The scenery here was a rare sight.
Creatures resembling pterosaurs soared overhead. Lush forests and jagged ravines could apparently coexist, forming a landscape as complex as it was astonishing. The air was incredibly fresh, as though they were breathing the spiritual energy spoken of in legends.
As Xie De surveyed the terrain, he unexpectedly heard 730's voice, as meticulous as ever.
"Congratulations, Mr. Xie De. Our cooperation went very smoothly. The Desert Instance has been reclaimed, and this mission is a complete success."
455 also said happily, "Wonderful, host! This mission is a complete success! (๑˃́ꇴ˂̀๑)"
Xie De froze. He remembered that reclaiming the Desert Instance required sending Little Shen home and soothing Shen Mother's resentment. Little Shen was with Daoist Liu, so the successful completion of the mission meant that Daoist Liu had already reached Immortal Mountain, just at a different location from theirs.
But Xie De still frowned. He realized things were not that simple. First, he discovered that he could actually use his spatial domain now, and that discovery had come the instant 730 spoke. Second, clouds had appeared in the previously cloudless sky at that very same instant.
730 seemed not to notice anything amiss. Its tone remained calm and official. "Thank you very much for your assistance with the Instance, Mr. Xie De. We would now like to extend a special invitation for you to become a member of the Instance's staff."
"You now have two options, Mr. Xie De."
"First, you may retain your player status and become an external staff member of the Instance. The Instance will go easy on you, providing clues directly to you. Second, you may relinquish your player status and become a high-ranking NPC of the Instance. Once you become a high-ranking NPC, any ghosts within the Instance whose