The Eyeless Ghost did not drop any materials. The Door God had struck too harshly, leaving not even a complete corpse, so naturally it could not drop anything useful;
The Paper Effigy Dowry Child left behind by the Blood-Red Wedding Sedan Ghost as a substitute corpse dropped a Paper Effigy Dowry Child (White);
The Drowned Ghost had been blasted until it was utterly mangled by the Electromagnetic Pulse, but it left behind a Drowned Person's Black Umbrella (Green).
This dungeon had cost six ghosts their lives in one fell swoop! And they had harvested so many materials.
For Zhong Yueming, a beginner Card Master, and Lin Chen, who had only just crossed the threshold of being a Card Master, this was an absolutely enormous haul.
Zhong Yueming spoke with relief. "Lin Chen, you can have all these card materials. Without you, I definitely wouldn't have survived this dungeon. I'll remember your life-saving grace."
Lin Chen was deeply moved when he heard this and hurriedly said:
"Brother Zhong, you contributed a great deal too. If we're talking about life-saving grace, you were the one who saved me first.
"Besides, you were the one who personally destroyed the Drowned Ghost. You deserve a share as well.
"And my Door God Card was made from the Guardian Card you gave me. If we're talking about favors, I owe you a great deal too."
Seeing Lin Chen's sincerity, Zhong Yueming said:
"Then I'll take these two materials—the Forbidden Scripture and Shattered Corpse in Two Halves.
"The Forbidden Scripture has a sanity-polluting effect, so it's unsafe to seal away. It'll be difficult for you to handle. I'll turn it over to the Card Master Association to remove the contamination.
"As for Shattered Corpse in Two Halves, consider it payment for the Guardian Card I gave you."
Lin Chen knew that Zhong Yueming had deliberately chosen the two materials with the lowest value and highest risk.
Having gone through life and death together, the two already regarded each other as close friends. Lin Chen no longer stood on ceremony and accepted the remaining materials.
"This achievement is enormous. We destroyed so many ghosts and monsters, and we also obtained precious intelligence on clearing the Myriad Ghosts Night Parade Dungeon.
"Once I report all this to the Card Master Association and the rewards come down, I'll have my next Green Card!"
With the threat to their lives gone, Zhong Yueming relaxed all at once.
"Lin Chen, do you want to join the official Card Association Security Bureau?
"You made an epic-level God Card! With my recommendation and guarantee, you'll certainly be valued!"
The strength of Lin Chen's Door God Card was plain for all to see. He had even deduced the Card Combination Formula himself—he was simply a genius-level Card Master!
Of course Zhong Yueming hoped that a talent like Lin Chen could serve the official forces alongside him.
Moreover, Lin Chen's newly deduced card combination formula and the information on the God Card needed to be reported as soon as possible, expanding the official card index.
But Lin Chen hesitated somewhat. He hoped Zhong Yueming would conceal his God Card for the time being.
One concern was that possessing a treasure invited disaster. Since this world had more evil spirits than anything else, it was deeply wary of God Cards.
Once his God Card was exposed, it would surely be subjected to all kinds of inspections. He might even be detained and controlled. There was no way Lin Chen would hand over the card that could save his life.
Besides, Lin Chen did not understand the true nature of this world. The reason for the severance of the gods' lineage certainly was not simple, and he wanted to investigate it first.
Zhong Yueming had received a life-saving favor from Lin Chen, so he naturally could not force him. Though he did not understand Lin Chen's concerns, he still agreed.
In the past, DS-R1 had helped Zhong Yueming record dungeon strategy intel. This time, its energy had been exhausted, so he could only use his wristband to record the dungeon strategy intel himself.
This kind of recording and sharing was extremely important, helping other Card Masters and ordinary people who entered this dungeon later.
The sky had already begun to brighten. With the Door God's Protection, no ghost dared to attack them, so they should be about to clear the dungeon.
Before leaving the dungeon, Lin Chen planned to pay his respects and fulfill his vow before the City God statue.
When he entered the temple hall, he was stunned to discover that the previously incomplete City God statue had somehow been restored!
Its face was imposing and fierce, looking exactly like a fusion of Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong.
The incense and candles in the shrine were burning vigorously, their spiritual energy flourishing.
The plaque outside the City God Temple now bore a name—Door God Temple.
Lin Chen quickly told Zhong Yueming about this discovery. After using the wristband to monitor its energy, they found that the dilapidated City God Temple had already upgraded into a Level-Two Shelter—the Door God Temple!
It also possessed the Door God's Protection and Incense Blessing effects—
Anyone who was not monstrously evil could offer incense and worship here to receive the Door God's protection, driving away evil and warding off malefic spirits.
The temple had been rebuilt, the incense relit, and protection and blessings bestowed!
This was crucial intelligence!
Zhong Yueming imagined the possibilities. From now on, Card Masters entering this dungeon would have to bring incense with them. As long as they found this Door God Temple, their survival rate would soar!
How many future people could this help?
Wonderful! We're saved!
Zhong Yueming suddenly found a glimmer of hope in this eerie world.
After Lin Chen paid his respects and fulfilled his vow, Zhong Yueming also solemnly bowed to the statue three times.
Lin Chen sensed in secret that his Door God Card had somehow formed a fated connection with this temple.
Moreover, as Zhong Yueming worshiped, a thread of incense power gathered into his Door God Card. Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong also conveyed a feeling of delight.
Could the Door God Card absorb incense power and upgrade again?
The first dungeon had ended, and the next card was already on its way! Everyone could look forward to seeing what kind of card it would be.
Chapter 7: "Eerie Dungeon Return Prevention and Control Regulations"
Before Lin Chen could think it through, an electronic screen on a deserted building beside the Door God Temple lit up.
The screen still showed that suited host with the fake smile who had broadcast the Myriad Ghosts Night Parade!
"Gatherings are always brief. The Myriad Ghosts Night Parade has ended. Thank you to the loyal listeners who are still tuned in.
"The program team will send you a return gift. We look forward to seeing you next time. Finally, we'll play everyone a song—'Hard to Die Tonight.' May everyone's punishments descend and your lives pass away~"
"You use the most blessing-like tone to say the most inauspicious things, huh? Who would want to see this dungeon again next time?"
Zhong Yueming complained irritably.
But this dungeon had finally ended safely.
"I really didn't expect to survive a B-Class Dungeon!
"When DS-R1's intelligent simulation calculated my survival rate at only 0.4%, I was already utterly desperate.
"Who would've thought its calculations would be so inaccurate? Hahaha!"
Zhong Yueming laughed in relief.
Lin Chen muttered inwardly: That's because I'm the variable who crossed over. There's no way DS-R1 could calculate me!
When leaving the dungeon, Lin Chen and Zhong Yueming agreed to meet properly after returning to the real world.
After everyone had left and the temple stood empty, an eyeball quietly rolled out from the shadows and fixed its gaze on the temple, where the incense had been relit...
The present world, H City Card Association Security Bureau.
Zhong Yueming had returned alive once again. He saw that his dormitory had already been sealed off.
This was a standard prevention and control measure for Card Masters returning from dungeons, meant to prevent them from turning into ghosts or bringing ghosts back from the dungeon.
He had survived three dungeons already, so he was familiar with the procedures after returning.
As usual, Zhong Yueming first used an instrument to test his Sanity Value;
After confirming that it was within the safe range, he began reporting to the authorities with his wristband:
"Report! H City Card Association Security Bureau—Patrol Guard Team 2—beginner Card Master Zhong Yueming has successfully returned alive from the B-Class Dungeon, Myriad Ghosts Night Parade Dungeon.
"Current Sanity Value: 86. Conscious and lucid, with no major bodily injuries. I have important dungeon strategy intel to report!"
Three Card Masters from the Security Bureau's Prevention and Control Department arrived immediately.
The team leader was a tall woman with a cold, striking face. She wore a black trench coat, leather pants, and white gloves.
She spoke expressionlessly. "Beginner Card Master Zhong Yueming, according to the 'Card Master Association Eerie Dungeon Return Prevention and Control Regulations,' you are required to undergo a compulsory dual-track examination.
"First, under the supervision of prevention and control personnel, you will have a Sanity Value monitoring chip implanted. The data will be synchronized in real time with the Card Master Prevention and Control Center."
A white-clad prevention and control officer behind her took out a chip and passed it to Zhong Yueming from a distance. Zhong Yueming skillfully implanted it into his right arm.
The woman in the trench coat glanced at her wristband. After confirming that the chip had been implanted and the data synchronized;
she continued, "Next, you will be subjected to a holy-light purification spell. Please relax your mind and body. Do not resist."
Another white-clad prevention and control officer stepped forward, took out a Green-grade Purification Spell Card, and activated it;
Pure white holy light washed over Zhong Yueming's entire body, stripping away some of the pitch-black ghostly aura.
The Sanity Value monitoring chip reported that Zhong Yueming's Sanity Value was slowly recovering, and his body was showing no rejection reaction.
"Next is the 108-question Forbidden Association Test. Answer truthfully according to your first conscious response.
"If your rate of incorrect or abnormal answers exceeds 5%, a review will be triggered."
Zhong Yueming nodded to show that he was ready.
"How many personalities do you currently have?
"What species do you currently identify yourself as?
"What is your real name?
"Do you believe human blood is a food?
"Do you have a belief in deities?
"Which of the following are positive and uplifting words?
"A. Eyeball B. Kindness C. Skeleton D. Sympathy
"If a ghost disaster broke out, and sacrificing 10,000 ordinary citizens could exchange for the survival of one Advanced Card Master, should it be carried out?
Before you continue