Re-entering the Mountain God Temple

"A terrifying Mountain God Temple."

Zhang Yuanqing leaned back, surrendering his body weight to the chair.

He closed his eyes, synthesizing the information from the files with his own personal experience and the inspiration gained from playing the game, analyzing the Mountain God Temple to uncover its patterns.

"The Shoulder-Perching Wraith can be repelled by candlelight. Each repulsion grants a fifteen-minute safety window, and it won't cause immediate harm after perching."

"One must be careful of the Banyan Tree in the east courtyard; do not look back. Why can't one look back? Under what circumstances is it forbidden? What happens if you do, and why didn't the files explain it clearly?"

"It's still uncertain whether the roaring sound is related to the Banyan Tree. If it's unrelated, that adds another layer of danger. Is the true form of those Red Dancing Shoes a prop? A rule-based prop—that sounds high-end."

Looking at it now, the predecessors from the construction team were most likely trampled to death by the Red Dancing Shoes, their bones crushed to pieces.

"Although I learned some dance under Uncle's tutelage, even a Level 1 Night Wanderer couldn't handle it, so a kid like me certainly can't. If Uncle encountered the Red Dancing Shoes, he'd probably dance until the end of time."

This kind of thing should be left to that unreliable Uncle; after all, he never does anything serious in his life, just loves to sing, dance, and rap.

Wait!

Zhang Yuanqing's eyes suddenly lit up.

According to the files, the fundamental reason for that Night Wanderer's failure, aside from a lack of dance experience, was the inability to memorize the complex and chaotic dance steps.

This likely exceeded the limits of a normal person's short-term memory.

But he didn't have that problem. If he forced himself to trigger a relapse of his old illness, pushing his brain into an overload state, everything he had seen and heard would be perfectly replayed in his mind.

Furthermore, in an overload state, his brain's control over his body far exceeded that of an ordinary person, making high-difficulty movements a non-issue.

"The problem is, non-Spirit Realm items cannot be brought in. My medicine might not make it through. Once the old illness relapses without the medicine to suppress it, I don't know what will happen to me."

There was no need to rack his brain over this; he should just ask. Otherwise, what was the point of joining an official organization?

Zhang Yuanqing grabbed his phone, opened his call history, and dialed Guan Ya's number.

After a few rings, the call connected.

"Finished reading the files?"

Guan Ya was preparing to rest. She was a woman who valued self-care, detesting late nights and hating being disturbed while sleeping.

But for Zhang Yuanqing, her tolerance was high. Who could bear to speak harshly to a boy whose life was hanging by a thread? Besides, he was handsome and spoke well.

"Finished. There are some parts I don't quite understand," Zhang Yuanqing asked. "What is a rule-based prop?"

Guan Ya explained, "There is a vast variety of props in the Spirit Realm, each with different functions. Our official organization categorizes them into three major types based on their characteristics: cost-based, rule-based, and a third type that remains unclear—I'm not high-level enough to encounter it."

Having said that, she added with a smile, "Rule-based and cost-based props are generally considered equal in standing; after all, their functions vary, and they cannot be measured by a single standard. But one thing is universally acknowledged: rule-based props are more troublesome to deal with and much rarer. Every single rule-based prop is worth a fortune."

She paused, then continued:

"The method for dealing with rule-based props is not a secret within the official organization: you must find its pattern and crack its rules. The invitation to dance mentioned in the files likely aligns with its rules."

"If you can fulfill its invitation, there is a certain probability of subduing this rule-based prop. Of course, it's only a probability. It depends on many factors, such as whether it's willing, or whether it's currently ownerless, and so on."

But you should just think about subduing a rule-based prop, don't take it seriously, she thought to herself.

Zhang Yuanqing listened patiently and then asked, "One more thing, can medicine be brought into the Spirit Realm?"

"Aside from normal clothing, the vast majority of things from reality cannot be brought into the Spirit Realm. Medicine is allowed, but it must be already ingested."

"What if it's held in the mouth?"

"That..." Guan Ya couldn't answer.

It seemed he would have to try it himself. Zhang Yuanqing said:

"I have no more questions, thank you."

Guan Ya hummed and laughed:

"Take care, little boy. By the way, today is a lucky day for Scorpio."

Huh? Zhang Yuanqing hadn't reacted yet, but the other side had already hung up.

He put down his phone and glanced at the time; it was already past midnight.

Tomorrow morning, he would enter the Spirit Realm again.

The next day.

Li Dongze leaned on his cane, his polished leather shoes clicking as he entered the glass building behind the police station.

As a leader who didn't need to clock in, he was accustomed to arriving an hour late, sometimes not showing up at all, living off the public payroll while slacking off—free and unrestrained.

He was equally lax in managing the Spirit Realm Walkers under his command, letting them do as they pleased.

For one, aside from Guan Ya, the others were not part of the White Tiger Corps and only listened to orders when they felt like it.

Secondly, the mortality rate for Spirit Realm Walkers in dungeons was extremely high; who knew if they would ever come back out.

Life is short, enjoy it while you can.

Li Dongze arrived on the second floor and habitually scanned the office area. At the empty desks sat only Guan Ya, who was working diligently, and Wang Tai, who was researching files and writing a thesis.

"Guan Ya, did you give him the files?"

"I did."

Li Dongze nodded without a word, turned, and stepped into his luxurious office.

Guan Ya did not pursue the topic further and lowered her head.

Li Dongze entered the office, walked over to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of vodka, squeezed in some lime juice, and downed it in one gulp.

Just then, his phone chimed. He set down his glass, sank into his soft chair, and unlocked the screen.

Someone had tagged him in the Kangyang District Spirit Walker Management Group.

As a major metropolis, Songhai City was divided into sixteen districts, each with ten teams of Spirit Walkers led by captains.

Li Dongze was the captain of the Second Team; in the terminology of the White Tiger Corps, he was a Squad Leader.

The captains reported to the deacons, and there were three deacons in Kangyang District.

Above the deacons were the elders, who rarely involved themselves in daily affairs; Spirit Walkers of this caliber were as elusive as dragons.

Above the Elder Council sat the supreme leaders of the Five Elements Alliance—the five Alliance Masters.

The five Alliance Masters were legendary figures. Li Dongze had never met them, knowing only that the Marshal of his own White Tiger Corps and the Palace Master of the Water God Palace were both women.

Within the Five Elements Alliance, these two were privately hailed as the Peerless Duo.

The Kangyang District Spirit Walker Management Group consisted of fourteen people: ten captains, three deacons, and one Night Wanderer captain from the Taiyi Sect.

Big Muscle Tyrant: "@Li Dongze, I heard you recruited a Night Wanderer?"

How did he find out? Li Dongze frowned and replied:

"None of your damn business!"

In the Five Elements, Fire overcomes Metal. Scouts of the White Tiger Corps generally despised the Fire Masters of the Red Fire Gang, viewing them as crude, hot-headed, and impulsive.

What? Li Dongze recruited a Night Wanderer?!

The captains in the group chat perked up like sharks smelling blood.

Green Vine: "A Night Wanderer? Squad Leader Li, what temple have you been praying at lately? I'm envious."

White Dragon: "Excluding rogue cultivators, I don't think there are more than ten official Night Wanderers in all of Songhai City. And they're all from the Taiyi Sect."

Water Strider: "What kind of dog shit luck did you stumble into, Li Dongze? You're making me sick with jealousy."

Three captain-level figures popped up at once.

[Tang Guoqiang sent a red packet]

The red packet was snatched up instantly.

Li Dongze instinctively grabbed it, only to find that while everyone else got over a hundred, he had received a little over one.

Tang Guoqiang: "Squad Leader Li has good luck."

Below, a flurry of "Thank you, Boss" stickers followed.

Tang Guoqiang was also a captain, but he was simultaneously the CEO of a construction firm. He was wealthy, usually quiet, and prone to sending red packets at the slightest provocation.

Even this big boss had surfaced because of the Night Wanderer topic.

Boxing King: "What kind of memory do you people have? Have you forgotten the agreement between the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect? Any recruited Night Wanderer must be offered to the Taiyi Sect first."

White Dragon: "Brother Boxing, your memory is the one failing you. Have you forgotten our Centurion Fu? Given his history with the Taiyi Sect, keeping one Night Wanderer won't be a problem."

Boxing King fell silent.

The captains who had surfaced were green with envy. Regardless of the rarity of the Night Wanderer class or its potential, it far outstripped other professions. If nurtured well, they would become a formidable asset in the future.

Green Vine: "By the way, our Kangyang District Spirit Walker teams haven't had a team-building event in a long time. Why don't we set a date and get together?"

White Dragon: "Oh, is the vixen from the Hundred Flowers Society looking to hook someone again? But I have no objections."

Water Strider: "I'm not out at sea lately, so a gathering works for me. Squad Leader Li, I've been wanting to grab a drink with you for a while. Bring that Night Wanderer along, too."

Tang Guoqiang: "The idea of a team-building event is good. Let's all get together. Since Li Dongze snatched my red packet, I'll take that as a 'yes'."

Li Dongze's mouth twitched. He was already in a foul mood, so he typed out an angry reply:

"I see the shamelessness, the greed, and the sinister intent to poach my talent between your lines. I must have been cursed by the Spirit Energy Society recently; I'm plagued by bad luck."

Big Muscle Tyrant: "Humblebragging?"

Water Strider: "I wish I had that kind of bad luck."

Just then, the Night Wanderer from the Taiyi Sect, Yuan Ting, surfaced:

"The Taiyi Sect doesn't want that Night Wanderer. Have you forgotten? Qingming Festival just passed recently."

Green Vine: "What do you mean?"

Yuan Ting: "The trial mission for the Night Wanderer Li Dongze recruited was the Sheling Tunnel."

The group chat went silent instantly.

Although they weren't Night Wanderers, as official local Spirit Walkers of Songhai City, they knew a thing or two about the infamous Sheling Tunnel.

White Dragon: "It can't be that unlucky, can it?"

Yuan Ting: "To save that poor soul, Centurion Fu specifically went to ask Elder Sun for a detailed dossier on the Sheling Tunnel yesterday."

Big Muscle Tyrant: "Uh, is there even any point in trying to save him? Since the last century, no novice has ever cleared Sheling Tunnel. Li Dongze, you poor kid. I can just imagine the look on your face when you heard the trial Spirit Realm for your recruit was Sheling Tunnel."

Fire Master has always been one to speak his mind.

You want to fight?! Li Dongze, sitting at his desk, nearly grabbed his cane to rush out of the office and challenge this guy to a duel.

He quickly took a deep breath, repeating to himself: elegant, stay elegant.

Water Strider: "Suddenly got an order, have to run a boat this month, let's just forget about the team building."

Tang Guoqiang: "What a pity."

Green Vine: "Understood, poor newcomer."

The "unfiltered" Fire Master Big Muscle Tyrant @'d Li Dongze again:

"Did you get chewed out for making Centurion Fu waste a favor?"

Li Dongze: "Shut your mouth. One more word, and I'll head to the gym right now and smash your dog head in."

He just had to bring up the sore spot.

Taiyi Sect and the Five Elements Alliance are two different organizations after all, and their intelligence is not shared. For Centurion Fu (Deacon) to obtain intelligence from the Taiyi Sect, he had to burn a favor.

Big Muscle Tyrant: "You can't beat me anyway."

The other captains didn't respond, seemingly no longer interested in the matter.

At this moment, Fu Qingyang, one of the three great deacons, sent a message:

"Are you all that idle? Do you need me to throw you back into the training camp for a refresher?"

Li Dongze and Big Muscle Tyrant immediately fell silent.

A few seconds later, Fu Qingyang sent another message:

"Since he has joined, he is a soldier under my command. The White Tiger Corps does not abandon any colleague; this is our belief, regardless of value."

Li Dongze sighed. He had indeed botched this matter. Centurion Fu wouldn't say anything to his face, but who knew if he had lost points in his estimation.

At 10:30 AM, Zhang Yuanqing locked his bedroom door, tied his shoelaces, and drank two large glasses of water.

Then, he unscrewed the medicine bottle and popped five little blue pills into his mouth.

Next, he lay down on the bed and silently waited for the Spirit Realm to open.

Time ticked by, and about ten minutes later, Zhang Yuanqing heard a cold voice resonate in his mind:

[Spirit Realm initializing]

[Ding, Spirit Realm map initialization complete. Welcome to "Night Wanderer—Sheling Tunnel", ID: 0079.]

[Difficulty Level: S]

[Type: Solo (Death-type)]

[Main Mission 1: Survive for three hours (Completed).]

[Main Mission 2: Explore 0079 Spirit Realm, current exploration progress: 20%]

[Note: Non-Spirit Realm items cannot be brought in.]

[Good luck, Yuanshi Tianzun!]

The ceiling twisted like a water surface rippled by the wind. When the image stabilized, Zhang Yuanqing found himself standing in the dim candlelight of the main hall.