ownership, it falls to whoever bought it... which is the madam." Luo Qili murmured: "So, the one we need to kill isn''t the ''master,'' but the madam!" "The heart we''re looking for isn''t the master''s heart, but... the madam''s heart!" Zhao Yi stood by the window at the edge of the building, looking towards the main house in the distance. There, dark mist was swirling, and ominous energy was rolling! It seemed something terrifying was about to emerge from inside! "The ghost attracting the Paper Chief... must have been sent by the madam." "And the one who killed the warehouse guard and took the key to the second floor... was also the madam!" Zhao Yi paused, a smile appearing on his face. "No... that''s not accurate." "The madam has long been dead." "The current madam... is just a Flesh Puppet." "From the moment it was resurrected, everyone treated it as the madam!" "But it knows in its heart that it is a new life with self-awareness..." "Everyone in the mansion respects it, yet... no one acknowledges its existence!" "It lives like an invisible person in a world where it has no place." "So it was provoked, its emotions became unstable, and the drawbacks of the Flesh Puppet began to show¡ªit used its identity as the ''madam'' to argue with the master, trouble the second madam... even wanting to kill her." Recalling the drawbacks of the Flesh Puppet''s tendency to become emotionally unstable and extreme when provoked, many clues in Luo Qili''s mind began to connect! "So that''s how it is..." Only now did she realize the bottomless pit the system had dug for them! The mansion owner, the ghost face appearing in the main house, the repeated mentions of the master... All the clues were almost pointing towards the ''master''! Damn! Damn system, heartless! Zhao Yi rummaged through the bedside cabinet and quickly found a record. [Today] [He won''t board the ship with me] ... [Today] [He won''t board the ship with me, he says he loves me.] ... [Today] [The master won''t board the ship with me, it must be because of that fox spirit, if I kill her, he''ll board the ship with me.] ... [Today] [Men, not a single one is good!!] ... [Today] [They should all die!!] ... [Today] [I found that book, it says if I can obtain the heart of my true love, I can be resurrected!] [Since that old man says he loves me... he must be willing to give me his heart, right?] [Willing, right?] ... [Today] [He seems to know my intentions... damn... will he use the birthday celebration as an opportunity to get rid of me?] [Very likely!] [I can''t just sit and wait!] ... [Today] [Another boring birthday, he gave me a Linglong Heart, saying this Linglong Heart is his true heart, he''s willing to give everything for me, including his life... ha, not even ghosts believe men''s words!] [But this Linglong Heart looks really beautiful... might as well keep it for now!] ... [Today] [Something terrible seems to have happened in the mansion...] ... [Today] [The master is dead... but his heart has disappeared...] [He saw that fox spirit one last time before he died, the heart must have been taken by her...] To access the premium content, go to [ ]. [I must find his heart... I must...] ... [Today] [That fox spirit actually has such powerful guards... damn!] ... [Today] [The servants say the fox spirit goes to the second floor of the main house every day.] [The master''s heart... must be there!] ... "Linglong Heart?" Zhao Yi squinted. He opened Chief Che''s memo. Found the record from January 22nd. "That old man really took out his own heart and gave it to the madam..." Zhao Yi clicked his tongue, while Luo Qili was utterly shocked! Letting the madam see his true heart... sounded romantic at first. But who would have thought the reality was so bloody! "The book on Flesh Puppets records that their strength and life come from resentment, and the resentment accumulates in their heart, the closer they are to their heart, the deeper the resentment..." "If the Flesh Puppet completely merges with its heart... then it will become a super terrifying... corpse ghost!" Thinking of this, Zhao Yi suddenly exclaimed excitedly: "Goodness, it''s getting real!" Luo Qili was stunned, hurriedly flipping through the book on puppet crafting, while asking: "What?" Zhao Yi: "If I''m not mistaken, the madam''s heart... should be stored on the second floor of the main house!" "She might mistake that heart for the master''s heart and put it into her own chest..." "At that point..." Luo Qili felt a chill in her heart! Damn! If that''s true... Aren''t they doomed?! And... Why the hell are you excited?! We''re all going to be finished! "Is there any solution?!" She asked anxiously. Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow: "Follow me..." Chapter 112 – The Fourth Day Chapter 112: "Day Four" The Madam Obtains the Heart The two of them wandered around the second floor but couldn''t find what they needed. So, they headed to the third floor. "Prepare for battle." Zhao Yi reminded, pulling out the scalpel in his hand. The audience in the live streaming room held their breath, cautiously watching the darkness above the stairs. Generally, places where key items are stored are never completely safe. Like Chief Che Lin''s room, or the storage warehouse. As soon as the two stepped onto the third floor, a gust of eerie wind blew, and Zhao Yi quickly ducked his head, the sharp strands of hair slicing through the air like blades! A moment''s delay, and Zhao Yi''s head would have surely been severed! However, someone whose mind is solely focused on causing trouble won''t stop probing. He peeked again. The strands of hair returned! But this time, Zhao Yi raised the scalpel in front of him! The hair was split in two the moment it touched the scalpel, losing its power! The two of them jumped directly onto the third floor, and the scene before them left them stunned. A pale female ghost in a red dress was using her hair to relentlessly whip the motionless Paper Chief in front of her! The latter was in tatters, covered in blood! The female ghost wasn''t in a good state either, with obvious gruesome wounds on her body. Clearly, they were left from being chased by the Paper Chief earlier. She opened her bloody mouth, baring her teeth at the two, and lunged directly at them! "Hold her off!" Zhao Yi shouted to Luo Qili, rolling away to dodge the female ghost''s attack range. Luo Qili watched the female ghost charging at her, clenching her buttocks tightly! Damn! Such a familiar scene! Isn''t this a replay of the scene in the secret passage of Kala Asylum? "Why is it me again?!" Luo Qili exclaimed, narrowly dodging the first wave of the female ghost''s attack, and shifted positions several times, distributing her Soul Weapon. But clearly, her Soul Weapon was far inferior to Zhao Yi''s and couldn''t sever the ghost''s hair, which was imbued with resentment! She could only barely defend! One human and one ghost went back and forth, but due to Luo Qili''s strength being limited to 10 points, her skills were limited. In less than three minutes, a strand of ghost hair wrapped around Luo Qili''s long leg! Seeing the ghostly face closing in, Luo Qili''s mouth twitched. "What shampoo do you use?" "Your hair quality is pretty good, huh?" Maybe she had been around Zhao Yi for too long and got infected. She couldn''t help but crack a cold joke before her imminent death. The female ghost ignored her, opening her bloody mouth, ready to swallow her head whole! At the critical moment, a crescent moon arc flashed by, and the female ghost''s head flew off! Foul-smelling blood gushed out! Its face showed a look of horror and unwillingness. The cut was smooth, and what fell was actually a paper-made guandao! Luo Qili panted heavily, sweat sliding down her swan neck, and she turned her head to see that the Paper Chief had somehow broken free from its restraints! It held a knife in one hand and a stick of Soul-Calming Incense in the other! "That ghost lured the Chief into the Moon Tower, using its power to suppress him." Zhao Yi pulled Luo Qili up from the ground, took out the Fire Cavalry Commander''s badge, and placed it in front of the Paper Chief. "Listen to me, Chief Che... your master is in big trouble..." Zhao Yi explained the situation to Che Lin and informed him that the madam''s Flesh Puppet had gone to the second floor. Che Lin immediately couldn''t stand still, holding the guandao, he broke through the window and flew towards the main residence with the wind! "Can Che Lin defeat the madam''s Flesh Puppet?" Luo Qili asked nervously. Zhao Yi rummaged through the room while replying: "In the past, it wouldn''t have been a problem... but now it''s tough." "He''s seriously injured, and... the closer that Flesh Puppet gets to its heart, the stronger it becomes!" Luo Qili watched Zhao Yi''s busy figure, picking up a round glass ornament: "Is this what you''re looking for?" Zhao Yi''s eyes lit up. "Where did you get it?" Luo Qili replied: "From the female ghost." "I saw a small protrusion on her body earlier, thought it was her weakness, but it wasn''t." Zhao Yi looked at the glass orb. Inside, it emitted a very warm energy, capable of restoring a player''s sanity and calming emotions. "This... is the master''s heart?" Luo Qili was surprised. Zhao Yi replied: "Yes." "We need to find a way to put this into the madam''s chest." "It will dispel all of her resentment... and naturally kill her too!" As he finished speaking, Luo Qili exclaimed: "Just... just the two of us?" Zhao Yi: "And Chief Che." "Hurry!" "We don''t have much time!" The two quickly left the Moon Tower, running towards the main residence! By now, the moonlight was completely swallowed by dark clouds, the coldness pressing down so heavily it was hard to breathe. In front, the second floor of the main residence erupted with a strange power, surging and flooding every corner of the haunted mansion! "Zhao Yi! I have an immature idea..." Luo Qili felt the overwhelming power, her legs a bit weak! This was something their current combat power of only 5 couldn''t possibly fight against! Zhao Yi didn''t speak, glancing at the second floor. He suddenly tossed the Chief''s token to Luo Qili, saying: "If you don''t want to die, go to the secondary residence and find the second madam, tell her what''s happening here!" "The final battle can''t happen without her!" Luo Qili caught the token in a panic, gritting her teeth at Zhao Yi: "Zhao Yi, you must hold on, I''ll be back as soon as possible!" Without looking back, she ran off. Suddenly, a deafening explosion came from the second floor of the main residence! Chief Che Lin flew out from the second floor with the guandao, landing lightly on the ground. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His injuries were even more severe, almost falling apart! From the second floor, came a terrifying cackling laughter! Two figures appeared simultaneously! One was the madam''s Flesh Puppet with a huge bloody hole in its chest, still containing a bloody heart, and the other was a heartless zombie with a decaying face, exuding a strange aura... "I finally..." "Finally..." "Am coming back to life..." The madam''s mouth curved into a terrifying arc, her eyes filled with endless malice! "Everyone in this mansion... must die!!!" Chapter 113 – Fourth Day "Chief Che, I''ll help you hold off your master." "You hold off the madam''s Flesh Puppet... try to last until the second madam arrives!" Zhao Yi pulled out the Bloodstained Scalpel. His eyes gradually filled with excitement. ... [Persona Injection: Martial Mania (14%), Brutal Persona (6%), Bloodthirsty Persona (1.2%)] [Spirit Corruption: 56% (ineffective against you)] [Enhancements: Close Combat MAX (Beginner), Nerve Excitement MAX] [Duration: 180s (prolonged time increases Chaos Storm particles, affecting the construction of the spiritual world)] ... The master, being a zombie, had immense combat power, but now his heart had been taken by the madam, so his movements were sluggish! The Paper Chief was entangled with the madam, and Zhao Yi leaped forward, his scalpel spinning in his hand, leaving a shallow cut on the zombie''s body! The zombie''s defense was extremely abnormal, almost ignoring the physical damage from Zhao Yi''s scalpel. Luckily, the chaos damage ignored resistance, otherwise, the Plunderer wouldn''t be able to parasitize on the master! With the Plunderer, Zhao Yi''s margin for error increased significantly! The master had little consciousness, especially after being deprived of his heart, and most of his reactions were purely instinctual. As he adapted to his heartless body, his speed increased, and before long, he found an opening in Zhao Yi''s defense, delivering a powerful punch! Bang! Zhao Yi blocked with both arms, the sound of bones cracking accompanied by intense pain! Yet, there was no sign of pain on Zhao Yi''s face; instead, he grew even more excited! He retreated a few steps, his arm injuries slowly healing. The battle on Chief Che''s side was even more brutal! Facing the madam who now possessed her own heart, it was clear that Chief Che was at a significant disadvantage! Moreover, Chief Che was already injured before, and soon, the Paper Chief was covered in cracks and bloodstains, feeling like it could shatter into pieces at any moment with a gust of wind! Yet it still held tightly onto its guandao, refusing to let go! Standing tall! Just as it had followed the master across the battlefield in life, covered in scars, fighting bloodily! Chief Che''s martial skills were not even half of the master''s, but his fervor never wavered until death! After a brief respite, the man, the corpse, and the two ghosts clashed again! The pressure on Zhao Yi''s side increased, and after three minutes, he canceled his persona injection, unable to handle many details better. However, his learning ability was strong, and he began to adapt to the zombie''s attack rhythm, relying on the life force provided by the Plunderer to endure against the zombie master! Even so, his injuries grew more severe! "Jie jie jie!" "Weak and pitiful worm... what''s the use of struggling?" "In the face of absolute power, everything is an illusion!" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Flesh Puppet let out a chilling laugh, seizing the opportunity to tear off one of the Paper Chief''s arms holding the blade, then its nails emitted a faint green glow, slicing through the Paper Chief''s neck, and Chief Che''s head flew off... Its body finally collapsed. And the madam''s Flesh Puppet turned its gaze toward Zhao Yi. Zhao Yi''s eyes were cold, black blood veins faintly appearing on his skin. Though the cost was heavy, if necessary, he wouldn''t hesitate to unleash his Dark Persona to clear the field. He hadn''t done so because the situation was still under his control. Calculating the time, Luo Qili should be arriving soon. Sure enough... Just as the madam was about to make a move on Zhao Yi, two ghostly figures suddenly floated over from afar! The madam sensed them, her head twisting 180 degrees in a bizarre manner, staring at the two murderous ghostly figures! They were the two guards the master had given to the second madam! They were exceptionally fierce, immediately engaging in a fierce struggle with the madam! "I''m back!" Luo Qili and the second madam came running breathlessly in this direction. Seeing her disheveled appearance, with a deep wound on her back, Zhao Yi knew she must have encountered those two ghosts loyal to the madam halfway. "Ran into a little trouble just now... damn! Chief''s gone?!" She didn''t have time to complain to Zhao Yi about the horrors she encountered before seeing Chief Che''s headless body lying motionless in a pool of blood on the ground... Zhao Yi''s gaze passed over Luo Qili, looking at the sorrowful second madam, and said: "Madam, at this point, you have no choice." "If you truly still feel grateful for the master''s kindness, then help us eliminate this Flesh Puppet and let the master rest in peace!" Su Mei''s delicate face was full of grief, she sighed deeply, and laughed bitterly: "It''s all my fault..." "If I hadn''t been attached to the master, hadn''t followed his instructions to burn his body and bury my sister''s heart, the master and sister wouldn''t have ended up like this..." "Now not only has Chief Che been implicated, but the entire Wang family has been dragged down..." "I... am the Wang family''s sinner..." The two guards were no match for the madam, and after a brief entanglement, they were reaching their limit. The second madam suddenly stepped forward, embracing the zombie master. The zombie surprisingly calmed down. Moments later, Su Mei unbuttoned her thick clothing. Her body, which should have been flawless, was now mostly decayed! Her eyes were filled with deep affection, one hand caressing the zombie master''s cheek, tears falling. "Master, it must hurt without a heart, right?" "Mei''er will give you one." "That way, master won''t hurt anymore..." With that, Su Mei reached into her chest and pulled out her own heart! Then, trembling, she placed it into the hole in the zombie''s chest. The bloody heart quickly merged with the zombie, and the master''s chaotic eyes gradually cleared... He held the collapsing Su Mei, but the light in her eyes was quickly fading. "Love is mutual..." Su Mei softly hummed in the zombie''s ear, her gaze lingering, her voice barely audible. She clearly remembered, That was the song she hummed when she first met Wang Zhan while working as a courtesan in the High-class Brothel. If time could stop at that moment, it wouldn''t be so bad. Life, if only at first sight... Su Mei''s lips curled into a slight smile, life extinguished. Blood tears fell from the zombie''s eyes. Dripping onto Su Mei''s chest. He slowly stood up, looking at the madam''s Flesh Puppet that had torn the two maidservants into a bloody mist, his fists clenched, eyes blood-red! "I treated you well... never saw you as a puppet..." "Even... willing to give you my own heart..." "Why... did you do this to me?" At this moment, the madam had completely fused with her heart, no longer a puppet, but a terrifying corpse ghost! Her aura surged, her nails and lips coated in a strange crimson, letting out a chilling laugh. Filled with intense resentment! "How ridiculous..." "Never saw me as a puppet?" "In your eyes, I was just a substitute..." "The entire mansion, big and small, up and down, no one acknowledged my existence..." "Do you really care about me?" "No!" "You only care about Fang Qian, about that dead... bitch!!" "Let me tell you, old man... I am not Fang Qian!" "I..." "Am your... nightmare!!!" Chapter 114 – Fourth Day: Shiki The terrifying killing intent clashed in the air like a raging torrent! The corpse ghost that the madam had become was indeed fierce and powerful, but the zombie master who had fused with the heart of his beloved was no pushover either. Their fists and palms collided, creating explosive sounds like thunder, making one''s head buzz! Boom! The zombie''s physical strength was absurdly powerful. With a punch of unimaginable force, it sent the corpse ghost flying! However, the corpse ghost was not willing to be outdone. While constantly clashing with the zombie, it also attempted to use its spiritual power to interfere with the zombie''s actions! The zombie''s movements slowed slightly, and the corpse ghost immediately left several claw marks on its body! The skin was instantly torn open! ... Zhao Yi and Luo Qili dragged the body of the Paper Chief, constantly moving away from the battlefield! "This paper man is really tough. Its head was cut off, yet it''s still not dead." Zhao Yi looked at the paper man bleeding on the ground and tried to stick its head back on! Seeing the paper man''s head reattached, its eyes regained their sparkle, and Zhao Yi knew it had worked! "There''s still an arm..." Luo Qili eagerly brought over the paper man''s arm and stuck it back on in a similar manner. The chief tried to sit up but was extremely weak. "It needs a blood transfusion." Zhao Yi took out a scalpel, showing a reassuring smile. Luo Qili felt something was off in Zhao Yi''s gaze and turned to run, but Zhao Yi grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back! "Damn it!" "Zhao Yi, you bastard..." Before Luo Qili could finish cursing, Zhao Yi sliced open her wrist with a knife! Blood spurted out, splattering all over the paper man. "Alright, alright!" "I''m running low on blood... I''m going to die, die, die..." Luo Qili was full of anxiety! Zhao Yi was too ruthless, the cut on her wrist was deep! Blood gushed out! She felt her strength being rapidly drained. Seeing it was almost enough, the tendrils at her wrist wound immediately closed up, sealing the cut. Zhao Yi then cut open his own wrist, following the same method, and transfused some blood into the Paper Chief. "Chief Che, listen to me... Although your master is very strong now, the corpse ghost has accumulated too much resentment. It hasn''t fully adapted to its power yet. Once it does, your master will surely die!" "The only way to kill it is to dispel the resentment on it!" "We are too weak to get close to them, but you might have a chance for a strike..." "This Linglong Heart contains the master''s love for the madam when he was alive. If you send it into the corpse ghost''s chest, it can dispel the resentment on it..." Zhao Yi handed the damaged Linglong Heart to the Paper Chief, who glanced at it with a sharp gaze! Its face, painted with bright colors, began to bleed, and the eerie smile on its face became more sinister! Soon, blood completely stained its body! Its aura became increasingly terrifying! The two knew that Chief Che was going all out! The two heavily injured specters beside the second madam also roared and flew swiftly towards Chief Che! Their ghostly power surged, and their life force completely dissipated! They... wanted revenge for the second madam! With the power of these two specters, Chief Che finally returned to peak condition! Even stronger! Watching the two fighting to the death in the distance, Chief Che waved his hand! The guandao came! The paper-made guandao at this moment faintly shimmered with a metallic luster, filled with ghostly energy, and the wails of countless souls could be heard! It flew into the chief''s hand, then burst with intense killing intent, aiming straight for the distant corpse ghost! This strike concentrated all of Chief Che''s power! Including its life force! "Courting death!" The corpse ghost, seeing the trash it had dealt with so easily before daring to cause trouble again, was furious. It forced the zombie back at a cost and turned around to strike! Splat! The paper-made guandao, this time, was far sharper and harder than the corpse ghost had anticipated! It severed the corpse ghost''s arm, split it in two, and pierced its chest! Crack! The blade of the guandao was about to cleave the corpse ghost''s heart, but it was caught by a layer of teeth outside the heart! The power of those teeth was terrifying, blocking the guandao! The corpse ghost grabbed Chief Che''s neck with one hand, sneering: "What a pity..." "A weak ant like you, even if you risk your life, what can you do to me?" It pinched the Linglong Heart held by the Paper Chief with its other hand, sneering: "Trying to use such a weak thing... to deal with me?" "Naive!" Just as it was gloating, a sharp scalpel suddenly stabbed into its back! The smile on the corpse ghost''s face froze. It slowly lowered its head. That unassuming scalpel... had actually cut through its hard teeth and dug out its heart! The corpse ghost''s eyes widened in rage! "No...!!!" It turned fiercely to kill the little thief behind it, but the next moment, Zhao Yi stuffed a bloody heart into its chest cavity! Immediately, a warm power permeated its entire body, and the corpse ghost''s expression was one of shock and pain, as its body ignited with golden flames! "Ahhhhh!!!" It screamed, and Zhao Yi flashed his signature bright smile at the retreating corpse ghost. "Sorry... the one in Chief Che''s hand was just an empty shell, I took out what was inside." The corpse ghost gritted its teeth, trying to muster its last strength to kill Zhao Yi, but a cold, large hand grasped its head! Its eyes contracted sharply, knowing it was doomed! Smash! The hard head was crushed by the zombie''s hand! The endless resentment gathered in the air, still not dissipating, charged fiercely at Zhao Yi, who wore a smug grin! However, it didn''t see... Zhao Yi smiling even more brightly! The river-like resentment enveloped Zhao Yi, pouring in from all directions, trying to possess Zhao Yi and take over his spiritual world! They howled, bit, injected... However, when all the resentment flooded into Zhao Yi''s spiritual world... it seemed to melt away like snow, leaving no trace! Zhao Yi''s originally pale complexion now looked much better. "Not bad..." He licked his lips, seemingly unsatisfied. In front of him, Chief Che stood with the guandao in hand, quietly in the wind, glancing up at the bright moon hanging in the sky. The night wind was slightly cold, the dark clouds had somehow dispersed, leaving a solitary jade plate shining. It was somewhat desolate. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Master... this old servant, will go first..." The paper man smiled at the zombie, its body turning to ashes, scattering in the wind. On the ground, only the cold bodies of the madam and the second madam remained. The zombie slowly knelt on the ground, reaching out to touch Su Mei''s face, and after a long time, let out a soft sigh... ... [Congratulations to Player Zhao Yi and Luo Qili for completing the main quest. Based on contribution, Zhao Yi receives 300 experience points, and Luo Qili receives 200 experience points. The air wall is now open.] [Congratulations to Player Zhao Yi and Luo Qili for completing the side quests, receiving the ''Battery of Stalled Time Energy'' (different players receive different rewards).] ... Live Streaming Room: : The final twist was amazing! If Zhao Yi hadn''t taken out the master''s heart from the Linglong Heart in advance, it would have been a total wipeout! : Damn, my brother Zhao vividly demonstrated what it means to be skilled and bold! : I''m a fan now! This Zhao Yi is incredible! : By the way, how did Zhao Yi kill Bal before? The stream lagged, damn... such an exciting counter-kill, it could definitely make the forum''s top ten of the year, and it got lagged out! : No idea... maybe a super item, it''s normal for a guild like the Slacker Guild to give some treasures to a newcomer with potential like Zhao Yi. : Slacker Guild? Isn''t that a useless guild? What treasures could they have? : The Slacker Guild is indeed a useless guild, but the few veterans in it are all top-tier combatants in the Bone Zone... : ... ... A hand gently pressed on the zombie master''s shoulder. "Not long ago, I asked the second madam a question." "She said she always loved the master." "At least now, she and her beloved can be together forever." Zhao Yi comforted the zombie''s emotions. To prevent it from going mad. Perhaps due to the influence of the second madam''s heart also containing love for the master, the zombie, though sad, was very rational at this moment. "My greed killed her... She shouldn''t have paid the price for my foolishness..." The zombie sighed deeply. After burying the bodies of the two madams. The zombie thanked Zhao Yi and Luo Qili. When Zhao Yi inquired about those strangely dressed people who had come to the Wang Mansion mentioning immortality, the zombie master was dazed for a long time. It finally shook its head and said: Find the original at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. "I can''t remember clearly." "They wore clothes similar to yours." Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow. Dressed like us? Not from this era? The zombie master led Zhao Yi and Luo Qili to the second floor of the main house, telling them about some things it still remembered: "When they came to me, they gave me some documents on corpse refining. Some things I didn''t quite understand. They said they were from some Skull Church, a name I''d never heard of in the martial world..." "They told me that my heart, after refining, could fully resurrect Ah Qian, and I myself, as long as I followed the corpse refining book, could turn myself into a living dead. Even without a heart, I wouldn''t die..." "I was too greedy... Ah Qian and I were childhood sweethearts, our relationship was closer than family. At forty, she died in childbirth along with the baby, and I couldn''t accept it. I preserved Ah Qian''s body with medicine and searched the martial world for all kinds of strange arts to revive her, eventually obtaining a mechanism technique from the Gongshu family..." "It contained methods for creating Flesh Puppets, exactly what I needed, so in my madness, I turned Ah Qian into a Flesh Puppet..." "Then, to fully resurrect Ah Qian and reunite with her, I prepared to turn myself into a living dead... As long as I had no heart, the living dead would never become a zombie and wouldn''t harm others, but I still feared accidents, so I had Chief Che and Mei''er prepare glutinous rice and sticky rice..." "But in the end..." Wang Zhan laughed bitterly. Zhao Yi picked up the conversation. "In the end, there was an accident." "You became a living dead, and coincidentally resonated with the madam''s heart, placing the heart that harbored the Flesh Puppet''s resentment into your body, turning into a zombie, and started a massacre in the mansion..." "If you hadn''t prepared in advance and had glutinous rice ready, no one in the mansion could have subdued you... right?" Wang Zhan looked at Zhao Yi with slight surprise. "Indeed." "Poor Chief Che, who fought with me all his life, never enjoyed wealth or official status, and lost his life because of me..." "To protect the others in the mansion, he hanged himself on the second floor, his battle soul and killing intent possessed the paper man, and with the glutinous rice Mei''er prepared, they trapped me on the second floor..." "At that time, I had almost lost my mind, and Mei''er would feed me her heart''s blood every midnight to barely keep a sliver of my consciousness." Wang Zhan''s tone was sorrowful. Su Mei, to preserve a sliver of his consciousness, was also using the methods in the corpse refining book to slowly turn herself into a living dead... After all, a living person couldn''t obtain their own heart''s blood. Zhao Yi and Luo Qili finally understood that Su Mei wore such thick clothes to cover the blood hole on her chest. She didn''t eat glutinous rice because she was already half a living dead and had an aversion to glutinous rice. As they talked, the three arrived at the second floor of the main house. The scene inside made Luo Qili and the live streaming audience''s scalps tingle... "system;¡¯| ¡¯l¡¯ PS: Sorry, I miscalculated, the next chapter will be the end, there are still some things to explain, I''ll go poop first, then cook, then eat, then continue writing. Thank you all for reading. Chapter 115 – Behind the cracks in the Fifth Day eyes is actually Chapter 115: "Day Five" The Cracks in the Eyes Conceal... If it weren''t for the fact that they had regained their strength, Luo Qili would have definitely turned and fled! Everything before them was too bizarre! On the second floor, wood chips flew everywhere, and fragments were scattered all around. Blood twisted like snakes, covering the walls and floor of the second floor, forming a sacrificial array. The characters were ancient and profound, without a system translation, the two couldn''t understand them at all. Dried corpses lay shattered in every corner of the room. They hadn''t decayed, crumbling into dust like withered leaves. At the center of the array, nine candles illuminated a document and some materials lying quietly. A zombie walked into the array, destroyed it, and handed the document and materials to Zhao Yi. "If you''re interested in these things, take a look... They are of no use to me anymore." "I lost my life and my beloved because of them, and now, I am finally free..." Zhao Yi took the document and materials from the zombie, looked at the desolate creature, and smiled: "Master, there''s no need to be so disheartened." "The second madam''s heart is still beating in your chest... Can''t you feel her passionate love?" The zombie was taken aback. He slowly reached out his hand and placed it on his chest. His heart... was indeed beating! A zombie''s heart shouldn''t beat! Su Mei... was still alive! In that moment, he was overwhelmed with emotion! "So many people sacrificed their lives, you love them, and they love you. It''s because of this bond that you should live on!" For the full version, visit [ ]. Zhao Yi said casually while flipping through the documents. Beside him, Luo Qili glanced at Zhao Yi in surprise. To hear such warm and inspiring words from this man... it was like the sun rising in the west! The players in the live streaming room were about to cry. Such warm words... Is this really our Brother Zhao? Fake! Blast it! Refund! After a long silence, the zombie exhaled deeply and smiled at Zhao Yi: "Thank you, guest." "You''re right, even for Mei''er, I should live on... After all, this life of mine no longer belongs to me." "These things... are yours." "If we meet again in the future, I''ll treat you to a drink." Wang Zhan, though his expression was stiff, also managed a smile. Zhao Yi nodded and smiled: "It''s a deal." After exchanging names, the system sent a message. [Wang Zhan the Zombie''s favorability towards you has increased to ''Respect.''] [This character is not a major world encounter, friend addition is not supported.] After a brief chat, Wang Zhan bid farewell to Zhao Yi and left, embarking on a long journey. After he left, Zhao Yi and Luo Qili sat cross-legged on the second floor of the haunted mansion''s main house, carefully studying the documents Wang Zhan left behind. In truth, Zhao Yi had been prepared for this. But upon seeing the signature on the documents, he couldn''t help but frown. [Foundation (¡ª¡ªcrossed out and modified¡ª¡ª)] [Skull Church] "As expected... the organization behind all this isn''t the original Foundation, but a group that once followed in its footsteps..." "Does this mean the Foundation really... encountered trouble?" Zhao Yi''s brow furrowed deeply. He recalled the X-series products, particularly X-1. If each X-series product corresponded to a meme, then X-1''s meme was likely that special concrete... No wonder the hint at the time was that he couldn''t let this thing out of his sight... He had obtained some clues, answering certain doubts in his heart. Yet, more questions arose. Why did the Foundation disappear? What is the Skull Church? Why do they keep using strange biological memes to conduct bizarre experiments? Although Zhao Yi didn''t know which faction the Skull Church belonged to, judging by its ability to meddle in different regions and times, the church''s power and foundation must be unprecedentedly terrifying! "Colossus Hospital, Rockridge High School, Moye Village, Hanging Valley Town, Kala Asylum... all have ties to the Skull Church." Reflecting on his previous encounters, Zhao Yi noticed an interesting commonality. ¡ªHuman experiments. Behind them, more or less, was the shadow of the Skull Church. "What are those little darlings... trying to do?" Zhao Yi''s eyes sparkled with interest. Too many mysteries awaited his exploration. Coming back to his senses, Zhao Yi noticed a pile of unread messages from the system and opened them: [Congratulations on leveling up to Lv6] [Through combat, your Body Strengthening Domain (F-) Strength gain +2 (4/6)] [Title hidden attributes unlocked] [Based on your titles, your current attributes are as follows: Strength +11] [Your damage and intimidation to specters +20% (Ghostbane)] [NPCs maintain stable emotions when communicating with you +3 (Mentor)] [The chance of your lies being detected is slightly reduced (Deceiver)] ... S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Titles actually have hidden attributes..." Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow. He initially found titles strange and unnecessary. Now it seemed it was just because his level was too low, and many game mechanics hadn''t been unlocked for him yet. ... The haunted mansion was empty. The two lay on the floor by the second-floor window, gazing at the stars above. Bright and dazzling. "I heard that each star harbors a deity." Luo Qili spoke, her eyes weary. She hadn''t had a good night''s sleep in days. On the fifth day, they had nothing extra to do and didn''t need to venture into dangerous dungeons. The only task was to call their third-day selves. To explain everything clearly. "Zhao Yi..." Luo Qili turned her head, her beautiful face showing a hint of softness. Zhao Yi: "Speak." "Can I lean on your shoulder for a while?" "Sure." "I suddenly realized, you''re actually quite nice..." "5000 points per hour." "......" The two glared at each other for a few seconds, and Luo Qili fiercely raised her middle finger at Zhao Yi! "Screw you!" As time approached, Zhao Yi asked Luo Qili for her phone and called their second-day selves. After he finished the call, it was Luo Qili''s turn. Already annoyed with Zhao Yi, she remembered how he tricked her into cleaning the toilet, and her cold, pretty face turned red with anger. When the call connected, she immediately cursed: "Zhao Yi... you SOB!" "......" ... A night passed. The two smoothly entered the fifth day. The cracks before them grew larger. It was then that Luo Qili was shocked to discover... The red she had seen behind the cracks... was actually a blood-red eye! Behind the crack, a terrifying fierce ghost was staring at them intently! Luo Qili found it increasingly difficult to maintain her composure! "Behind those cracks... is a ghost?" Zhao Yi fiddled with his camera. "Yes." "Each player participating in this Tide of Demon Spirits likely has a ghost watching over them." "I think when we reach the seventh day, we''ll face these specters directly." Luo Qili''s fingers trembled slightly. Though her mental fortitude was strong, constantly staring into a terrifying ghostly eye made her shiver. "Relax, until we reach the seventh day, it can''t do anything to us." Zhao Yi had successfully assembled the camera. A smile appeared on his face. The information on it was no longer a question mark. ... [Item: Time-Traveling Camera PHS] [Quality: Quest Item] [Description: A small product casually made by a mad scientist... Yes, the same one who invented the Shredder.] [Effect: Captures the time-space 24H ahead] [Note 1: Cannot be taken out of the secret realm] [Note 2: Extremely low battery, can only be used twice] [Note 3: PHS will capture everything you see into the photo] ... "I see..." Zhao Yi realized. Luo Qili asked curiously: "What did you figure out?" Zhao Yi explained: "This camera can capture the time-space 24H ahead." "This means if someone appears in the photo taken by the camera, they naturally reach the next day!" Luo Qili''s eyes lit up, but upon seeing the camera PHS''s description, she became puzzled: "But it seems we don''t need the camera now..." "Without entering a dungeon, just staying in the outside world, time will naturally reach the seventh day..." "How strange..." "If we don''t need to enter dungeons to reach the seventh day... why did our future selves make us take such risks to complete those dungeons?" Luo Qili became confused. The Tide of Demon Spirits task required them to survive until the seventh day and escape the secret realm. This time was calculated based on the time in the abandoned city they were in, not the dungeon time within the air wall. So theoretically, as long as players didn''t covet dungeon rewards, didn''t enter dungeons, and didn''t follow future instructions, they could find a safe place, sleep for six days, and still reach the seventh day alive... "Because..." Zhao Yi smiled slightly, his tone meaningful. "The real challenge of this Tide of Demon Spirits dungeon isn''t surviving to the seventh day." "But rather..." "How to escape the secret realm alive." "Without this camera, once the seventh day arrives... we''ll die!" PS: Two updates today. Still 6000 words. The Tide of Demon Spirits will end soon, and then we''ll find that silly Butcher''s daughter, Sun Baibai... Damn it! So busy! Can''t catch a break! Thanks for reading, goodnight brothers! Chapter 116 – Escaped from death on the sixth and seventh days Chapter 116: "Day Six and Seven" Escape from Hell Luo Qili pondered Zhao Yi''s words seriously. Given the current situation, the most direct threat to them was the specters behind the cracks. Once the players reached the seventh day... the cracks would likely shatter completely, and the last barrier between the players and the specters would disappear! The specters they saw would attack them from a space they couldn''t perceive, in ways they couldn''t predict! Imagine if there was a terrifying specter that could attack you, but you couldn''t fight back or defend yourself, not even escape... What a brutal massacre that would be! Luo Qili shivered. "What should we do?" Zhao Yi didn''t answer. He took her phone, preparing to call their third-day selves. The logical loop still needed to be completed. Without this logical loop, something terrifying and unpredictable might happen to the players on the sixth or seventh day! The two of them successfully dialed the phone at the fixed time, providing their third-day selves with crucial clues. This time, Luo Qili vaguely heard Zhao Yi communicating with that terrifying Dark Persona. It was a language she couldn''t comprehend. Mysterious and obscure, it seemed to carry some secret. But she didn''t ask further. Zhao Yi definitely wouldn''t tell her about such things. After completing the logical loop, the two began to wander around the city. Because different players completed the dungeon at different times, took different paths, and ended up in different times and spaces. By the fifth day, in Zhao Yi''s timeline, the number of players had already decreased significantly. Of course, this was just a proportion. The actual number was still quite large. After all, the initial player base entering the Tide of Demon Spirits was enormous. ... Luo Qili now found it difficult to face the fierce ghost in her eyes. Whether her eyes were open or closed. She could see it clearly. "It''s coming out..." Luo Qili tried to calm herself. Zhao Yi wasn''t anxious, wandering around the abandoned city with Luo Qili. Seemingly searching for something. "What are you looking for? I''ll help you find it." In response to the woman''s inquiry, Zhao Yi replied: "Looking for a more open space." Soon, they arrived at a plaza. Waiting quietly. The sixth day had just arrived. In the corner of the plaza, Zhao Yi took out his camera and snapped a photo of the corner. Sure enough¡ª The fierce ghost in his eyes was captured in the photo! Luo Qili did the same, using Zhao Yi''s camera to take a picture. She aimed at the nearby abandoned old cesspit, thinking to herself, let the specter taste the flavor of filth! After taking the photo, the specter and the strange edge in her eyes were indeed captured on the surface of the cesspit. Luo Qili felt a surge of dark satisfaction. But when she put down the camera, she found she could still see the fierce ghost in her eyes! "Zhao Yi... why, why... can I still see it?" A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled. Zhao Yi replied: "Seeing it is normal." "If we didn''t have this camera, when the mirror completely shatters on the seventh day, the specter would crawl in from outside and kill us directly." "But now with the camera, it captured the space 24 hours later, with the specter inside... This means when the specter breaks through the mirror on the seventh day, it must appear where we photographed, and we can survive." Luo Qili suddenly understood! "By the way... what do you mean by mirror?" Zhao Yi asked in return: "Don''t you find it strange that we''re reversed left and right?" As he spoke, Luo Qili suddenly realized this issue! Since entering the great dungeon, their bodily sensations had been completely reversed left and right, and they had spent a lot of time adapting to this absurdity! After many days, players who had become accustomed to the reversal had gradually forgotten about it amidst various confusions... "This time, the real location of the dungeon... is the mirror." "The cracks and the feeling of being reversed are hints." "Perhaps many players realized this issue on the first day, but with the dangers and other reasons encountered in the following days, they gradually forgot about it." "We''ve been in the world inside the mirror from the start, and the specters outside want to come in and kill us!" "It''s just that it takes them seven days to break the mirror." "Escaping the dungeon... is actually escaping the world inside the mirror!" As Zhao Yi laid out these secrets, Luo Qili finally understood why players had to go to various dungeons to obtain crucial items! "But the mirror we see, we can''t touch it at all, how do we escape from here?" "Could it be..." Zhao Yi looked at Luo Qili and nodded: "That''s right." "When the specter appears at dawn tomorrow, the shattered mirror will appear with it, and what we need to do is lure the specter away and escape to the other side of the mirror while being chased!" Hearing this, Luo Qili''s face stiffened. She slowly turned her head, glanced at the cesspit, and couldn''t help but recall her tumultuous life. It seemed... she had never faced such a big challenge? Damn it!!! Why did she have to take a photo of the cesspit? Ugh... If she didn''t jump accurately... Not only would she be killed by the specter, but she''d also experience what it means to swim in a sea of filth before dying... Ugh¡ª The sense of immersion was so strong that Luo Qili couldn''t help but retch. At this moment, she suddenly wanted to say goodbye to this world. "Isn''t there any other way to leave here?" Despite everything, Luo Qili still wanted to struggle one last time. Zhao Yi shrugged. Suddenly, Luo Qili grabbed his arm, exclaiming in grief: "Since you guessed the way to leave here early on, why didn''t you stop me just now?" Zhao Yi pondered: "I thought you had a special fetish for it..." "I was going to tell you, but then I thought since the dungeon is about to end, I might as well let you indulge once..." "If you like it, go for it boldly!" Luo Qili: "..." Damn indulgence! She really wanted to die now... Finally, night fell, and many players gathered at the plaza. Their ways of leaving the mirror world varied, but the open terrain allowed them to better evade pursuit. Everyone waited, tense. The moon overhead was like a drawn bow. Cold light like arrows. In the final seconds, the anxiety disappeared. Crack¡ª A sound of something breaking reached everyone''s ears. The barrier between their eyes and the fierce ghost shattered completely! The twisted and vengeful specter crawled over along the edge of the mirror! Some fierce ghosts disappeared from the players'' eyes, appearing elsewhere, while some players, unprepared, were torn apart and devoured by the fierce ghosts! These specters had clear targets and moved quickly, causing the players to scatter, and Zhao Yi took out his ''Adulterer''s Skateboard'' at this moment! Chase me? Go to hell! Riding the Adulterer''s Skateboard, the two of them led two fierce ghosts in a big circle, racing toward their photographed location! Whoosh! A giant female ghost suddenly spat out its tongue, turning it into a blood sword aimed at the two! Zhao Yi executed a dragon tail swing, dodging the swift killing blow! Luo Qili also began laying her sharp threads to hinder the pursuit of the two fierce ghosts! She glanced back, already very close to their photographed location! Bang! Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out from afar! Blood splattered from Zhao Yi''s shoulder! He quickly glanced sideways, spotting Qin Xiufang in the distance, wielding two pistols and firing at him frantically! Zhao Yi maneuvered the skateboard left and right, flashing a warm smile at the ferocious-looking Qin Xiufang. Tenderness... knows no age! Even if the other party was a seventy-year-old lady, Zhao Yi treated her no differently. The blue flame Gatling in his hand was already preheated! Seeing the Gatling in Zhao Yi''s hand, Qin Xiufang''s expression froze. Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat... A barrage of bullets rained down, and Qin Xiufang fell into a pool of blood on the ground, her body riddled with holes. Her face still bore the terror from before her death. At this moment, Zhao Yi and Luo Qili were also nearing the exit! "Get off!" Zhao Yi immediately stopped the skateboard, and the two ran in different directions! Swish! Zhao Yi passed through the shattered mirror without any obstruction, disappearing to the other side. Luo Qili stood before the shattered mirror in the cesspit, hesitating for a moment. She glanced back at the rapidly approaching specter. The pressure was immense! Damn it! All or nothing! Luo Qili steeled herself, held her breath, and without thinking twice, aimed for the mirror and jumped right in! ... Live Streaming Room: : Damn! Luo Qili is truly ruthless! : Frankly, if it were me, I''d rather die than jump into a cesspit! : I wonder if Ms. Luo will have a psychological shadow whenever she sees a cesspit in the future... : Haha, I don''t know about the cesspit, but she''s definitely going to have a psychological shadow whenever she sees Zhao Yi... ... Bright light, glaring white. Regaining his vision, Zhao Yi found himself outside the guild''s base. PS: Lots of things today, still two updates totaling 6000 words. Going to write the next chapter now. Thanks for reading. Chapter 117 – Mysterious virus Returning to the guild''s headquarters once again, Zhao Yi felt a wave of emotion. It seemed like a long time had passed. Accompanying him were several other players from the guild''s headquarters, and among them was Bai Shuiji. She was trembling with excitement, tears streaming down her cheeks. The other guild members weren''t much better off. Clearly, they had encountered a crisis in the secret realm that made them feel utterly hopeless! But finally, they had returned here! [Congratulations to players Zhao Yi, Qin Yue, Bai Shuiji... and others for completing the secret realm trial, earning 60,000 points + a Fate Chest (Green).] This message was broadcast throughout the entire guild. The surviving members were ecstatic! Not only had they gained a lot of experience and some items from the secret realm, but more importantly, they had instantly acquired 60,000 points and a green Fate Chest! After returning those points to the guild, they still had 10,000 left! You should know, that green Fate Chest has a chance to yield blue or even purple items! This was like turning a bicycle into a motorcycle! In an instant, they became the winners of life! Back in his room, Zhao Yi began to sort through his gains: First, the points. His points had already reached 76,700, enough to buy many pages of Lunyu. However, what puzzled Zhao Yi was that even though Lunyu was currently a white skill, after equipping it, Zhao Yi felt no effect from Lunyu at all. He asked the system, and the system replied: [The pages of Lunyu are a white skill; they are merely the precursor to Lunyu and offer little benefit for cultivation. Players need to collect all the pages to synthesize the red skill Lunyu.] Zhao Yi pondered this. So he went ahead and bought 14 pages of Lunyu in one go. His wallet was instantly emptied. Leaving him with 6,700 points. Exhaling, Zhao Yi turned his attention to the world quest. ... [World Quest: Airport Construction] Find the original at " ". [Recommended Level: Level 6 and above] [Recommended Number of Players: Any] [Quest Reward: Unlocks the new map ''Evil Mountain'' and awards points based on contribution] [Description: You have finally established yourself in Hanging Valley Town through your own efforts and secured a stable job. However, through conversations with your evil spirit colleagues, you learn that Hanging Valley Town has no road leading to the outside world, only an unfinished airport and a plane that hasn''t taken off in years... If you want to continue exploring the outside world and find other companions, the plane is your only hope. Ultimately, you have no choice but to help build the airport in Hanging Valley Town, only to encounter various dangerous troubles...] ... "Building an airport, huh..." "Sounds like quite a big project." "There should be an existing construction team... players are probably just helping to find some special materials or supplies." Thoughts flashed through Zhao Yi''s mind. He could go check out what the airport was all about and then decide whether to take on this main quest based on the situation. Zhao Yi dared to tackle these quests because, although his level wasn''t high, his strength far exceeded that of players at the same level. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Currently, Zhao Yi was only level 6, but his strength had already reached 83 points! With the ''Ghostbane'' title, soul weapon, and other items, Zhao Yi had a natural advantage when facing specters. Taking out his identity card, Zhao Yi boarded the D19 train to Hanging Valley Town and first went to work at Fruit Hospital for a day. NPCs didn''t have high attendance requirements for player jobs. For example, at Fruit Hospital, Zhao Yi could go to work three days a month and still be considered to have clocked in successfully. Of course, this successful clock-in only meant that Zhao Yi could keep his job certification. Working only three days a month, Zhao Yi couldn''t expect to earn any money. Ghost coins were a very important currency in the Chaotic Realm, equally important for players, but Zhao Yi wasn''t worried because he owned 20% of the shares in the Clown Game Room. These 20% shares provided Zhao Yi with an income far exceeding his salary every month! When it was time to get off work, Zhao Yi locked his office, whistling as he left the hospital and took the 433 bus to the airport. The scenery slowly receded along the window. Although this world had no sun, it didn''t stop Zhao Yi from appreciating its beauty. Especially since the window reflected the image of the 36D busty female ghost standing behind him, facing the same direction. She knew he was looking at her. He also knew she knew he was looking at her. But he kept looking. Not looking was impossible. When he got off at the airport, the 36D female ghost handed Zhao Yi a small note and threw him a seductive glance. Wow, those fiery red lips, those curves! Her beauty was truly top-notch. Unfortunately... Zhao Yi had very limited interest in the opposite sex. After getting off the bus, he tossed the note with the female ghost''s phone number into the trash. Ahead lay the airport. Zhao Yi took one look and exclaimed, wow! If it weren''t for the bus stop sign clearly stating ''Hanging Valley Airport,'' even someone as imaginative as Zhao Yi would never guess that the vast expanse of unfinished wasteland before him was an airport. And the most serious problem was... there was no plane in sight. Those bastards, did they dismantle the plane? About a hundred construction ghosts in work clothes were sitting by the scaffolding in the wasteland, drinking beer and chatting. After Zhao Yi approached and asked them about the airport, he learned that the project manager responsible for the airport construction had run away. The steel they needed was supplied by a steel processing plant twenty miles outside Hanging Valley Town, but for some reason, the plant suddenly stopped supplying steel a while back. Some of their coworkers went to inquire but never returned... "That place... is a cursed factory..." An older construction ghost muttered mysteriously. "A terrifying unknown force has appeared inside. Those infected will rust like machines all over their bodies, eventually becoming part of ''it''..." PS: Today''s chapter is a bit of filler. (Half filler) Tomorrow morning, I''ll work on the outline for the next story. Without an outline, I really can''t move forward. There are also several side quests that need to continue progressing. I''ll update 4,000 words today. Yay! Time for a big sleep! Goodnight, brothers and sisters! Chapter 118 – Rust-? The old ghost worker seemed particularly wary of that steel processing plant. His beer swayed in his hand, and his gaze was eerie. "My apprentice, Xiao Ling, was only two hundred years old. Because he went to that cursed factory, he lost his life at such a young age..." "Sigh..." A dark cloud drifted across the sky, and a light rain began to fall. It was slightly chilly. The system suddenly sent a message. It was from Liu Ruoqing. "Come to my room." Zhao Yi looked at the message, his eyes narrowing slightly. Taking the train back to the guild''s headquarters, Zhao Yi arrived at room 707. The alluring Liu Ruoqing was already freshened up in the room. "Sit." She flashed a charming smile, her eyes slightly tipsy, as if she had drunk some wine. Her body exuded the scent of rose petals, mixed with a hint of red wine. Such a fiery woman, yet her fragrance was subtle. It was as if you ventured deep into a rose garden, only to find a lily blooming at its center. Zhao Yi sat down across from her. "Having another episode?" He picked up a pen, intending to open his notebook. But Liu Ruoqing, looking down from above, lifted her jade-like leg, her pearl-like toes lightly pressing on the back of Zhao Yi''s hand. "Enough, no need to pretend." "Zhao Yi, you''re a smart person, so smart that sometimes I wish I had met you sooner." Zhao Yi looked up, the burgundy dress cascading like a waterfall, with two dazzling stars in the galaxy above it. They were Liu Ruoqing''s eyes. "You should have guessed, the Red Demon incident was just me testing you." "It''s so weak, it poses no threat to me at all." Zhao Yi smiled: "What do you need me to do?" Liu Ruoqing withdrew her foot. With a flick of her fingers, a strange red light swirled, and a cute silver-haired little girl appeared in the room. She was covered in bizarre scales. Like a snake, yet like a fish. "Tomorrow, all the veterans of the guild will leave." "Once we go, who knows if we''ll be able to return, the Red Demon... I''ll leave it in your care." Zhao Yi, hearing this, asked curiously: "Where are you going?" Liu Ruoqing''s expression was somewhat peculiar. "The Immortal Path." "You can''t access these things yet... let''s not talk about it." "The Red Demon can''t go with me, that path is too dangerous, filled with countless perils and ominous signs..." "The Red Demon can attach to your spiritual world and follow you to most places." "Also... don''t eat her." Zhao Yi looked at the little Lolita wrapped in red scales and remarked: "What a pity..." "But... who am I to refuse when I owe you a favor?" Seeing Zhao Yi agree, Liu Ruoqing took out a special identity card and handed it to him. "After we leave, no one will be around to protect you in the guild." "Xiang Babang or others might come looking for trouble." "This is the identity card of a warehouse manager. With this identity, they won''t be able to touch you." "As for the dungeons... you''re on your own." Zhao Yi took the identity card, which was imprinted with his soul mark. Then, the Red Demon followed Zhao Yi back to room 404. The little Lolita seemed quite afraid of Zhao Yi. Her clear eyes were timid, and she stood obediently in the corner, not daring to move. "Don''t worry, I won''t eat you." Zhao Yi opened a bottle of soda, the sound of fizzing filling the air. The little Lolita in front of him was a dangerous entity connected to ancient beings. Anyone else standing before her would find it hard to remain as relaxed as Zhao Yi. Even Liu Ruoqing, when parasitized by the Red Demon, would take special precautions against her. But Zhao Yi was different. He didn''t guard against the Red Demon... the Red Demon guarded against him. After soothing the Red Demon''s emotions for a while, Zhao Yi threw her into his spiritual world. Hmm... that edge of the world. As soon as she entered, the Red Demon saw, in the distance, a vast abyss with massive bronze pillars shooting up from the endless darkness into the stormy sky. On those bronze pillars, various terrifying demons were bound. They roared, howled, and bared their teeth at her: "Another one has come..." "Ah! Come on, darling, endless suffering awaits you..." "Join us in this eternal torment..." "..." Many of them had gone mad from the unbearable pain, their eyes shooting out terrifying red light, tears of blood streaming down, their resentment surging and gathering into the abyss below. From the unseen darkness below came the chilling sound of chains clanking. Occasional sighs, barely audible, made all the demons bound to the bronze pillars scream in terror! It seemed... In that endless darkness, something indescribably ominous was chained! The Red Demon was already so frightened by the sight that she collapsed to the ground, and beside her, Zhao Yi patted her shoulder. "Relax." The little Lolita trembled even more. After a long while, she finally calmed down a bit. "What''s down there?" Her mental state seemed somewhat depleted. Zhao Yi replied: "Another me." The Red Demon hesitated for a long time, reaching out towards the abyss, and a faint chaotic factor was gradually drawn out from the darkness, injected into the Red Demon''s body! These chaotic forces came from Zhao Yi''s Dark Persona. Whenever he released his Dark Persona, a large amount of chaotic factors would pour out. When these chaotic factors overflowed the abyss, they would spill over, greatly affecting Zhao Yi''s spiritual world! But now, Zhao Yi seemed to have found... a solution. "How much can you absorb?" Zhao Yi squatted beside the Red Demon, curiously asking. The Red Demon shook her head slightly, replying crisply: "Not much, I can only absorb a little each day..." "It takes time to digest... there are too many chaotic factors inside." Zhao Yi patted the Red Demon''s head, feeling it seriously. Goodness. For the full version, visit [ ]. This ''food'' actually increased the speed at which the chaotic factors in his spiritual world disappeared by three times! Perhaps this data isn''t intuitive enough. Previously, when Zhao Yi released his Dark Persona for six minutes, it would take him six months to recover. Now it only takes two months. And if Zhao Yi merely borrowed part of the Dark Persona''s power, like an arm, or a leg, or a heart... Then he might only need a few days of rest after using it for a few minutes! Thinking this way, Zhao Yi suddenly didn''t feel hungry anymore. With a loving smile, he patted the Red Demon''s head. "Do a good job, and I''ll let you eat to your heart''s content in the future!" The Red Demon glanced at the distance, where the demons bound to the bronze pillars made her swallow a mouthful of saliva. She didn''t know if it was out of fear or hunger... ... After resting for a day. When Zhao Yi went to knock on the door of room 707 again, there was no response. The other party had left the guild''s headquarters, and he couldn''t get in touch with them. He looked at the door, sighed, and lowered his head. His expression was melancholic. Yesterday, in his haste, he forgot to ask Liu Ruoqing for some valuable items. Damn, he missed out on a rich lady! He must not make such a mistake again next time! Zhao Yi reflected on himself for a moment, suddenly remembering the stash the Clown had given him before, which he hadn''t yet taken out, so he immediately retrieved the items from his mailbox. ... [Item: Swift Legs] [Quality: Blue] [Description: ...Many years ago, when the Clown''s father attended a grand entertainment gala hosted by the Chaotic Realm Limited Entertainment Company, his outstanding performance even earned him praise from Mr. Chaplin. The entertainment company''s manager gifted him a silicone leg that could automatically grow and shoot leg hair.] [Effect: Instantly fires two thousand poisonous leg hairs at a designated enemy within ten meters] [Cooldown: 5 minutes] [Clown''s Note: I don''t know why my father kept such a strange thing. The leg hair on it is so hard that when I first cleaned up the clutter, it scratched my hand, and the poison on it made me hurt for several days.] ... "Goodness, a small-scale clearing tool!" Zhao Yi''s eyes lit up. This thing looked pretty impressive. Two thousand leg hairs meant it could simultaneously attack two thousand enemies within ten meters. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For some small monsters or potential threats, it''s simply a killer move! It''s like pressing F1 to clear the screen. He took out the green Fate Chest and weighed it... hmm, today he didn''t have that constipated feeling, not the right time to open the chest. Zhao Yi put it back, preparing to head to the steel processing plant to open a new world dungeon. Arriving at Hanging Valley Town, he used his phone to book a few ''Didi Ghost Rides,'' but as soon as the drivers heard Zhao Yi wanted to go to the processing plant on the west side, they immediately wanted to kick him out of the car! "Young man, better find someone else..." "That place, we really can''t go..." "Haunted!" A friendly ghost driver lit a cigarette, visibly shaken. His eyes were filled with dread. When a ghost says a place is haunted, Zhao Yi couldn''t help but roll his eyes. Unbelievable! In the end, he had no choice but to contact the Warehouse Ghost. The other party clearly knew about the steel processing plant too, and while driving, he said to Zhao Yi in the passenger seat: "That place is not a good place to go... very dangerous." "Many powerful ghosts have disappeared there." Zhao Yi laughed: "Wasn''t the station just as dangerous back then, and I went in too?" "It was out of necessity." The Warehouse Ghost showed a strange expression. The road ahead was without streetlights, particularly eerie and dark. Moreover, a thick fog had risen. The Warehouse Ghost turned on the car''s spotlight. The tree trunks along the road, with their gnarled branches, had their bark peeling off severely. In the air, there was a very strong smell of rust. Further ahead. On the guardrails along the road, large patches of deep brown rust, like moss, could be seen growing... Like... dried blood. Driving along this stretch of road, the Warehouse Ghost''s expression was somewhat grave, and he didn''t continue chatting with Zhao Yi. Clearly, the horror here had made it feel apprehensive... The cawing of crows echoed, seemingly foretelling something bad was about to happen. Zhao Yi glanced back. The fog had blocked the way back. "I can only take you this far." The Warehouse Ghost spoke. The shadow of the factory was not far ahead. Separated by two or three hundred meters, the fog was thick, and only some shadows of the factory could be vaguely seen. Being able to bring Zhao Yi here, it had done its utmost. If it were someone else, even if offered millions of ghost coins, it would never come. "No worries, I''ll go on my own." "Thank you." Zhao Yi opened the car door and jumped out. The Warehouse Ghost lit a cigar, speaking to Zhao Yi''s back: "I''ll wait here for you for seven days." "If you haven''t come out in seven days, I''ll head back." Zhao Yi waved his hand. He walked into the fog. tio¡¯_C¡¯¡¯ PS: This chapter is over three thousand words. The next chapter will be too. Starting a new dungeon, Rule''s Strange. Chapter 119 – Rust-? The Warehouse Ghost was extraordinarily powerful; ordinary specters had no strength to resist this fog. Once you entered the mist, you''d quickly get lost. A red glow flickered in Zhao Yi''s eyes as a prompt appeared once more. [Ghostly Maze: Neutral] [Note: Visual distortion. Close your eyes and walk forward 200 meters to enter the steel processing plant.] The power of the prompt came from the evil eye of his Dark Persona. Since it was usually used for just a moment, it hardly increased the chaos factor. Closing his eyes, Zhao Yi walked forward. Ghostly whispers tried to tempt Zhao Yi, but when they realized he was unaffected, they attempted physical interference. They tried to trip him or hold his waist to slow him down. But when Zhao Yi pulled out the blue-flame Gatling gun, ready to fire indiscriminately, the specters vanished instantly. Calculating the route in his mind, precisely 200 meters. Zhao Yi opened his eyes. A massive, dark, and dilapidated steel processing plant appeared in his view. The windows looked like eyes, the door like a mouth. An invitation to enter. Zhao Yi stepped through the door, and the system immediately popped up a message: [Do you wish to enter the Grand World Dungeon?] Without hesitation, Zhao Yi chose ''Yes.'' ... [Dungeon: Rust-?] [Main Quest: Investigate the decay of the steel processing plant] [Hidden Quest: ???] [Main Quest Reward: 300 Experience, 15,000 Points] [Hidden Quest Reward: ???] [Difficulty: ¡ª¡ª] ... The scene before him blurred for a moment. When it cleared, he found himself in a small clearing outside the steel processing plant. Standing with him were dozens of specters. Each held a blue work uniform. Brand new. In front of the group stood a... peculiar monster. Its head was human, but the skull was open, wires protruding from the brain, connected to a body made of metal barrels. Its left hand was replaced with a heavy chain over ten meters long, dragging on the ground, and its right hand was a modified chainsaw, with flesh and blood still clinging to it! Its mouth lacked lips, revealing menacing teeth. Its nose was cut off, leaving only two holes. "I am Chen Fei, the veteran employee in charge of you new recruits!" "To work in the factory and become an outstanding employee with a lifelong job security, you better stay sharp!" This human-machine hybrid monster seemed to be a minor boss, lecturing incessantly. "You must love the factory!" "Treat the factory as your home!" "This year we work hard!" "Next year the boss gets a new car!" "This year we strive for success!" "Next year the boss buys a house!" "This year we keep pushing forward!" "Next year the boss becomes a local tyrant!" "......" Listening to these words, Zhao Yi rolled his eyes dramatically. It was the first time he heard such... straightforward lecturing. In real life, if someone lectured like this, the employees would have fled long ago. "Of course..." The monster continued, changing its tone. "Besides working hard, more importantly, you must follow the factory rules!" "If you break the factory rules..." The monster''s smile grew more sinister. Everyone present shivered involuntarily. Clearly, these specters knew their strength was no match for this monster. They dared not resist. "The rules will be posted near your workstations, with your name and the rule clauses." "Different employees have different workstations each day, and the rules they must follow vary." "Now, put on your uniforms, check the bulletin board for your workstations, and be sure to reach your post by 6 o''clock and start working!" With the monster''s command, everyone hurriedly began putting on their uniforms. Zhao Yi haphazardly donned his uniform and was the first to reach the bulletin board. His task was to transport rusty items to the steel furnace. The work area wasn''t fixed, allowing for a large range of movement. He had a small cart located outside the lawn in the West Zone. The bulletin board displayed an overhead map of the entire steel processing plant, which Zhao Yi memorized. Unlike the scene before entering the dungeon, everything in the steel processing plant now appeared normal, and the giant old locust tree in the distance wasn''t rusty. "Back to the past timeline again?" Zhao Yi shook his head slightly. Dungeons always seemed to bring players back to past timelines, as if intentionally prompting them to save something. "How ridiculous!" "A weakling human like you, trying to join the fun!" "With your pathetic appearance, what can you do?" "Just die already!" Mocking laughter came from behind. Zhao Yi turned around. ... [Delinquent Specter: High Danger] [Note: In life, it was a delinquent, always trying to show off its muscles and strength, enjoying bullying the weak.] [Weakness: To you, its entire body is a weakness. You can kill it, but it will come at a cost.] ... It reached out, pressing on Zhao Yi''s shoulder, intending to lift him and swallow him whole, but a cold voice interrupted. "Attacking a colleague in the factory, be careful not to break the rules!" The speaker was a lean specter wearing a yellow hard hat. Read the most updated version of this novel and other amazing translated novels from the original source at [ ] It gave Zhao Yi a knowing look, signaling him to quickly dodge and avoid provoking the big guy. The Delinquent Specter was clearly intimidated, recalling its purpose for coming to the factory and Chen Fei''s warnings, it snorted coldly, suppressing its urge to eat Zhao Yi! For now... I''ll let this pitiful prey live a few more days! Zhao Yi glanced at the Delinquent Specter, revealing a strange smile. "I''ll remember you." With that, he turned and left for the weeding area. He found his small cart. Inside, there was a flyer. It had his name on it. And... the rules: [Factory Employee ''Zhao Yi'' Must Follow the Rules] [1. Under no circumstances should you allow wounds to appear on your body in the factory!] [2. If you accidentally get wounded, immediately contact the manager by phone, and with a veteran employee''s assistance, use the professional ointment to repeatedly apply to the wound until a film forms over it.] [3. If you feel itchy, do not scratch with your hands. Use slapping or bumping to alleviate the itch.] [4. No fighting.] [5. During work, do not lose your cart!] Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. [6. All factory employees wear blue uniforms, including the manager. If you see a colleague in a gray uniform asking to borrow something, do not agree and quickly distance yourself!] [7. If you see a colleague in red clothing, no matter what you''re doing, immediately close your eyes, lower your head, and maintain this for one minute. Do not open your eyes no matter what you hear during this time!] [8. If your shadow disappears, find a place without sunlight within five minutes and quietly wait for it to reappear.] [9. The rules and workload for the first day are simple. Do not postpone today''s work until tomorrow.] [10. There are no people in black clothing in the factory!!! If you see someone in black clothing, immediately call the security room and stay put until security apprehends the person in black!] [11. If you wish to become an outstanding employee and secure this lifelong job, be sure to follow the above rules!] [Good luck!] Chapter 120 – Rust-? The factory had a lot of workers, roughly several thousand. An old employee only took a few dozen of them, assigning them to different places for various tasks. Newcomers like Zhao Yi, who entered the steel processing plant on their first day, were given the simplest job: ¡ªWeeding. They were responsible for cutting away the rusted plants on a giant lawn within the factory and continuously spraying a quick-healing agent on the plants. Zhao Yi, along with two fellow specters, Zhang Ming and Ying Xiong, were tasked with transporting the rusted grass to the smelting furnace. As they reached the outskirts of the vast lawn, the sun was gradually rising from behind the clouds, tinged with a reddish hue like an undercooked egg yolk. On the lawn, dozens of specters were preparing their tools to start working. According to the agreement, they must not step on any normal green grass while removing the rusted grass. If caught, they would immediately lose their eligibility for the employee of the month award and might even be expelled from the steel processing plant! So, these specters worked cautiously, afraid of accidentally stepping on the grass. Their tools varied in length, whether knives or scissors, all were clean and smooth, capable of mirror-like reflections. The delinquent specter from earlier was also among them. In just about seven or eight minutes, Zhao Yi''s cart was fully loaded with rusted grass, and he began heading towards the building housing the smelting furnace, as per the work protocol. This novel is available on bit.ly/3iBfjkV. On the way, Zhao Yi carefully examined the grass inside the cart. Aside from the rust naturally growing on the grass, what was more bizarre was the obvious rust stains appearing at the freshly cut edges... ... [Rust: Neutral] [Note: What are you thinking... it''s just ordinary rust.] ... "The rust grows so quickly on the wounds... The rules say not to leave any wounds on the surface, so the infection factor likely comes from invisible tiny particles in the air, similar to a virus, and the skin can block the spread of this virus..." Zhao Yi recalled his rules, the first few were all about preventing the employees here from getting infected. This wasn''t good news. Any confrontation, battle, or minor accident could easily lead to wounds. Once a wound is exposed to the air, it means it could get infected. What happens if rust grows on the body...? Zhao Yi''s eyes filled with intense curiosity. He pushed the cart into the smelting room. It was completely different from what he expected. The room was empty and spacious, but there was no furnace. Three conveyor belts stretched to the entrance. At the end of the conveyor belt was a giant decaying human head, about thirty times the size of a normal human head! The decaying head''s mouth was wide open, with sharp teeth covered in rust. Whenever something passed through its mouth, it would be crushed by those sharp and dense teeth! The neck below the head was long, resembling a highly retractable pipe, extending below the ground into pitch-black darkness. Zhao Yi arrived beside the conveyor belt, ready to unload the items from his cart. At this moment, an employee approached. The employee looked unwell, wearing thick gloves, and placed all the rusted grass from the cart onto the conveyor belt. "Every day it''s these damn rusted things..." The employee cursed, seemingly deeply resentful of it. A chaotic aura emanated from its entire body. Zhao Yi carefully observed the specter in front of him, noticing a slight tremor in its arms while moving the rusted grass. The thick gloves seemed to be filled with something, with no indentation at all. His gaze shifted to an abandoned table nearby. There were some thumbtacks. Some still had traces of blood on them. Zhao Yi walked over, picked up a blood-stained thumbtack, and placed it in his inventory. "Are these supposed to be melted too?" The employee responsible for handling rusted items turned his head and cursed: "Melt my ass!" "A few days ago, some idiot put non-rusted items here, without any special markings, packed in a burlap sack!" "I''ve told them countless times, these sharp things that can easily leave wounds on the body must be specially marked and packed in transparent air bags... Damn idiot!!" The employee cursed incessantly, growing more agitated, and something seemed to change about him. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi carefully observed him. His gaze was slightly puzzled. Everything seemed normal. But just now... he was sure something about the other person had changed. What was it? Zhao Yi shook his head, pushed his cart away, and prepared to return to the lawn to continue loading rusted grass. The sun was fully out now, its scorching rays accompanied by heat, shining down on everyone. At this moment, Zhao Yi suddenly felt something on his body melting. It was very uncomfortable. And the longer he was exposed to the sun, the more intense the feeling of emptiness inside him became. It was as if... he had lost something particularly important. Sweat dripped down his back. He looked down. He found that his shadow... was gradually fading under the sun''s scorching rays, as if it were about to disappear! His body also felt increasingly thirsty. Without hesitation, Zhao Yi began searching for a shaded area away from the sun. Because there were many factory buildings, finding such an area was not difficult for Zhao Yi. He pushed his cart to a wall, crouching down. Avoiding the sunlight. The emptiness gradually subsided. He no longer felt thirsty. He looked at the distant lawn, bleached white by the intense light, where the specters continued to work diligently, their shadows unchanged. Ironically, a group of specters was not afraid of the sun at all, yet he, a living person, had to avoid the sun and seek shelter in the shadows. "The shadows of these specters haven''t changed at all, not fading... Is it because I''m human, or because..." Zhao Yi was puzzled, continuing to observe his surroundings. Their group of new employees consisted of 56 people, and Zhang Ming and Ying Xiong, who were responsible for transporting rusted grass with him, were nowhere to be seen. At the edge of the distant lawn, there was a lone cart. "It seems they also went to avoid the sun... So it appears that the rules for different projects may not be entirely the same." Zhao Yi remained silent for a while, reaching out to test the scorching sunlight. His barely visible shadow gradually returned to its original form. "Color..." Zhao Yi murmured, his gaze focused. "Yes... it''s the color." "The person in the smelting room, the color of their blue uniform had faded..." "When I went in, their clothes were already lighter than ours, and when they were talking to me, their clothes faded even more..." Why would the color of the clothes fade? As Zhao Yi pondered, someone approached from a distance. No one paid attention to him. The employees working on the lawn had a heavy workload today, all busy looking for rusted grass. If today''s work wasn''t completed, it would affect their evaluation as outstanding new employees! Zhao Yi squinted, watching the person walk towards the unattended cart by the lawn. Then, just like that, he pushed it away. That guy was neither Zhang Ming nor Ying Xiong. It was someone... wearing gray clothes. Walking with a limp, struggling to move that lame leg, as if it was particularly heavy... PS: Buying groceries, last night, taking a dump, writing. Thank you all for reading! Chapter 121 – Rust-? Chapter 121: "Rust-?" The Wound Rusts [...If you see a colleague in a gray uniform asking to borrow something, make sure not to agree and quickly distance yourself from them!] Rule number six. Seeing the gray-uniformed person pushing a cart in the distance, Zhao Yi''s mind immediately recalled the rule. The gray-uniformed person seemed to sense Zhao Yi''s gaze and turned around, giving Zhao Yi a slight smile. A very friendly smile, with eyes full of intensity. Zhao Yi responded with an equally friendly smile. Upon seeing Zhao Yi''s smile... and the blue flame Gatling gun in his hand, the gray-uniformed person wisely left. Zhao Yi watched the gray-uniformed person walk away. ... [Gray-uniformed person: Trigger-type neutral] [Weakness: None] [Note: You can chat with him, but don''t lend him anything and don''t spend more than 5 minutes with him. The longer you stay, the more dangerous he becomes.] ... "A strange type of monster setting..." "Related to ''Rust-?''" A hint of doubt crossed Zhao Yi''s mind as he focused through the scorching light on the gray-uniformed person''s limping leg. Very cumbersome. Even if a person''s leg is broken, it shouldn''t be that cumbersome. The density of bones and flesh determines the weight of that volume. He watched for a long time until the gray-uniformed person disappeared from his sight. Not long after, a cry of surprise rang out. "Where''s my cart?" "Damn it! Playing tricks on me?" "Who took my cart?" "Stop messing around... I''m getting angry!" The balding specter Ying Xiong roared in impotent rage, exuding a heavy aura of malice, but the nearby specters only glanced at him and continued with their work. They even thought it was a good thing. After all, the selection of outstanding employees had a limited number. One less person, one less competitor. Ying Xiong angrily performed a set of Thomas spin military punches at the surrounding air, then glared at Zhao Yi with red eyes. "Was it you, you sneaky human, who hid my cart?!" "Afraid I''ll take your outstanding employee spot?!" He stormed over, and Zhao Yi glanced at him, shrugged: "Obviously not me." "An old man in gray just came and took your cart." As he finished speaking, a voice came from afar. "It was him who took it... his own cart was gone, so he took yours." They looked over. It was a thin specter with a sharp face, standing next to the Delinquent Specter, eyes gleaming with cunning. The Delinquent Specter also wore a sinister smile. Ying Xiong slowly turned his head, staring intently at Zhao Yi. "What else do you have to say?" Zhao Yi pointed to his own cart and smiled: "Want to check it out?" Upon hearing this, Ying Xiong''s beady eyes glimmered with a strange light. Pretending to check seriously. He bared his teeth, viciously said: "Good for you, damn human!" "This is clearly my cart, the wheel patterns are identical!" "You lost your own cart and took mine, I''m calling Chen Fei to tell him the situation!" With that, he turned, winking at the Delinquent Specter and others. "Brothers!" "This damn human doesn''t know what''s good for him, trying to frame me... you better help me out later!" The sharp-faced specter in the distance raised his fist, looking agitated: "Don''t worry, brother!" "Justice may be delayed, but it will never be absent!" "With all of us testifying, this sneaky human will surely face justice today!" S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After he spoke, a few other specters seemed to understand something and immediately chimed in: "That''s right!" "Evil cannot prevail over good!" "If you eat two bowls of noodles, you pay for two bowls of noodles!" "Let the damn bullets fly for a damn while!" "......" These voices rose one after another, and the Delinquent Specter wore a proud and cruel smile! Among this batch of new employees, there must be a leader! And it must be him. These specters better start choosing sides now. Those who don''t choose sides later... find a way to deal with them all! Just as the specters'' emotions were running high, an untimely voice rang out: "It wasn''t him." "I saw it, your cart was taken by someone in gray." Under the blazing sun, the scene suddenly cooled down. Many eyes turned towards the voice. It was a specter wearing a yellow hard hat. Not too tall, not too short, not too fat, not too thin, with no memorable features. He would disappear into a crowd. But at critical moments, he dared to stand up and speak the truth. This specter had previously helped Zhao Yi once at the bulletin board. "Young man, lying comes with consequences!" The Delinquent Specter''s face darkened. The yellow hat specter was stubborn, completely unafraid: "My master always taught me, a specter shouldn''t lie." "Anyway, I won''t lie!" The atmosphere was a bit tense, with a hint of conflict. Zhao Yi was also a bit surprised, seemingly not expecting a specter to speak up for him. He looked around carefully. Hmm, no surveillance cameras. With a thought. A thumbtack appeared in his palm, Zhao Yi skillfully calculated the force and distance, using the cart as cover, and threw it behind Ying Xiong''s foot. Then he suddenly grabbed the cart, and Ying Xiong, seeing this, also grabbed the cart, ready to fight Zhao Yi for it! This was a very interesting situation. Whether fighting for something or playing tug-of-war, to stabilize one''s center of gravity or assert one''s claim, people always take a step back. This step can be long or short. So the first step, Ying Xiong didn''t step on the thumbtack Zhao Yi had set. But that didn''t mean Ying Xiong was safe. Because the man in front of him... was too cunning. He would adjust his strength based on Ying Xiong''s response. With a slight pull, Ying Xiong lost his balance and had to start adjusting his position. One adjustment, two adjustments... On the third adjustment, he successfully stepped on the thumbtack Zhao Yi had set in advance. The thin shoe sole was pierced instantly, the sharp thumbtack reflecting a cold light, piercing directly into Ying Xiong''s Yongquan acupoint! Ying Xiong''s expression turned strange, he slowly lifted his foot, took off his shoe. Blood mixed with black foot odor seeped out. He pulled out the thumbtack and tossed it aside, not paying much attention. Although the rules reminded that if the body surface was scarred, one should immediately notify an old employee and go to the infirmary to spray the wound with medicine. But what harm could a thumbtack do? Wouldn''t the wound heal instantly? Ying Xiong thought so, not taking the thumbtack incident to heart. But as he slightly moved his leg, he suddenly felt something was wrong... The sole... felt like there was something there. It was uncomfortable. And when he stepped down, he could clearly feel intense pain and itching intertwined! This feeling was definitely not something a wound could cause! Realizing the problem, Ying Xiong immediately took off his shoe again and looked at the sole of his foot. His pupils suddenly focused! In the sole of his foot, where the thumbtack had pierced... a sharp, irregular rust had grown! He quickly reached out, trying to scrape off the rust on his foot! The pain spread¡ª Tear! The rust seemed to have taken root in his sole, and with Ying Xiong''s force, the rust was indeed scraped off... But along with it, a large piece of flesh was torn off! Blood spurted out, and Ying Xiong panicked, quickly taking out his phone and calling Chen Fei, briefly describing the problem. Even at this moment, he didn''t forget to mention Zhao Yi stealing his cart to Chen Fei. A typical evil spirit reporting first. After hanging up, Ying Xiong grinned at Zhao Yi: "Despicable human... you''re finished!" "Foreman Chen Fei will be here soon, and when he finds out you lost your cart and stole mine... you''ll be kicked out of the factory!" Zhao Yi didn''t respond. He stared at Ying Xiong''s raised sole. The originally gushing blood had completely stopped... of course, this wasn''t because of Ying Xiong''s strong self-healing ability. But because on his severely wounded sole, a large patch of rust had grown! Zhao Yi''s silence and gaze made Ying Xiong realize something too, his grin gradually stiffened, turning into a look of panic. "My leg..." "Why can''t I use any strength?" He looked down. Eyes filled with horror. "Damn!" "Why the hell is this rust growing on me?!" Old employee Chen Fei quickly ran over from afar, dragging a heavy iron chain over ten meters long, so from a distance, everyone could hear the terrifying sound of friction coming from that direction. Such a fierce and powerful monster... thankfully not an enemy, possessing high intelligence and rationality. "Who made the call?" Chen Fei loudly inquired. Ying Xiong immediately raised his hand. Chen Fei approached, looking at the rust on Ying Xiong''s foot, his expression turned extremely grim! "Foreman Chen... it was this sneaky human who stole my cart..." The first thing Ying Xiong did upon meeting Chen Fei wasn''t to ask about the rust, but to frame Zhao Yi for stealing his cart. Many specters in the distance echoed, but Chen Fei''s attention was clearly not on that. "How long has the rust been on the wound?" "Uh... a few minutes." Chen Fei''s expression worsened upon hearing this. "Hurry to the infirmary with me!" "Move quickly!" "If we''re any later, it might be too late!" He spoke urgently, about to take the bewildered Ying Xiong to the infirmary. Ying Xiong hesitated, still talking about the cart issue, but Chen Fei completely ignored him. Walking a bit further. Chen Fei glanced back at Zhao Yi. This guy was bending over, seemingly picking something up... PS: Although only two chapters were updated today, it''s still over 5000 words. I''ll resume 6000+ updates as soon as I''m done with these two busy days. Thank you for reading. Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your continued support. I know writing is a tough job, and so is following a book. Thank you all for walking this journey with me. Goodnight! Chapter 122 – Rust-? After Ying Xiong left, no specter tried to snatch the cart from Zhao Yi anymore. He bent over, searching under the scorching sun nearby. "Strange... I clearly threw it here just now..." Zhao Yi stroked his chin, a curious glint flashing in his eyes. It didn''t make sense, a thumbtack... disappeared? After a quick glance around, he refocused his gaze on the pile of rust mixed with foot skin. The blood had completely dried under the baking sun. The thumbtack, originally smooth enough to reflect sunlight, was now rusted. It blended completely with the rust pile, and its original shape had been altered by the rust, twisted into a small lump of scrap metal. "Ordinary rust doesn''t change the shape of the original item." "So the change in the thumbtack''s shape happened during the rusting process." "If rust can change a thumbtack, does it mean it can also change other... things?" The thought quickly flashed through Zhao Yi''s mind. The sun overhead had shrunk considerably. Taking advantage of this, Zhao Yi quickly pushed the cart to the edge of the lawn and began collecting rust grass. The rust fragments were sharp, so Zhao Yi didn''t grab them with his hands. Instead, he took out Old Liu''s Property Deed. This thing was quite tough, and the rust couldn''t cut through it. He filled up a cartload. Turning towards the steel melting room, Zhao Yi quickened his pace. The sun overhead reappeared after a brief cloud cover. That melting sensation resurfaced in his mind. Zhao Yi sped up into a jog. His shadow under the sun kept fading. The emptiness inside him grew stronger! There were no obstacles along this stretch of road. But Zhao Yi ran fast, and when he entered the steel melting room, his shadow was barely visible. Just faint. However, Zhang Ming behind him wasn''t so lucky. Although his speed wasn''t slow, he miscalculated the distance and didn''t abandon his cart in time to run to the shade and recover, causing his shadow to completely melt under the scorching sun, disappearing without a trace... Zhang Ming was sweating profusely, pushing his cart to the edge of the lawn, not seeking shelter by the wall first. He had already noticed his shadow was gone. The emptiness engulfed him. But aside from this intense emptiness, there seemed to be no other adverse effects. So... it seemed not following this rule... Wasn''t a big deal? Zhang Ming suppressed the emptiness inside, continuously loading rust grass onto his cart. He wanted to complete his task as soon as possible, so it wouldn''t affect his excellent employee evaluation. Earlier on the road, seeing Zhao Yi sprinting with a cartload of rust grass made him anxious! Too competitive! Even a human was so competitive, what reason did he, as a specter, have not to work hard? Soon, A specter responsible for weeding in the distance fixed its gaze on him. That specter seemed to have seen something strange, patted a colleague next to it, pointed at Zhang Ming, and whispered. Gradually, more and more specters turned their gaze towards Zhang Ming. Only then did Zhang Ming, under the spotlight, realize something was wrong. He looked up, staring at those specters pointing at him from afar. "What''s wrong with you all?" "Why are you all looking at me?" Zhang Ming was puzzled. But no one answered him. The eyes of those specters were filled with deep apprehension. Zhang Ming sensed something was wrong, looked down at his body, and his face changed drastically! His body... was melting! Flesh, bones... Dissolving like soft mud! Panicking, Zhang Ming finally remembered to seek the shade away from the sun, crawling towards the wall in the distance! However, after just a few steps, he fell to the ground! His legs had already rotted into a pile of mud... more terrifyingly, rust spots were appearing on the wounds at a visible speed! Fear gripped Zhang Ming''s heart as he crawled, leaving a long trail of blood under the scorching sun. Eventually, he reached the shadow by the wall. But at that moment, the sun above gathered into thick clouds. The surroundings suddenly cooled down. Plop¡ª Zhang Ming''s eyeball fell out of his rotting eye socket. It rolled a few times on the ground, pupil facing the sky. The unwilling color inside slowly faded, turning into the emptiness of death. He was dead. Rust spread, quickly proliferating wildly on his corpse. During this process, Zhang Ming''s body curled up, twisted, and was continuously folded into a bizarre shape. Just like the thumbtack Zhao Yi had seen earlier. As if transformed into a corpse. The vast lawn was eerily quiet. All the specters stared at Zhang Ming''s corpse, lost in thought. ... "Damn!" "Bastard!" "I''ll kill your horse!" "......" Inside the steel melting room, angry curses echoed. Occasionally, there were sounds of things being thrown. Zhao Yi pushed the cart in. The employee responsible for handling these rust items earlier was even more filled with violent energy. His eyes were bloodshot, shouting hoarsely, throwing the rust items onto the conveyor belt, cursing the person who had given him the thumbtack. His thick gloves bulged even more. And the color of his clothes was fading. It felt like an old garment washed for decades, the blue turning pale. Zhao Yi glanced sideways at the wooden cabinet in the distance, the thumbtack on the table was gone. He silently poured the rust grass onto the conveyor belt. Then he carefully examined the employee''s hands. His hands trembled more violently, like someone with Parkinson''s disease. Generally speaking, aside from illness, only two situations cause such intense limb tremors. 1. Hormonal changes due to emotions. A quick look at " will leave you more fulfilled. 2. The weight of the hand is nearing the limit of control. "Is his hand so heavy because it''s rusted..." "Earlier, he cursed the employee who brought the thumbtack, probably because the thumbtack injured his hand, causing an infection. His hand is likely stuck to the glove and rust, which is why it''s bulging..." "But even if it''s rusted, it shouldn''t be so heavy that a specter can''t control it..." Thoughts flashed through his mind. Zhao Yi immediately recalled how Ying Xiong had exclaimed about losing feeling in his rusted foot... S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "That''s it..." "Rust, during its growth process, robs living beings of sensation." "And it keeps spreading." "And it doesn''t cause immediate death..." Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow. Spreading. If that''s the case, as long as he cuts fast enough, does it mean he can stop the spread? But then, new wounds would still grow rust. Unless... medication is used. Thinking of this, Zhao Yi licked his lips. He pushed his cart away, returning to the lawn to continue loading rust grass. Behind him, the cursing grew more intense, the voice fainter. ... On the lawn. Chen Fei returned with Ying Xiong, who had a leg cut off. "I''m sorry to tell you... once a wound rusts, it can''t regenerate." "As for the cart issue, I''ll ask Zhao Yi about it later." "There''s a cart here right now, Zhang Ming didn''t follow the rules and died, so you can use his cart!" Ying Xiong showed a fawning smile, nodding and bowing, starting to load rust grass with his limp leg. Zhao Yi approached with his cart from a distance, Chen Fei glanced at him and said: "Zhao Yi, come with me!" The other specters almost all had gloating smiles. Especially Ying Xiong and the Delinquent Specter. This damned human, trying to compete with them for the excellent employee position? Does he deserve it? As Zhao Yi walked away, the Delinquent Specter''s gaze locked onto the Yellow Hat Specter in the distance, eyes cold. Daring to speak up for a human... you''ll be the next to die! Chapter 123 – Rust-? Cai Zhen Building. A man and a specter stood facing the wind. "You shouldn''t have come." "But I still did." "Here to die?" "Only a fool comes to die." "Oh? You''re not a fool?" "I''m a smart man." In front of the building, the two locked eyes, their auras clashing fiercely. Until a voice broke the tension between them. "Are you two sick?" "Damn it, blocking the entrance for twenty minutes without saying a word, what the hell are you doing?" "Move aside, I need to go in and get last month''s salary!" The once serious pair was suddenly disrupted, making way for a simple and honest specter carrying a roaring chainsaw, heading upstairs to claim his wages. Chen Fei said to Zhao Yi: "Shall we find another place to talk?" "Sure." The two moved to a quieter, shadier spot. Chen Fei leaned against the wall. "This place isn''t suitable for someone like you to work, it''s too dangerous. I can help you apply for resignation, you should leave quickly." Zhao Yi''s expression suddenly turned serious. "Actually, I''m a time-traveling special agent." "The future world has undergone drastic changes, Hanging Valley Town is on the brink of disaster, and the source of the threat is this factory, threat level¡ªDragon!" "We reverse time, traveling through countless past timelines, conducting special operations with the aim of saving the past!" "This operation is codenamed: Tenet!" Chen Fei was taken aback by Zhao Yi''s words, his face showing undisguised surprise. "Are you... alright?" Zhao Yi replied earnestly: "Do I not look like it?" Seeing Zhao Yi''s serious demeanor, despite the absurdity of his words, Chen Fei couldn''t help but start to doubt. "Do you have any proof of what you''re saying?" Zhao Yi took out a property deed from his inventory. "This is my ID, A-level agent 007." "Codename¡ªJames Bond Hard Old Liu!" Chen Fei stared at the property deed for a long time, feeling something was off. After all, time-traveling special agents... it was just too ridiculous! And that name... It sounded like it wouldn''t pass any review! Seeing Chen Fei''s skeptical face, Zhao Yi sighed and pulled out the shredder. "I knew you wouldn''t believe me." "Look, I even brought the time-traveling machine!" "As long as you throw something in and set the time, you can travel to the past!" Chen Fei carefully examined the strange machine in front of him. Hmm... no matter how you looked at it, it didn''t resemble a high-tech time-travel device. Instead, it looked more like... some kind of meat processing machine. "Are you sure this thing can travel to the past?" Zhao Yi replied: "Of course, why don''t you throw something in to test it?" Chen Fei hesitated for a moment, then suddenly his left hand''s chain flew up, wrapping around a nearby dead tree and tossing it into the shredder. A loud rumbling ensued. The dead tree inside disappeared. Only sawdust flew out from the exit. Chen Fei pointed at the sawdust on the ground, exclaiming: "Damn! This is clearly a shredder, isn''t it?!" Zhao Yi patted Chen Fei''s shoulder, speaking earnestly: "Ah!" "Let''s not talk about it, let''s be civilized!" "Actually, these sawdust... are another function of the time-traveling machine¡ªto confuse others, the doctor specifically developed this feature when making the machine..." "It can analyze the material structure of the item that enters, sending the item back to the past while ejecting sawdust similar to the item''s material, making others think it''s just an ordinary shredder, not a time machine..." Chen Fei''s eyes sparkled. "Really?" Zhao Yi spread his hands. "If it weren''t for the mission, why would a human like me come to such a dangerous place to get involved?" This reason seemed more convincing than Zhao Yi''s previous explanations. Chen Fei believed him. He took a deep breath, his eyes becoming more serious. "You said earlier that a terrible disaster happened in the future Hanging Valley Town, and the disaster originated from the steel processing plant... what''s going on?" Zhao Yi continued to bluff: "It''s not that I don''t want to tell you, but it''s really too dangerous. A kid like you shouldn''t know!" Hearing Zhao Yi''s tone, Chen Fei was immediately displeased. "Who are you looking down on?" "I''m one of the few red-clothed employees in the factory!" Zhao Yi''s eyes flashed with light. Red-clothed employee. Keyword. He had many questions, but didn''t ask immediately, showing a hint of hesitation on his face. "This is a confidential mission... if you want to know, you must join us, and joining us... means you might sacrifice at any time..." "Are you willing to give your life to save the world?" Chen Fei''s heart was instantly stirred. Damn! From Zhao Yi''s tone, there seemed to be a big organization behind this! His childhood dream was to be a great hero riding colorful clouds and saving the world! Damn, isn''t this exactly what he wanted? When you''re just trying to make great content at bit.ly/3iBfjkV. "I am willing!" Chen Fei declared firmly! Zhao Yi nodded solemnly, his eyes turning as he said to Chen Fei: "Comrade Chen Fei, stand at attention!" Chen Fei straightened his chest, his eyes resolute! "The organization is willing to accept you, but you need to swear an oath." "Now, I''ll say a line, and you repeat it." Chen Fei nodded: "No problem!" Zhao Yi earnestly made up: "The long night is coming, I shall stand watch from this day forward, until my death." Chen Fei solemnly swore: "The long night is coming, I shall stand watch from this day forward, until my death!" Zhao Yi continued: "I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post." These words stirred Chen Fei''s heart, and he loudly repeated: "I shall take no wife, hold no lands, father no children. I shall wear no crowns and win no glory. I shall live and die at my post." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhao Yi nodded, his gaze sharp. "I shall be the sword in the darkness, the watcher on the walls. I shall dedicate my life to the organization, fighting for the liberation of the world''s suffering! I swear by my soul, even if alone, I shall not retreat, fighting to the last second, shedding the last drop of blood!" Chen Fei trembled all over, tears even glistening at the corners of his eyes. To fight for the liberation of the world''s suffering... What a great and noble ideal! Who would have thought, just a moment ago, he was an ordinary worker in a steel processing plant, and now he was about to fight for the liberation of the world?! He raised his right hand above his head, declaring loudly: "I, Chen Fei, shall be the sword in the darkness, piercing the darkness, questioning the light! I shall dedicate my life to the organization, fighting for the liberation of the world''s suffering! I swear by my soul, even if alone, I shall not retreat, fighting to the last second, shedding the last drop of blood!" Passion surged in his chest, unable to calm for a long time. [Worker Specter ''Chen Fei'' has increased his favorability towards you to ''Awe''.] The system sent a message. After a moment of silence, Zhao Yi looked at the specter he had successfully fooled, extending his hand to shake the chainsaw on its right arm. "Comrade Chen Fei, congratulations on joining the organization!" Chen Fei said excitedly: "Comrade Zhao Yi... thank you!" "By the way... what''s the name of our organization?" Zhao Yi recalled a document he had seen, which recorded a certain Eastern mythological world, and blurted out: "Intercept Sect." "Intercept Sect... Intercept Sect..." Chen Fei repeated the words, engraving them in his heart. At this moment, he had no idea what these two words would mean in the future... "Comrade Chen Fei, since you''ve joined the mission to save Hanging Valley Town, you must cooperate with me as much as possible!" "No problem!" "First, I want to know about the specifics of this factory... why do grass and people rust, and what''s the deal with the factory''s rules?" Chen Fei was silent for a moment, seemingly organizing his thoughts. He carefully looked around, ensuring no other specters or surveillance cameras were present, then spoke in a low voice: "I heard from an older brother who worked here before me that the steel processing plant was originally a rather special laboratory." "This steel processing plant has existed for a long time, even before Hanging Valley Town was built, it was constructed first!" "There''s something in the steel plant... that can affect all living things around it. Within a certain range, as long as something alive is injured on the surface, ''it'' will sense it." "It will consume things with rust and spit out high-quality steel." "This steel, after processing, is purchased by the construction team of Hanging Valley Town." "As for that thing... I think it should be underground." "After all, every time rusty materials are sent underground." Chen Fei explained this while remaining very cautious about his surroundings. "As for the factory''s rules... they were set by a machine left by the factory''s developers." "It''s said that the rules can protect the employees here from mysterious forces." "Do you remember the description of the rules, with four colors of clothing?" Zhao Yi nodded. "I remember." "Ordinary employees wear blue clothes, but besides that, there are gray, red, and black clothes in the factory." Chen Fei lowered his voice again. "The employees'' clothes are specially made, they look like ordinary clothes, but they''re not." "If an employee is infected with rust, their clothes'' color will fade. Once it reaches a certain level, they become gray-clothed employees..." "These employees are called ''rust corpses'' by the manager. They look no different from ordinary employees but are extremely dangerous... if they ask to borrow something from you and you agree... terrible things will happen..." "Once, there was an employee in the factory... although he didn''t lend anything to the rust corpses, because he was curious and communicated with them for a long time, he mysteriously disappeared later..." Zhao Yi curiously asked: "Do you know where they ended up?" Chen Fei shook his head, his eyes filled with deep fear. "They were never seen again, nor heard from." "And the existence of red-clothed employees... is to eliminate those who might potentially become gray-clothed employees, whether human or specter!" "By wearing red clothes, they can clearly see which employees'' blue clothes are fading, even if just a little!" "Moreover, red-clothed employees can see the names on the blue-clothed employees'' clothes." "Red-clothed employees are responsible for recording the names of these infected blue-clothed employees, reporting them all to the security room, or we can eliminate them on the spot, or wait for a unified elimination at a certain time..." Zhao Yi seemed to understand, pondering for a moment, then suddenly asked: "What about those wearing black clothes?" Chen Fei''s expression stiffened. "There are no people wearing black clothes in the factory..." "I''ve worked in the factory for decades and have never seen one." "However..." "I once heard an older brother mention a little..." "He told me that a hundred years ago, there was indeed a person wearing black clothes in the factory..." Zhao Yi pressed further: "And then?" Chen Fei''s body trembled slightly. "The older brother said... after that person in black appeared, because they weren''t reported to the security department in time, something particularly terrifying happened in the factory..." PS: This chapter is over three thousand words. I''ll stop here for now, and continue working hard tomorrow! Still need to take a dump. Thank you all for watching. Good night!