Hii readers, sorry for the late upload, there were some issues with the site our account nearly got banned due to five translators logging in simultaneously and uploading all at the same time from different computers for one translator account, thankfully, we managed toresolve it. Enjoy the rest of the bonanza.

Chapter Bonanza (1/10)

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

The chicken he’d been dreaming of day and night had finally arrived, and Jian Xingyi was overjoyed.

However, before he could even open the chicken coop, the motorcycle came to a stop in front of a cave entrance. Jian Xingyi looked around at the surrounding woods and the unremarkable cave and asked curiously, “Is this the dungeon entrance?”

“That’s right.”

Jian Xingyi thought to himself, Why aren’t these dungeon entrances designed to be more distinctive… He recalled how, last time, he had accidentally wandered into the “Nectar and Ambrosia” dungeon simply because he hadn’t recognized it.

Jian Xingyi took a deep breath and said, “I’m ready.”

After the two entered, while Jian Xingyi was still in the pitch-black cave, the system’s voice rang out. As another A-rank story-based dungeon, this one followed the same flow as “Nectar and Ambrosia,” with even the dialogue being nearly identical.

【Ding!】

【Welcome, player, to the Thousand Bells Snow Mountain dungeon quest—【Snow Mountain Saint】!】

【A-rank dungeon rewards will be customized based on the player’s wishes! The system is listening to the player’s wishes…】

【Ding! Listening complete. The system has detected the three items Player 【Xinghe】 desires most. Please select one as your reward for completing this mission!】

【Option 1: 50 million dawn coins; Option 2: 200,000 Lumber; Option 3: 2,000 essence points.】

【Please make your selection.】

Jian Xingyi’s eyes widened as he turned to look at Shuixi. “200,000 logs… that’s a lot!”

He remembered that the dungeons Akita and the others had run ranged from a minimum of 5,000 to a maximum of 20,000—none of them had that much!

Shuixi: “We’re running A-rank dungeons that are unique to each map.”

Excluding the relatively unique Flag-Raising Dungeon on Flag-Raising Mountain, the Nectar of the Lava Volcano, and the Snow Mountain Saint Son of Thousand Bells Snow Mountain… these were all map-exclusive A-rank dungeons, and each player could only claim the reward once.

For someone like Shuixi, who repeatedly ran dungeons, he might only receive some compensation rewards sent by the system via private message; a Wish Reward was out of the question.

Shuixi: “Since it’s a one-time thing, naturally there’s more.”

“Oh…”

Jian Xingyi began to consider his options.

He currently earns around 20 million dawn coins from each transaction. The 50 million offered by the quest is indeed a lot, but… if he chose dawn coins, he’d feel like he was losing out big time.

After deducting the dawn coins, what remained were essence points and wood.

Currently, the guild has a total of 120,000 wood; 200,000 wood would indeed make up for a lot of shortages. After all… There were only a little over two weeks left until the second wave of the zombie tide.

But 2,000 essence points was also a significant amount.

He needs both: one is a concrete goal—after all, a single wall requires 400,000 wood—and the other is for long-term development, where the profits are incalculable but absolutely essential.

After hesitating for a while, Jian Xingyi took a deep breath and reluctantly made the choice.

What we’re desperately short of right now is wood, so let’s go with the wood!

We’ll worry about the future later!

【Player 【Xinghe】 has chosen 【200,000 Wood】 as a reward!】

【The dungeon is about to begin: 10%… 20%…】

Before the dungeon began, Shuixi briefly explained the process to Jian Xingyi.

“Just like the Nectar of the Gods, this dungeon requires completing the story and achieving the objective. In this story, we only need to witness the formation of the Holy Son, watch him perform a ritual dance to honor himself, and safely carry the 【Sacred Flame】 out for him—that’s all it takes to complete it.”

Jian Xingyi listened intently.

“Witness… Aside from bringing out the 【Sacred Flame】, do we just need to witness it?”

It sounded simple, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a trap…

Shuixi said, “The process is indeed simple. The Snow Mountain dungeon contrasts with the cult in 【Nectar and Ambrosia】, so there won’t be any intense combat here—it’s mostly about witnessing. But…”

Jian Xingyi swallowed hard. But?

Shuixi: “The real challenge of this dungeon lies in staying alive during the witnessing process. It involves mostly mental attacks and illusions, but you’re one of the most mentally stable people I’ve ever met.”

That was why Shuixi dared to bring Jian Xingyi into this instance. Of course, if Jian Xingyi couldn’t hold out, he’d have to forcibly dismantle the instance to rescue him—which would be quite a hassle.

“Oh…”

Shuixi reminded him, “Also, this instance creates illusions tailored to each individual, so there’s a high chance it will split us up. If you encounter danger, remember to use the Unity Anchor—don’t hold back.”

“Oh!”

Shuixi paused for a moment, wondering if there was anything else he needed to mention.

Although he had played this dungeon once before, back then, failure would have merely resulted in being forcibly teleported out—everyone played without pressure. Now, however, things were different; failure meant they truly wouldn’t be able to leave this dungeon. Moreover, according to others’ feedback, the mental attacks in this dungeon were random each time, making them impossible to guard against.

Shuixi asked Jian Xingyi, “What’s the one thing you want most right now?”

Jian Xingyi was a bit puzzled, but he answered honestly: “Wood, seeds, essence, land, chickens…”

Jian Xingyi began to ramble on.

If he listed everything a player wanted, it would take three days and three nights to finish.

Shuixi interrupted, “Here’s what we’ll do: take an item from your backpack that you consider most precious… but not a one-time-use item—something that can still be used even if it gets damaged—and hold it in your hand.”

Although Jian Xingyi didn’t understand the purpose of this, he obediently followed the instructions.

Jian Xingyi rummaged through his inventory for a moment but couldn’t find anything that met the criteria. All the items he considered precious were single-use, like the Savior’s Wish Bottle and the Bag of Tricks. As for non-single-use items, like the Heroic Spirit Battle Talisman, they’d be useless if lost, wouldn’t they?

“The dangers in this dungeon are ever-changing. It’d be a shame if a precious item were to get damaged,” Shuixi mused. “Is there anything you consider deeply meaningful—something filled with memories and emotional ties?”

Jian Xingyi started rummaging again.

…Nothing. I’m really sorry, but he didn’t have any bonds or memories in this game, nor did he have much of a social life. QAQ

Ah…! Maybe…

Jian Xingyi took off the koi necklace hanging around his neck. “How about this?”

Shuixi’s expression was a bit ambiguous. “Alright, then tie it to your wrist so you can see it.”

“Oh.”

【90%……95%……100%!】

【【Holy Child of the Snow Mountains】 Dungeon Activated!】

Jian Xingyi blinked again, and the cold, pitch-black cave before him transformed.

He found himself floating in an ethereal space, surrounded by images of flying arrows.

He saw a child whom those around him called the Holy Child; they lifted him onto a palanquin and placed a crown upon his head.

It was impossible to tell if the child was male or female, and their features were indescribable—perhaps this was merely a microcosm of all the “Holy Children” throughout history.

【To become the Holy Child, one must first cast aside joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure.】

In an instant, Jian Xingyi felt his emotions violently ripped away. It was a strange sensation—as if his curiosity, doubts, and anxiety had vanished, yet at the same time, his anticipation for the dungeon rewards had disappeared as well.

His heart felt hollow.

Jian Xingyi’s eyes widened as he suddenly realized he didn’t even feel a sense of helplessness.

He simply floated in the air, feeling utterly void.

【Second, one must cast aside desire.】

Jian Xingyi felt an even greater emptiness within him. He drifted aimlessly, not only feeling a void in his heart but also finding his mind going blank; it felt as though more and more of himself was being stripped away.

But having lost all emotion, he momentarily forgot how to react.

【Third, you must renounce your past.】

Jian Xingyi could feel his memories growing increasingly blurry; for a moment, he wasn’t even sure why he was here.

The guild, Shuixi… everything became increasingly indistinct in an instant.

【Finally, you must renounce yourself.】

【The ritual is complete.】

Jian Xingyi saw darkness closing in around him, as if it were about to engulf him.

【Close your eyes… and become one with the void…】

【Cast aside everything, become a holy spirit, and you will feel a tranquility unlike anything you’ve ever known…】

Jian Xingyi’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and he felt himself floating weightlessly.

【Is it really meaningful to achieve all those goals?】

【Is it meaningful to struggle to survive in this game? Where is the end, and where is the future?】

【Is living really meaningful?】

Jian Xingyi slowly closed his eyes.

The more he gave up struggling, the more comfortable he felt.

But a tiny voice in his subconscious seemed to be resisting.

Jian Xingyi furrowed his brow slightly.

Jian Xingyi forced his eyes open, sensing that something was off.

Then he saw the necklace clutched in his hand.

Huh…?

What is this?

Jian Xingyi was momentarily confused.

But soon, a series of fragmented images flashed through his mind: the Synthesis Station, SSR…

SSR!!

Jian Xingyi’s eyes widened, and he felt as if he’d sat bolt upright in a deathbed fever.

Right, this was because he was such a loser that Shanhai had sent him a mystical gift to change his fortune.

The rage of an “unlucky player,” failing multiple times, the SSR he could never pull, no matter how hard he tried and had to force out through synthesis… all these experiences—he’d never forget them, even if he died!!

It was so frustrating—how could anyone be that unlucky—!

Memories that had been long forgotten suddenly resurfaced, causing Jian Xingyi to once again beat his chest in despair.

At the same time, a flood of memories surged back into his mind through the Synthesis Station’s records.

The Synthesis Station’s food, wood, crops, and farms… those were tons and tons of resources—the fruits of his long, grueling grind. And now he’s supposed to just give up?

No way!

The system was even trying to be sentimental, asking if life had any meaning…

Of course it does! Even though the game seems endless, he still needs to eat.

Although he loved the idea of just lying back and doing nothing, the kind of “lying back” he dreamed of involved having a backpack full of resources, enjoying delicious meals every day, and not being trapped in this cold, dark void!

Jian Xingyi took a deep breath, gripped the sharp edges of the Koi Jade tightly, and stood up.

Whoosh—

“Bang!”

The next moment, he emerged from the darkness and crashed into a snowy field.

He looked around; a vast expanse of white stretched endlessly before him.

Jian Xingyi scanned his surroundings warily.

Wow, this dungeon might not look dangerous, but it kills you without you even realizing it… No wonder Shuixi said most of the threats are psychological attacks.

After all, this is an A-rank dungeon.

No wonder Shuixi told him to hold onto something—it was to help him strengthen his willpower.

Jian Xingyi still clutched the koi-shaped jade as he stood up and circled the area, searching for clues.

I wonder if any memory orbs will appear here?

Unfortunately, there were no memory orbs—nothing at all.

Until he spotted a stone platform not far away, with a young man sitting cross-legged upon it.

The youth lowered his eyes, gazing at him with a divine expression. “You refused the Holy Spirit’s invitation; you cannot be my companion.”

This must be the legendary Holy Son.

However, Jian Xingyi couldn’t make out the Holy Son’s face or form; perhaps he had already fused with his spirit, gradually losing his human form.

Jian Xingyi frowned. “How do I leave this place?”

The Holy Son chuckled softly. “Wait patiently. Once the ritual is over, you will be able to leave.”

So, I just have to wait.

Jian Xingyi decided to simply wander around the area, using his skills on the trees and grass in the snowy landscape.

【Harvest Successful, Absorbed 【Essence】 x56】

【Harvest Successful, Absorbed 【Essence】 x33】

【Harvest Successful, Absorbed 【Essence】 x41】

“……”

High-grade plants?!!

Jian Xingyi’s eyes widened. Generally speaking, plants with high essence values aren’t native to this era—such as those from several decades ago in the Peace Mountain memory bubble, or high-level plants that have just sprouted and haven’t yet been contaminated, like the Fire God’s Belly after a volcanic eruption.

So Jian Xingyi turned to ask the Holy Son, “Your Holiness, sorry to bother you, but I was wondering—have any… monsters? Or zombies? Or a contagious virus?”

The Holy Son seemed a bit puzzled—why was this player even talking to him?

And asking him these unheard-of questions.

But since NPCs are programmed to respond to players, the Holy Son replied, “Monsters have been rampaging outside for five years now. That is why I exist—to communicate with the Holy Spirit and ask on behalf of sinners how they might survive.”

Five years…

No wonder. This is the fifth year since the apocalypse began. The plants haven’t been fully infected yet, and since this is a snowy mountain—where the land is naturally pure and of high quality—that’s why he was able to obtain so much essence!

Jian Xingyi had originally felt a bit cheated after giving up the essence points from his wish reward, but now he was so glad he’d chosen wood.

After all, essence points… there’s plenty of them here!

Sure enough, in an instant, he received a full… 700 points!

Jian Xingyi buzzed around collecting essence like a bee as he asked, “So, did you find out? What must we sinners do to survive?”

The Holy Son lowered his gaze. “There is no solution. Perhaps I will know the answer after I pass away. At that time, I will entrust the spirits of the Snow Mountains to bring it back to the world.”

Jian Xingyi thought to herself, Once you’ve passed away and had a face-to-face chat with the so-called Holy Spirit, even if you find the answer, you won’t be able to bring it back, will you…? Otherwise, why hasn’t the zombie tide ended by now?

Jian Xingyi scratched his head and said, “But humans and spirits can’t communicate.”

The Holy Son: “Then it is simply that the time has not yet come for humanity to comprehend.”

Jian Xingyi: “……”

The Holy Son: “And how do you know humans cannot communicate with spirits?”

Jian Xingyi thought to herself, Talking about communicating with spirits while chatting with cyborgs in a cyber game—no matter how I look at it, it’s just weird…

In fact, the more she thought about it, the more unsettling it became.

Jian Xingyi: “Then how do we communicate with spirits?”

The Holy Son chuckled softly, “If you’re curious, why not try it yourself?”

Jian Xingyi: “Huh?”

The Holy Son’s gaze grew mysterious. “Why don’t you take my place and perform tonight’s ritual dance? By dancing with the spirits, you will be able to see the past, the future, and the predicament of the present.”

Jian Xingyi thought to himself, no player has ever actually gone up to dance in this dungeon before; the Holy Son was probably just talking.

The player’s mission is to pass on the torch—if they actually went up to the altar, how could they pass it on?

Unexpectedly…

【Player 【Xinghe】 triggers a dialogue with 【The Holy Son】, receiving 【The Holy Son’s Invitation】】

【Checking if the player has permission to accept 【The Holy Son’s Invitation】……】

【Beep……】

Jian Xingyi heard a string of gibberish and chaotic sounds.

Among them, he caught a few keywords.

Savior System, Bonds, Origins…

He didn’t understand a word of it.

After the garbled sounds ended, the system issued an announcement that left Jian Xingyi speechless.

【Player 【Xinghe】 has permission to undertake the 【Invitation from the Holy Son】 quest. Does the player accept the invitation?】

Huh?