The Bunker.
The bustling trade fair was still underway, with crowds continuing to come and go.
When Wen Xishu appeared in the office, the Academy Spirit handed him cleaning supplies with its usual practiced ease.
"Welcome back. Thank you for your hard work. Congratulations on overcoming another incredible challenge. Thanks to you, the entire Bunker has erupted in celebration again, and business in the Eerie Sequence marketplace has really picked up."
Wen Xishu paused, then immediately understood.
"You received a notification?"
The Academy Spirit nodded.
"It was extraordinary. The notification read: 'Bunker resident Wen Xishu has achieved Level Seven Completion. The Bunker's supplies have reached the abundant tier. Three Towers exploration rewards have unlocked the Heart-Questioning Stage. All Bunker residents who complete explorations of Three Towers floors will now receive richer rewards.'"
"Do you know how shocking that was? Level Seven Completion, achieved by you alone."
"Just a few hours ago, people saw you browsing the market. You were still lingering at the Eerie Sequence stalls."
"Nobody expected you to return just a few hours later. Then everyone suddenly received word that you had achieved Level Seven Completion."
"It was absolutely insane!"
Even the Academy Spirit was excited.
That was hardly surprising.
Wen Xishu's experience this time had been brief.
Unlike his previous challenges, which took several days each, Ghost Knocking had lasted only a few hours in real time.
The Academy Spirit continued.
"People still don't know what heart-questioning means, but when they heard they could receive richer rewards, they all came flocking in."
"You have to spend a long time in both the Desire Tower and the Slaughter Tower. Finding people in the Desire Tower takes a lot of effort, after all. And in the Slaughter Tower, after killing monsters, you have to spend a long time beside