Chapter 13: Entering the Mountain God Temple Again
"The terrifying Mountain God Temple."
Zhang Yuanqing leaned back, resting his body weight on the chair.
He closed his eyes, combining the information from the materials with his personal experience and insights gained from playing games, to analyze the Mountain God Temple and search for patterns.
"The shoulder-clinging grievance spirit can be dispelled with candlelight. Each dispelling provides 15 minutes of safety time, and there's no immediate damage after it clings to the shoulders."
"Be careful of the banyan tree in the east courtyard, don't look back. Why can't you look back? In what situations can't you look back? What happens if you do look back? Why doesn't the information explain this clearly?"
"Can't confirm yet if the roars are related to the banyan tree. If unrelated, that's one more danger. Is the true identity of those red dancing shoes an item? A rule-based item, sounds quite high-level."
Now it seems the construction team predecessors were most likely crushed to death by the red dancing shoes, their bones completely shattered.
"Although I know some dance moves from my uncle's training, even a Level 1 Night Walker couldn't handle it, so a kid like me definitely can't. If my uncle encountered those red dancing shoes, he could probably dance till the end of time."
This kind of thing should be left to his unreliable uncle, after all, his uncle never does anything serious in life and just loves to sing, dance, and rap.
Wait a minute!
Zhang Yuanqing's eyes suddenly lit up.
According to the information, the fundamental reason that Night Walker failed, besides lacking dance experience, was crucially the inability to remember the complex and chaotic dance steps.
This likely exceeded the limits of normal human memory.
But he didn't have that worry. If he pushed himself and triggered his old condition, putting his brain into an overloaded state, everything he saw and heard would be replayed in his mind.
Moreover, in the overloaded state, the brain's control over the body far exceeds that of normal people, making high-intensity movements not a problem.
"The issue is, non-spirit realm items can't be brought in. I might not be able to bring my medicine. If my old condition flares up without medication to suppress it, I don't know what will happen to me."
There was no need to speculate blindly about this, he could just ask directly. Otherwise, what was the point of joining an official organization?
Zhang Yuanqing grabbed his phone, opened the call log, and dialed Guan Ya's number.
After a few rings, the call connected.
"Finished reading the materials?"
Guan Ya was about to rest. She was a woman who cared about maintaining her health, hated staying up late, and disliked being disturbed while sleeping.
But for Zhang Yuanqing, her tolerance was high. Who could bear to speak harshly to a boy whose life was nearly over? Besides, he was handsome and spoke pleasantly.
"I've finished, but there are some parts I don't quite understand," Zhang Yuanqing asked, "What are rule-based items?"
Guan Ya explained, "There are many types of items in spirit realms, each with different functions. Our official organization categorizes them into three main types based on their characteristics: cost-based, rule-based, and another type that's unclear - my level isn't high enough to know about it."
At this point, she added with a smile, "Rule-based and cost-based items are generally not ranked against each other, as their functions vary widely and can't be measured by a single standard. But one thing is universally acknowledged: rule-based items are more troublesome to deal with and rarer. Each rule-based item is invaluable."
She paused, then continued:
"The method to deal with rule-based items is no secret within the official organization. It's to find their pattern and break their rules. The red dancing shoes inviting to dance, mentioned in the materials, likely aligns with its rules."
"If you can complete its invitation, there's a certain probability of subduing this rule-based item. Of course, it's just a certain probability. This depends on many factors, such as whether it's willing, whether it's unowned, and so on."
However, she thought to herself, subduing a rule-based item is something you should just think about, don't take it seriously.
Zhang Yuanqing listened patiently, then asked another question: "One more thing, can medicines be brought into spirit realms?"
"Except for normal clothing, the vast majority of things from reality can't be brought into spirit realms. Medicines can, but only if they've already been taken."
"What about holding them in the mouth?"
"That..." Guan Ya couldn't answer.
Seems like he'd have to try it himself. Zhang Yuanqing said:
"I have no more questions. Thank you."
Guan Ya made an 'mm' sound, then said with a smile:
"Take care, little boy. Oh, and today is Scorpio's lucky day."
Huh? Zhang Yuanqing hadn't reacted before the other side hung up.
He put down the phone and looked at the time. It was already past midnight.
Tomorrow morning, he would enter the spirit 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 accustomed to arriving an hour late for work, sometimes not coming in at all, eating public grain and slacking off, living freely and casually.
He was equally lax in managing the spirit realm walkers under him, letting them run wild.
Firstly, except for Guan Ya, the others weren't White Tiger troops and only followed orders, not persuasion.
Secondly, the death rate of spirit realm walkers in instances was extremely high. Who knew if they might not come back from one entry into a spirit realm.
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, working diligently, and Wang Tai, researching and writing papers.
"Guan Ya, did you give him the materials?"
"I did."
Li Dongze nodded without saying anything else and turned to enter his luxurious office.
Guan Ya didn't continue the topic either, lowering her head.
Li Dongze entered his office, walked to the liquor cabinet, poured himself a glass of vodka, squeezed some lime juice into it, and took a big gulp.
Just then, his phone made a "ding dong" sound. He put down the glass, lounged in the soft chair, and opened his phone.
Someone had @'ed him in a chat group called "Kangyang District Spirit Realm Walker Management Group".
As a frontline metropolis, Songhai City had a total of sixteen major districts, each with ten teams of spirit realm walkers, led by team captain level individuals.
Li Dongze was the captain of the second team, which in the White Tiger troops system would be equivalent to a centurion.
The captains' direct superior was the steward, and Kangyang District had three stewards.
Above the stewards were the elders, who usually didn't manage affairs. Spirit realm walkers of this level were as elusive as dragons.
Above the council of elders were the Five Elements Alliance's highest leaders - five alliance leaders.
The five alliance leaders were legendary figures. Li Dongze had never seen them, only knowing that the marshal of his own White Tiger troops and the palace master of the Water God Palace were both women.
The Five Elements Alliance privately referred to these two alliance leaders as the peerless beauties.
The "Kangyang District Spirit Realm Walker Management Group" had a total of fourteen people: ten captains, three stewards, and one Night Walker captain from the Taiyi Sect.
Big Muscle: "@Li Dongze, I heard you recruited a Night Walker?"
How did he know... Li Dongze frowned and replied:
"None of your business!"
Among the Five Elements, fire overcomes metal, so the scouts of the White Tiger troops generally disliked the fire masters of the Red Fire Gang, finding them crude, impulsive, and thoughtless in speech.
What? Li Dongze recruited a Night Walker?!
The captains in the group perked up like sharks smelling blood.
Green Vine: "A Night Walker? Which temple did Captain Li burn incense at recently to recruit a Night Walker? So envious."
White Dragon: "In our entire Songhai City, excluding independent cultivators, there are probably no more than ten official Night Walkers, right? And they're all from the Taiyi Sect."
Water Floater: "Li Dongze, what kind of dog shit luck did you step in? I'm so sour."
Three captain-level figures suddenly chimed in.
[Tang Guoqiang sent a red envelope]
The red envelope was instantly snatched up.
Li Dongze instinctively grabbed the red envelope, only to find that while others got over a hundred, he only got a bit over one.
Tang Guoqiang: "Captain Li has good luck."
Below was a flood of "Thank you, boss" emojis.
Tang Guoqiang was also a captain, but he was also the boss of a construction company, wealthy and generous. He usually didn't talk much, preferring to send red envelopes at the drop of a hat.
Even this big boss had spoken up due to the Night Walker topic.
Boxing King: "What kind of memory do you all have? Forgotten the agreement between the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect? Any recruited Night Walker should be prioritized for absorption by the Taiyi Sect."
White Dragon: "Bro Boxing, your memory is the one that's bad. Have you forgotten about our Colonel Fu? With his connections to the Taiyi Sect, keeping one Night Walker shouldn't be a problem."
Boxing King fell silent.
The few captains who had spoken up were quite envious. Whether in terms of rarity or career potential, Night Walkers far surpassed other professions. If cultivated well, they could become powerful assets in the future.
Green Vine: "By the way, it's been a long time since our Kangyang District spirit realm walker teams had a team-building activity. Why don't we set a date and get together?"
White Dragon: "Oh ho, the flirty minx from the Hundred Flowers Society is trying to hook up again? But I have no objections."
Water Floater: "I'm not running ships recently, so getting together is fine. Captain Li, brother has been wanting to drink with you for a long time. Bring that Night Walker along too."
Tang Guoqiang: "The team-building idea is not bad, let's all get together. Li Dongze snatched my red envelope, so consider that as your agreement."
Li Dongze's mouth twitched, his mood already not good. He angrily typed a message:
"From between your lines, I see shamelessness, I see greed, I see the vicious intentions of trying to poach. I must have been cursed by the Spirit Energy Association recently, bad luck clinging to me."
Big Muscle: "Humble bragging?"
Water Floater: "I wish I had that kind of bad luck."
At this moment, the Night Walker from the Taiyi Sect spoke up. Yuan Ting:
"That Night Walker, our Taiyi Sect doesn't want him. Have you all forgotten? The Qingming Festival just passed recently."
Green Vine: "What do you mean?"
Yuan Ting: "The Night Walker Li Dongze recruited, his trial mission is the She Ling Tunnel."
The group suddenly fell silent.
Although they weren't Night Walkers, as local official spirit realm walkers of Songhai City, they knew a bit about the famous She Ling Tunnel.
White Dragon: "It can't be that unlucky, right?"
Yuan Ting: "To save that poor fellow, Colonel Fu specially sought out our Elder Sun yesterday for detailed information about the She Ling Tunnel."
Big Muscle: "Uh... is there still a need to save him? Since last century, no novice has been able to clear the She Ling Tunnel. Li Dongze, you poor guy. I can imagine your expression when you heard your recruit's trial spirit realm was the She Ling Tunnel."
Fire Masters always spoke their minds directly.
You want to fight?! Li Dongze, sitting at his desk, almost grabbed his cane and rushed out of the office to challenge this guy to a duel.
He quickly took a deep breath, repeating in his heart: Elegance, must maintain elegance...
Water Floater: "Suddenly got an order, have to run ships this month, let's forget about the team building."
Tang Guoqiang: "What a pity."
Green Vine: "I see, poor newbie."
The "unfiltered" Fire Master Big Muscle @'ed Li Dongze again:
"You made Colonel Fu waste a favor, did you get scolded?"
Li Dongze: "Shut up, say one more word and I'll go to the gym right now and smash your dog head."
Mentioning the one thing that shouldn't be mentioned.
After all, the Taiyi Sect and the Five Elements Alliance were two separate organizations. Their intelligence wasn't shared. For Colonel Fu (the steward) to get information from the Taiyi Sect, he had to use up a favor.
Big Muscle: "You can't beat me anyway."
The other captains didn't respond, seeming to have lost interest in the matter.
At this moment, Fu Qingyang, one of the three great stewards, sent a message:
"Are you all very free? Do you need to be thrown back into the training camp for retraining?"
Li Dongze and Big Muscle immediately fell silent.
A few seconds later, Fu Qingyang sent another message:
"Since he's already employed, he's one of my men. The White Tiger troops never abandon any comrade, this is our belief, regardless of value."
Li Dongze sighed. He had indeed messed up this matter. Colonel Fu wouldn't say it out loud, but who knows if he had lost points in his heart.
At half past ten in the morning, Zhang Yuanqing locked his room door, tied his shoelaces, and drank two large glasses of water.
Then, he opened the medicine bottle and held five small blue pills in his mouth.
After that, he lay down on the bed, silently waiting for the spirit realm to open.
Time passed minute by second. After about ten minutes, Zhang Yuanqing heard a cold voice in his mind:
[Spirit Realm Opening]
[Ding, Spirit Realm map opening complete. Welcome to "Night Walker - She Ling Tunnel", Number: 0079.]
[Difficulty Level: S]
[Type: Single Player (Death Type)]
[Main Quest One: Survive for three hours (Completed).]
[Main Quest Two: Explore Spirit Realm 0079, Current Exploration Progress: 20%]
[Note: Non-Spirit Realm items cannot be brought in.]
[Good luck, Yuanshi Tianzun!]
The ceiling began to twist, like a water surface disturbed by wind. When the scene stabilized, Zhang Yuanqing found himself in the dim candlelight of the main hall.
(End of Chapter)
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