Chapter 13

"The terrifying mountain god shrine..."

Zhang Yuanqing leaned back, transferring his weight to the chair's backrest.

He closed his eyes, combining the information from the documents with his own experiences and the inspiration gained from playing games, analyzing the mountain god shrine and looking for patterns.

"The shoulder-riding resentful spirit can be dispelled with candlelight, providing fifteen minutes of safety each time, and it won't cause immediate harm after attaching itself to the shoulder......"

"Be cautious of the locust tree in the eastern courtyard; you mustn't turn back. Why can't you turn back? What situation would make turning back impossible? What happens if you do turn back? Why isn't this clearly stated in the documents?"

"Currently, it's uncertain if the roar is related to the locust tree. If it's not, the danger increases. The true nature of the red dancing shoes is a prop? A rule-based prop, which sounds very high-class."

From the looks of it, the construction team members were most likely trampled to death by the red dancing shoes, their bones shattered.

"Although I've learned some dance moves under my uncle's tutelage, I can't handle a Level 1 Night Walker, so I definitely can't handle it as a child...... If my uncle encountered the red dancing shoes, he could probably dance until the end of time......"

This kind of thing should be left to my unreliable uncle, after all, he spends his life singing, dancing, and rapping.

Wait!

Zhang Yuanqing's eyes suddenly lit up.

According to the documents, the main reason the Night Walker failed was not only the lack of dance experience but also the inability to remember the complex and chaotic dance steps.

This likely exceeds the limits of normal human memory.

But he didn't have such worries. If he pushed himself, triggering a relapse and putting his brain into an overloaded state, everything he saw and heard would be replayed in his mind.

Moreover, in the overloaded state, his brain's control over his body far exceeds that of a normal person, making it possible to perform high-energy actions.

"The problem is, non-spiritual realm items cannot be brought in, and I might not be able to bring my medication. If my condition relapses and there's no medication to suppress it, I don't know what will happen."

There's no need to guess about this; he should just ask. After all, why join an official organization if he can't get answers?

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

After a few rings, the call connected.

"Have you finished reading the documents?"

Guan Ya was about to rest. She was a woman who valued her health, detesting staying up late and being disturbed while sleeping.

But she had a high tolerance for Zhang Yuanqing. Who could bear to speak harshly to a boy with a short life expectancy, especially one who was handsome and had a pleasant voice?

"I've finished, but there are some parts I don't understand," Zhang Yuanqing said. "What are rule-based props?"

Guan Ya explained, "There are many types of props in the spiritual realm, each with different functions. Our official organization categorizes them into three main types: cost-based, rule-based, and one that is unclear, which I can't access due to my level."

She added with a smile, "Rule-based and cost-based props are generally not ranked, as their functions are different and can't be measured by a single standard. However, it's widely acknowledged that rule-based props are more troublesome to handle and rarer, with each one being invaluable."

She paused and continued, "The method to deal with rule-based props is not a secret within the official organization. It involves finding their patterns and breaking their rules. The red dancing shoes inviting a dance, as mentioned in the documents, likely aligns with its rules."

"If you can complete its invitation, there's a certain probability of subduing the rule-based prop. Of course, it's just a probability, depending on various factors, such as whether it's willing and whether it's unowned."

But don't take the idea of subduing a rule-based prop too seriously, she thought to herself.

Zhang Yuanqing listened patiently and then asked, "One more thing, can medication be brought into the spiritual realm?"

"Most real-world items, except for normal clothing, cannot be brought into the spiritual realm. Medication can, but only if it has already been taken."

"What if it's in my mouth?"

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

It seems I'll have to try it myself, Zhang Yuanqing thought.

"I have no more questions, thank you."

Guan Ya responded with a "Mm" and added with a smile, "Take care, little boy. By the way, today is a lucky day for Scorpios."

"Huh?" Zhang Yuanqing didn't react in time, and the call had already ended.

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

Tomorrow morning, he would enter the spiritual realm again.

...

The next day.

Li Dongze, leaning on his cane and wearing shiny leather shoes, entered the glass building behind the police station.

As a leader who didn't need to clock in, he was used to arriving an hour late, sometimes not showing up at all, enjoying a carefree and spontaneous life.

He was equally lenient with the spiritual realm walkers under his command, allowing them to operate freely.

Firstly, except for Guan Ya, the others were not part of the White Tiger Army and only followed orders but not summons.

Secondly, the death rate in the spiritual realm was extremely high, and they might not return from a mission.

Life is short, enjoy it while you can.

Li Dongze arrived on the second floor and habitually scanned the office area. The only occupied desks were Guan Ya, who was working diligently, and Wang Tai, who was researching and writing a paper.

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

"Yes."

Li Dongze nodded, said nothing, and turned to enter his luxurious office.

Guan Ya didn't continue the topic and lowered her head.

Li Dongze entered the office, walked to the wine cabinet, poured himself a glass of vodka, squeezed some lime juice, and took a hearty sip.

Just then, his phone "dinged." He put down the glass, leaned back in the soft chair, and opened his phone.

Someone had @-mentioned him in a chat group called "Kangyang District Spiritual Realm Walkers Management Group."

As a major city, Songhai had sixteen districts, each with ten teams of spiritual realm walkers led by team leaders.

Li Dongze was the leader of the second team, equivalent to a squad leader in the White Tiger Army.

The team leaders' direct superior was an executive, and Kangyang District had three executives.

Above the executives were the elders, who rarely involved themselves in daily affairs, making them elusive figures.

Above the elders were the five leaders of the Five Elements Alliance, the highest authority.

These five leaders were legendary figures whom Li Dongze had never met, only knowing that the commander of the White Tiger Army and the palace master of the Water God Temple were both women.

Privately, the Five Elements Alliance referred to these two leaders as the "Two Beauties of the Era."

The "Kangyang District Spiritual Realm Walkers Management Group" had a total of fourteen members: ten team leaders, three executives, and one Night Walker team leader from the Taiyi Sect.

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

How did he find out... Li Dongze frowned and replied, "What's it to you?"

Fire overcomes Metal in the Five Elements, and the scouts of the White Tiger Army generally disliked the Fire Masters of the Red Fire Gang, finding them rude and impulsive.

What? Li Dongze recruited a Night Walker?!

The team leaders in the group perked up like sharks sensing blood.

Green Vine: "A Night Walker? Has Captain Li been burning incense and praying lately? To recruit a Night Walker, I'm envious."

White Dragon: "In the entire Songhai City, excluding independent practitioners, there are probably no more than ten official Night Walkers, and they all belong to the Taiyi Sect."

Water Drifter: "What kind of luck did you step on, Li Dongze? I'm so jealous."

Three team leaders immediately chimed in.

[Emperor Tang Guoqiang sent a red envelope]

The red envelope was instantly snatched up.

Li Dongze instinctively grabbed the red envelope and found that while others received over a hundred, he only got a few cents.

Tang Guoqiang: "Captain Li has good luck."

The others sent "Thank you, boss" emojis.

Tang Guoqiang was also a team leader but the CEO of a construction company, wealthy and generous, rarely speaking but often sending red envelopes.

Even this big boss chimed in about the Night Walker.

Fist King: "Do you remember the agreement between the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect? Any recruited Night Walkers should be prioritized for the Taiyi Sect."

White Dragon: "Brother Fist, you have a bad memory. What about our Captain Fu? With his ties to the Taiyi Sect, keeping a Night Walker is no problem."

Fist King fell silent.

The team leaders who chimed in were envious. The rarity and potential of Night Walkers far exceeded other professions, and a well-trained one would become a valuable asset.

Green Vine: "By the way, our Kangyang District spiritual realm walkers haven't had a team-building event in a long time. How about we set a date and get together?"

White Dragon: "Oh, the flowers are ready to seduce someone again? But I have no objections."

Water Drifter: "I'm not running ships this month, so I can join. Captain Li, I've been wanting to have a drink with you. Bring the Night Walker along."

Tang Guoqiang: "The idea of a team-building event is good. Captain Li, since you snatched my red envelope, consider it a promise."

Li Dongze's lips twitched. Already in a bad mood, he angrily typed:

"I see shamelessness, greed, and malicious intentions to poach in your words. I must have been cursed by the Spirit Energy Association, plagued by bad luck."

Big Muscle: "Vanity?"

Water Drifter: "I wish I had that bad luck."

At this moment, the Night Walker from the Taiyi Sect chimed in, Yuan Ting:

"The Night Walker you recruited, we don't want. Have you forgotten? It's just after Qingming."

Green Vine: "What do you mean?"

Yuan Ting: "Li Dongze's recruited Night Walker's trial mission is the She Ling Tunnel."

The group fell silent.

Although they weren't Night Walkers, as local official spiritual realm walkers in Songhai City, they knew about the infamous She Ling Tunnel.

White Dragon: "That's not good luck."

Yuan Ting: "To save that poor soul, Captain Fu specifically asked Elder Sun for detailed information on the She Ling Tunnel yesterday."

Big Muscle: "Uh... Is there even a point in saving him? No newcomer has ever cleared the She Ling Tunnel since the last century. Poor Li Dongze, I can imagine your expression when you heard about the trial mission."

Fire Masters always spoke their minds.

Do you want to fight?! Li Dongze almost grabbed his cane and stormed out of the office to challenge this guy.

He took a deep breath, repeating in his mind: Graceful, be graceful...

Water Drifter: "I just got a new job, so I'll be running ships this month. Let's skip the team-building event."

Tang Guoqiang: "What a pity."

Green Vine: "Understood, poor new recruit."

The blunt Fire Master Big Muscle @-mentioned Li Dongze again:

"Did you get Captain Fu to waste a favor? Did you get scolded?"

Li Dongze: "Shut up. One more word, and I'll come to the gym and beat your head in."

You're bringing up the wrong topic.

The Taiyi Sect and the Five Elements Alliance were separate organizations, and information wasn't shared. Captain Fu (an executive) had to use a favor to get information from the Taiyi Sect.

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

The other team leaders didn't respond, seemingly losing interest.

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

"Are you all idle? Do you need to be sent back to the training camp?"

Li Dongze and Big Muscle immediately fell silent.

A few seconds later, Fu Qingyang sent another message:

"Since he's employed, he's under my command. The White Tiger Army won't abandon any comrade. This is our belief, regardless of value."

Li Dongze sighed. He had indeed messed up, and while Captain Fu wouldn't say it, who knew if he had lost points in his favor.

...

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

Then, he opened the medicine bottle and put five blue pills in his mouth.

Next, he lay on the bed, waiting for the spiritual realm to open.

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

[The spiritual realm is opening...]

[Ding, the spiritual realm map has been fully opened. Welcome to "Night Walker - She Ling Tunnel," Code: 0079.]

[Difficulty Level: S]

[Type: Solo (Death Type)]

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

[Main Mission 2: Explore the 0079 spiritual realm, Current Exploration: 20%]

[Note: Non-spiritual realm items cannot be brought in.]

[Good luck, Primordial Celestial Venerable!]

The ceiling distorted, like a wind-blown water surface. When the view stabilized, Zhang Yuanqing found himself in the dim candlelight of the main hall.