Who Will Guard the Lamp

The next day, Yue Guan's report was delivered to Bibi Dong's desk. Sword Douluo had been suppressed. Ning Fengzhi had bought out the service. Four Shrek members had reached the Land Shrine through Cooperative Advance. Strategies were being sold. The Small Counter had opened. None of those items seemed earth-shattering on their own. Put together, though, they could not be ignored. Especially the words "paid strategies." Bibi Dong read them twice.

She did not lack money.

Nor did Spirit Hall lack capable fighters. But a strategy that could be replicated, purchased, and used by ordinary soul masters carried a different meaning. In the past, a genius's experience had been difficult to pass down intact. A strong person might say, "Watch for the right moment," but a weak person might not understand even after hearing it. Yet if death scenes could be reviewed, routes marked, and positions drawn on paper, then many things that once relied solely on comprehension could be broken down.

Bibi Dong's fingertip paused over the line, "Low-level soul master Zhou Ping crossed the death point." What concerned her was not Zhou Ping, but the words "low-level soul master." After finishing the report, her fingertip lingered on the paper for a moment.

"They did not reserve the place?"

Yue Guan said quietly, "Lin Chuan refused long-term exclusivity. Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did not force the matter, and Spirit Hall did not test the rules either." Bibi Dong raised her eyes.

"Then follow the rules."

Yue Guan lowered his head.

Bibi Dong said, "Keep the Golden Generation in the queue. Select several low-level stewards as well. Their Soul Power does not need to be high. They need to obey orders, have good memories, and be willing to review."

"I want to know whether this is useful only to geniuses, or whether ordinary soul masters can use it too."

Yue Guan's heart tightened slightly.

"And if it is useful?"

he asked quietly.

Bibi Dong glanced at him.

"Then this is no longer the problem of a small shop."

Yue Guan immediately lowered his head. He understood. If it was useful only to people like Hu Liena and Tang San, then Grand Dao Internet Cafe was an opportunity for geniuses. But if it was useful to ordinary soul masters as well, then it meant someone had patched a hole in the training system. Whoever patched it first would gain the advantage. What the Pope cared about had never been just one or two rewards. If ordinary soul masters could also learn to review, fill gaps, and cooperate through it, then Grand Dao Internet Cafe would not be a toy for geniuses. It would be a training ground. Meanwhile, at Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's temporary quarters—

Ning Fengzhi was also selecting people.

"Do not choose only the cleverest and boldest ones."

The steward was puzzled.

"Sect Master, the slots are limited. Shouldn't we give them to the disciples with the best talent first?"

Ning Fengzhi shook his head.

"Talented people can learn something anywhere."

He picked up yesterday's record.

"I want to see whether ordinary support disciples can survive one breath longer, see one thing more, and make one more correct choice after entering."

Chen Xin sat beside him and said calmly, "Pick one who panics easily too." Ning Fengzhi looked at him. Chen Xin said, "Better to panic in a game than on the battlefield." As soon as those words were spoken, several Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect stewards in the room fell silent. Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect did not lack money, nor did it lack protectors. Precisely because it lacked neither, many young disciples had been protected too well since childhood.

They knew how to enhance assault-system soul masters. They knew how to maintain Soul Power behind the formation. But if that protection suddenly shattered, they often did not even know where to take the first step. Such a problem had been difficult to train in the past. Train too lightly, and it was useless. Train too harshly, and people would die. Grand Dao Internet Cafe happened to sit between those extremes. The deaths felt real, yet no one truly died. Chen Xin had tested it personally the previous night, so his words carried more weight than any steward's advice. Ning Fengzhi smiled.

"Choose another one who usually stands at the very back."

The steward froze.

"Let him stand at the front once after entering."

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples could not forever learn only how to be protected. Ning Fengzhi added one more sentence.

"And that female disciple from yesterday—have her go again today."

The steward hesitated.

"Her complexion has been poor ever since she finished yesterday."

"That is exactly why she needs to go."

Ning Fengzhi said.

"Only after being afraid once will she know what she is afraid of the second time."

Chen Xin nodded lightly. He did not praise Ning Fengzhi, but that nod carried more weight than praise. Inside Grand Dao Internet Cafe, the four Shrek members sat down again. Grandmaster stood behind them. Ning Fengzhi and two Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples watched from the side. Yue Guan had also brought the Golden Generation. Today, everyone was staring at that Incense Lamp. The shop was even more crowded than yesterday. Some people lined up, some studied strategies, and some stood in the corner holding Refreshing Tea. Zhou Ping held three sheets of Review Paper as he squatted beside the counter, writing down his death points.

The people from Elephant Armor Academy complained about the trouble, but their eyes kept drifting toward the Strategy Board.

Spirit Hall's low-level stewards stood perfectly straight, as if awaiting orders.

Lin Chuan looked around and realized that his little shop was beginning to feel less and less like a little shop. The machines were still the same few machines. But there were far too many human thoughts gathered around them now. Before entering, Tang San said only one thing.

"Today, we are not competing for the first clear. We are only guarding the lamp."

Xiao Wu nodded.

Ma Hongjun patted his face.

"I won't burn things recklessly."

Ning Rongrong hugged the lamp tightly.

"I'll watch the rear."

Oscar stood behind them and could not help saying,

"You four, don't start arguing again halfway through."

Xiao Wu turned around.

"Shut up."

Ma Hongjun added, "Supporters who aren't even playing should stop making sarcastic comments." Oscar immediately spread his hands.

"Fine, fine. I'll be outside, responsible for applauding."

Ning Rongrong had been somewhat nervous, but the commotion actually helped her relax a little. Tang San looked at his teammates.

"Follow the positions we set last night."

All four nodded at once. Cooperative Advance began. The first half was steadier than yesterday. The strategy had not made the road easier. It had simply left everyone with a little less inexplicable panic. When they reached the Land Shrine, the faint light signifying completion had already appeared. Many people assumed they would enter directly. But Tang San stopped. People in the shop immediately grew anxious.

"Why aren't they going in?"

"They're already at the door!"

"The lamp still has time left. Clear it first!"

Ma Hongjun swallowed in the screen as well.

"Third Brother, the door is already lit up."

Tang San looked at the incense ash marks on the ground and did not move.

"Lit up does not mean complete."

Ning Rongrong hugged the lamp and said quietly,

"The lamp isn't heading toward the door either."

The shop fell silent at those words. Everyone's gaze dropped to the small lamp. A faint trail of incense ash led from the side rear of the Land Shrine into the grass. Ning Rongrong said softly, "The lamp is leaning that way." The flame of the Incense Lamp was not pointing toward the shrine door. It tilted slightly toward the side rear instead. Xiao Wu frowned.

"Is there another path there?"

Ma Hongjun swallowed.

"Don't tell me there's another ambush?"

Tang San looked at the incense ash trail.

"Possibly."

He paused.

"But if entering the shrine meant completion, the system would not have given the prompt for a complete Lamp Guarding evaluation."

Before the viewing screen, Grandmaster had already picked up a pen. Tang San led the team around to the side rear of the Land Shrine. Behind the vines was a small door. A charred wooden sign hung above it. Four faded characters: Old Incense Storehouse. The instant the sign appeared, a wave of sharp breaths rose before the viewing screen.

"A hidden room?"

"Could there be rewards inside?"

"Could it be something like the White-Clothed Scholar again?"

Ma Hongjun could not hear the discussion outside the screen. But as he looked at that door, his expression was much the same. Anticipation, mixed with a little fear. Tang San reached out and pushed the door. The hinges gave a dry creak. Dust fell through the crack. The Incense Lamp in Ning Rongrong's arms suddenly shrank by an inch. Her face changed.

"There's something inside."

Tang San turned back.

"Get ready."

The door at the end of the chapter slowly opened. The gap widened wider and wider, and the smell of ash rushed out from within. Xiao Wu instinctively moved to stand slightly in front of Ning Rongrong's side. A small flame emerged in Ma Hongjun's palm, then he lowered it himself. Tang San did not enter immediately. Instead, he first glanced at the Incense Lamp. Its flame was very low, but it had not gone out. Ning Rongrong said softly, "We can still move." As those three words fell, all four stepped forward at once. Before the viewing screen, Ning Fengzhi set down his teacup.

He knew the true test had arrived. The two Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples standing behind Ning Fengzhi also unconsciously held their breath. Yesterday, they had watched the game merely for entertainment. Today, they had begun to tense up along with the lamp flame. The female disciple was even silently calculating whether she would have noticed that incense ash trail if she had been carrying the lamp. The answer made her cheeks grow warm.

She might not have noticed it. That was why she needed to keep watching. The more closely she watched, the more confidence she would have next time.