Chapter Bonanza (2/10)

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

An invitation from the Holy Son?

No, what this means is…

Jian Xingyi pointed at himself and said, “I’ll go speak to the Holy Spirit in your place?”

Does that mean he’s going to perform the sacrifice in the Holy Son’s stead? But wouldn’t he die then? Isn’t this a trap?

Even if he could see the future and the past, what’s the point of seeing them if he’s no longer alive?

The Holy Son chuckled lightly. “If you are unworthy—if your soul still bears the filth of the mortal world—you cannot speak with the pure Holy Spirit.”

Hmm…?

Jian Xingyi sighed. Setting aside the matter of speaking with the Holy Spirit for now, couldn’t the Son of God just speak in human language?

The Son of God said, “The ritual dance is, after all, just a ritual dance. If you cannot cast aside your seven emotions and six desires, you will be unable to complete the true ritual.”

【Player 【Xinghe】 has permission to undertake the 【Invitation of the Son of God】 quest. Do you accept the invitation?】

The system was pressing for an answer again.

It seemed that unless Jian Xingyi gave an answer, this scene wouldn’t progress.

Jian Xingyi didn’t dare make a decision lightly.

If he accepts, what if this is another trap that puts him in danger? But if he refuses, this seems to be a special side quest that hasn’t been triggered yet, and Jian Xingyi doesn’t really want to miss it.

The situation is urgent… it seems he has no choice but to use the Unity Anchor.

Jian Xingyi took a deep breath and cast the anchor.

When Shuixi appeared before him, Jian Xingyi froze.

“Shuixi…!”

He hadn’t expected this… Shuixi was covered in blood.

What happened?!

This wasn’t the first time Shuixi had been injured; being at full combat strength didn’t make him immune to injury. In fact, precisely because he was at full strength and frequently pushed himself to the limit, he often ended up injured.

But this was the first time Shuixi had been injured in front of Jian Xingyi, and the injury was no minor one. His exposed skin was covered in blood, and there was a deep gash on his abdomen, clearly made by a blade.

Shuixi pressed his hand against his abdomen; he held a long sword in his other hand. Its identical size and design made Jian Xingyi suspect that Shuixi had cut himself with it.

Jian Xingyi rushed forward to catch Shuixi, who was teetering on the brink of collapse, his hands trembling uncontrollably. He forced himself to calm down—this was a game, not reality—then quickly pulled out some medicine from his backpack to treat Shuixi’s wounds.

“You… how did you…”

Jian Xingyi had never imagined that someone as powerful as Shuixi could sustain such severe injuries.

How could this be…

Once Shuixi had regained his composure, he reached out and gently pinched Jian Xingyi’s cheek. “I’m fine.”

As long as you’re okay.

Before he met Jian Xingyi, Shuixi had never encountered any difficulties while running this dungeon; those illusions designed to wear down one’s willpower had no effect on him.

But times have changed… He now has things he fears.

Shuixi probably never imagined that this dungeon could actually tap into the deepest scars hidden in his heart to manipulate him, nor did he expect to encounter such an illusion.

In the illusion, he saw another version of himself walking toward “Jian Xingyi,” a weapon in hand, that “Shanhai” was about to kill “Jian Xingyi.”

He would hurt Jian Xingyi.

He would hurt those closest to him because of his post-war trauma and mental illness.

Because of this, Shuixi tried his best to keep his distance from his companions, yet he still… inadvertently became immersed in the little moments he shared with Jian Xingyi.

So Shuixi stepped forward to engage in a life-and-death struggle with his other self.

Shuixi is powerful; he can defeat any enemy, but that does not include himself.

The enemy across from him knows all his moves. No… the enemy across from him is himself, so the enemy’s fighting style is exactly the same as his own, just like a mirror.

He blocks, and the other blocks; he cuts the other, and he himself is wounded.

He refused to accept it—he refused to accept that he couldn’t defeat and destroy that vicious version of himself. He was still searching for a way out of this scenario, so he could only remain locked in a stalemate with his counterpart.

But the longer the stalemate lasted, the more enraged he became.

It was at that moment that Jian Xingyi threw the Unity Anchor at him.

Shuixi suddenly realized.

It’s fake—it hasn’t even happened yet. Why was he so obsessed?

Jian Xingyi was still alive and well, on the other side of the dungeon.

So Shuixi came as summoned.

Shuixi rested his head lightly on Jian Xingyi’s shoulder and chuckled softly, “This time, you saved me.”

Jian Xingyi’s heart skipped a beat. If it weren’t for bringing him into the dungeon, Shuixi wouldn’t have come in…

Jian Xingyi had collected plenty of potions from the 【I Can’t Hear】 guild and had some of his own stockpiled. After healing Shuixi, he held him close, still feeling a lingering sense of dread, gently patting his back.

“It’s okay now…”

He didn’t know what had happened, but if Shuixi had been injured, he must have gone through something terrible.

Shuixi closed his eyes slightly.

【Player 【Xinghe】 has permission to undertake the 【Invitation of the Holy Son】 quest. Do you accept the invitation?】

The system prompted again.

Jian Xingyi looked at the system floating in the void with a rare hint of irritation.

What’s the rush?

Shuixi sat up and asked, “What’s going on?”

Jian Xingyi gave Shuixi a rough account of the situation, making sure to repeat the Holy Son’s cryptic words—spoken in his characteristic enigmatic style—word for word.

After pondering for a moment, Shuixi said, “I think what he means is that once you accept the dance quest, all you have to do is dance. During the dance, you might have the chance to converse with spirits, glimpse the past and the future, and briefly obtain the power and authority of the Holy Son. But…”

“Hmm?”

“But during the dance, the Spirit might extend an invitation to you. If you accidentally accept it, you’ll become the true Holy Son—and thus be sacrificed and die.”

Jian Xingyi understood. “So it’s another high-risk, high-reward scenario, huh?”

Jian Xingyi recounted his recent experience to Shuixi. He speculated that the so-called “invitation” might be similar to what had just happened. If he hadn’t resisted and had instead succumbed to the darkness, abandoning his human desires, he would have fallen into an eternal slumber within this dungeon, becoming the “Holy Son.”

Jian Xingyi pondered, “If the system doesn’t pull any tricks this time, I should be able to give it a try. The temptation from dancing probably won’t be as intense as it was just now, right?”

Shuixi also furrowed his brows in thought.

“It’s actually hard to say, but…”

Shuixi said, “The dungeon rules state that players must pass on the torch to win, and the only way to obtain the torch is to receive it from the Holy Son while he’s dancing.”

In other words, when Jian Xingyi dances, Shuixi will definitely be waiting below the stage.

If Shuixi is there, even if Jian Xingyi really can’t resist, he could… forcibly wake him up?

Hmm… probably.

Jian Xingyi: “What’s your opinion?”

Shuixi: “I respect your choice.”

A person shouldn’t stumble over the same obstacle twice; he’ll naturally steady his composure and not be swayed by the illusion. If Jian Xingyi accepts, he’ll do his best to protect him; if Jian Xingyi refuses, that’s even better.

【Player 【Xinghe】 possesses…】

The system urged him again, and the scenery around him began to blur, indicating that Jian Xingyi could no longer hesitate.

Jian Xingyi took a deep breath and said, “I accept.”

Whoosh—

Jian Xingyi opened his eyes again and found himself standing on a high platform.

Jian Xingyi blinked. He was still surrounded by snow-capped mountains, with snow even falling. The platform bore strange patterns, and beside it stood a tall, bare-chested man beating a drum. Below, the platform was packed with villagers, their hands raised high in cheers.

Shuixi stood among the villagers, his gaze fixed intently on him.

Jian Xingyi looked around but saw no Holy Son.

So… was he the Holy Son at that moment?

Jian Xingyi stared blankly at the bell that had appeared in his hand at some unknown point.

Even his clothes had been changed. Perhaps it was an illusion, but he realized he was now wearing an all-white robe just like the Holy Son’s.

Boom, boom—

Boom, boom—

Drums sounded all around, the thunderous beats making Jian Xingyi’s eardrums ache, yet the crowd below grew even more excited, their shouts nearly drowning him out.

Jian Xingyi stood there, dazed.

No, he couldn’t dance…

But in the next moment, Jian Xingyi felt the air around him grow colder, with a breeze swirling by his side.

Jian Xingyi could feel his body growing lighter and lighter, his mind growing emptier and emptier.

It’s… a familiar feeling!

Just like the sensation of floating before—this is the Spirit’s invitation.

Jian Xingyi relaxed his body and felt himself move instinctively.

Without thinking, as if he’d been born to do it, he raised his hands and feet in a daze.

Jingle!

He shook the bells.

At that moment, wind and snow swept in, snowflakes swirling around him, and the torches on all four sides of the high platform lit up simultaneously.

“May the Snow Spirit protect us! May the Snow Spirit protect us!”

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The drumbeat grew more intense, and Jian Xingyi’s movements grew faster. He danced gracefully and skillfully on the platform, his toes lightly touching the surface as his body seemed to rise into the air, his light white silk robes fluttering with his every move.

Jingle! Jingle!

The bells rang incessantly. The flames surrounding the high platform swayed wildly in the wind and snow, yet refused to die out. The storm raged so fiercely that visibility was nearly zero, yet the villagers knelt and bowed their heads, braving the elements. Jian Xingyi danced on, seemingly oblivious to the cold.

“May the Snow Spirit protect us! May the Snow Spirit protect us!”

Shuixi gritted his teeth.

He’d almost been swept away by Jian Xingyi; he’d become completely captivated by the sight.

Jingle! Jingle!

【Summon the Spirit, Hear the Spirit!】

【Pass the torch to the people, surrender yourself to the Spirit, and become the guiding fire for the world!】

Jian Xingyi’s eyes were vacant; he simply reached out and pulled a torch from nearby. Barefoot, he walked step by step toward Shuixi and handed the torch to him.

Shuixi met a pair of divine eyes.

Shuixi took the torch and said hoarsely, “Xinghe.”

Jian Xingyi remained unmoved.

Shuixi furrowed his brow, reached out, and gently squeezed Jian Xingyi’s wrist, drawing his gaze to the koi necklace hanging there.

Jian Xingyi froze; a flicker of emotion flickered in his eyes, yet he still looked somewhat bewildered.

Shuixi: “Xinghe, who am I?”

“You are…” Jian Xingyi’s eyes widened.

Jingle! Jingle!

Jian Xingyi was pulled back onto the high platform to dance. By now, the drumbeats had grown louder, the wind and snow fiercer, and the world around him had grown dark and chaotic.

Jian Xingyi could see nothing around him; he could only hear a voice—coming from who knew where—asking him.

【The Spirit knows all. Do you wish to ask about the past, the present, or the future?】

【Or perhaps… surrender yourself entirely to the Spirit. Without asking about the past, present, or future, you will still control everything. At that point, the answers will no longer matter.】

Jian Xingyi paused.

He had regained some of his sanity. He struggled against the urge to let go, his mind working feverishly.

He couldn’t have it all, and he certainly couldn’t surrender himself—but he could ask one question.

Sensing Jian Xingyi’s thoughts, a voice sounded again from all around.

【I can resolve a past doubt, a present dilemma, or a future prophecy.】

Jian Xingyi thought to himself: A past doubt… he had no such doubts. A future prophecy sounded appealing, but…

Jian Xingyi: “I want a solution to my current dilemma.”

Perhaps most people would prefer to know what the future holds, but Jian Xingyi believed that future matters should be dealt with in the future; what mattered most was the present.

What he wanted was a solution to his current problem!

【Your wish has been granted.】

Jian Xingyi saw that a bag containing something unknown had appeared in his backpack.

【Your current predicament has been resolved. If you are willing to delve deeper into the Spirit, you will gain further answers.】

As his resolve wavered, Jian Xingyi felt his surroundings growing increasingly chaotic; he was on the verge of losing control and agreeing.

No…

He must not be greedy; he must not succumb.

Jian Xingyi fixed his gaze and said, “Enough.”

Whoosh—

As the Spirit departed, Jian Xingyi lost his balance and fell to the ground.

His body, which had been controlled by the Spirit, collapsed limply to the ground. Dazed by the sudden disconnection, Jian Xingyi was unable to get back up.

A blizzard suddenly swept in from all sides. The fires went out, and the villagers’ cheers turned into terrified screams.

From below… came the sounds of zombies!

“Aaaah!! No! No!! Wasn’t the Holy Son promised eternal life by the Snow God? Why did he die!”

“He’s dead! He’s dead! The Snow God no longer protects us!”

“The demons are coming—!”

Below, demons raged in chaos; the surroundings descended into utter disorder and chaos.

Jian Xingyi could feel zombies crawling up the platform, but he couldn’t move.

However, before the zombies could get close, Shuixi cut them down with a single stroke.

Shuixi stepped forward, picked up Jian Xingyi, hoisted him onto his shoulder, and carried him away, holding a torch in one hand and a gun in the other, heading toward the Memory Bubble not far away.

This is the way out!

As long as we get the torch out, we’ll make it!

Demons raged all around them; the villagers had all turned into zombies, swarming the platform in dense hordes. They screamed and clawed at the walls, nearly tearing the platform apart—it was on the brink of collapse.

Jian Xingyi was still wearing his white robe; now that he no longer had the spirit’s protection, he felt freezing cold. He pressed himself tightly against Shuixi. He had already been feeling a bit dizzy, but as Shuixi dragged him through the fight against the zombies, the jostling made him feel even more lightheaded.

Just as Jian Xingyi was about to vomit from the blood rushing to his head while hanging upside down, Shuixi finally fought his way through the horde, and the two of them escaped the dungeon.

After Shuixi set Jian Xingyi down on the ground, Jian Xingyi leaned against a tree trunk and heard the system notification.

【Congratulations to player 【Xinghe】 for clearing the Grade A dungeon 【Snow Mountain Saint】 in the Thousand Bells Snow Mountains!】

【Player 【Xinghe】 has selected 【200,000 Wood】 as the completion reward. The reward has been distributed; please check your inventory!】

Yay!

And…

Jian Xingyi looked down at his clothes and froze in confusion.

Wait, they’d already left the dungeon—why was he still wearing the Holy Son’s outfit?

Shuixi remarked sharply, “It actually looks pretty good.”

At that moment, Jian Xingyi sat barefoot in the snow, clad in a white robe, looking like an ethereal snow spirit untouched by the world.

Jian Xingyi sighed helplessly: “But it’s so cold…”

Jian Xingyi opened his backpack. Thankfully, the dungeon hadn’t swallowed his clothes; they were all safe and sound inside.

Jian Xingyi quickly switched outfits with a single click.

Phew… I’m back to life.

Shuixi handed the colored flag to Jian Xingyi.

—The torch he’d brought with him had transformed into a red banner representing fire upon leaving the dungeon.

Jian Xingyi was delighted. Now, aside from the blue banner representing the sky—the final piece he could only obtain by reaching the mountaintop—he was about to complete the set.

It really was a case of overcoming every obstacle one by one.

“I never expected… that we’d get through this dungeon like this.”

Jian Xingyi now had a rough understanding of the map’s story. Whether it was due to the game’s meticulous writing team or something else, this game world had its own history.

So far, Jian Xingyi knew that this world had once been peaceful and beautiful, with high land essence values, until a virus suddenly broke out, turning more and more people into zombies.

Different maps and groups of people responded in various ways. For example, at the hospital, scientists tried to turn the tide by treating patients, while soldiers held the front lines.

The people of the Lava Volcano used fire to defend themselves, but eventually turned into a cult. As for the Thousand Bells Snow Mountain, they placed their hopes in religion and the Holy Son.

Amid this catastrophe, five heroes emerged: the Commander, a couple of Builders, the Doctor, and two mysterious figures whose missions remain undiscovered. They led the lost and confused people into battle, but the outcome was predictable… everyone failed.

The outcome was the collapse of the hospital and military defenses; every map fell. The survivors became the zombies now roaming the maps, and after the five heroes sacrificed themselves, they were buried on Peace Mountain.

Jian Xingyi wondered to herself, could it be… that the way to leave the game was to continue this history and successfully accomplish what they had failed to do?

But that was pure fantasy—how could it possibly be done?

Jian Xingyi pushed those jumbled thoughts aside and said to Shuixi, “This A-rank dungeon is really unique. It doesn’t look dangerous, but it’s actually full of hidden dangers. It feels like it’s silently trying to strangle the players inside.”

Shuixi nodded. “This dungeon isn’t easy. One slip-up and you’ll be defeated.”

But inside, Jian Xingyi performed exactly as he’d expected—he did very well.

However… despite his excellent performance, Jian Xingyi was completely exhausted right now. The final task had drained him mentally. He had no idea what kind of entity that Cyber Ghost was—it was so cryptic. He hoped it really did give him something useful.

Jian Xingyi couldn’t be bothered to move right now, so the two of them rested briefly under a tree. Jian Xingyi couldn’t wait to open his backpack to see what this so-called “solution to the current predicament” actually was.

Jian Xingyi happily opened the mysterious bag.

【Congratulations to player 【Xinghe】 for obtaining the 【Rock-Hard Potion】 recipe x1】

Jian Xingyi: “?”

Jian Xingyi glanced at the description, but it was blank.

After getting that 0.01 and KY stuff from the VIP Store, his thoughts instantly turned a bit naughty. But after thinking about it, he figured it couldn’t be.

So he clicked on the description.

【Rock-Hard Potion: Upon use, makes plants rock-hard, impervious to wind, rain, and snow】

【Synthesis Materials: Pesticide x1, Snow Lotus x1】

Jian Xingyi: “……”

Could this item… really solve his predicament?

He couldn’t see how…?

Plants fearing no wind or rain… as if his plants were currently afraid of the elements. Not to mention the synthesis materials were extremely rare. While pesticides could be bought freely in the store, they all required Dawn Coins, and he only had a single Snow Lotus in his inventory!

Why did it feel like he’d been tricked by the Saint and Ling?

Jian Xingyi felt utterly helpless, and just as he thought of it, the system sent him a new email.

The system sent him a new message.

【Detected player 【Xinghe】 unlocking the hidden ending 【The Holy Son’s Invitation】 and completing the achievement 【Don’t Push the Buddha Too Far】. Reward: 66,666 dawn coins and the rare item 【Snow Spirit Talisman】】

Jian Xingyi: “!”

Huh?

He’d already obtained the unused Heroic Spirit Battle Talisman and Heroic Spirit Wish Talisman—and now another Snow Spirit Talisman?

It feels like he’s collecting more and more talismans…!

【Snow Spirit Talisman: Allows you to ask the Snow Spirit about a past doubt, a current predicament, or a future omen, limited to once a month】

Jian Xingyi: “……!”

Awesome!

Jian Xingyi carefully put it away.

These talismans all seem like great items…

Ah… right!

While organizing his backpack, Jian Xingyi suddenly remembered he had a chicken!

The talismans are all great items, and the Hard-as-Rock Potion is a bit hard to judge—maybe it’s a good item, but he just hasn’t figured out its use yet. But those are all for the future, whereas the chicken… is a practical, immediate meal to fill his stomach!

Jian Xingyi couldn’t wait to log into his account, only to find there was no chicken coop.

Huh…?

Jian Xingyi checked again and again—no mistake, there was definitely a chicken in his backpack!

Where was his chicken?

After scrolling for a moment, Jian Xingyi finally spotted the description for the chick.

【Requires an A-grade livestock area to raise】

What the hell! In real life, chickens are the easiest to raise—way simpler than cows or sheep—yet this crappy game has to make it so complicated.

Waaah.

Jian Xingyi nervously tapped the upgrade button to see how many essence points it would take.

The upgrade requirements for livestock zones are completely different from those for farming zones. Upgrading a D-grade field to C-grade only takes 50 points, but upgrading a single livestock zone to C-grade requires a whopping 500 points!

If upgrading to B-grade takes 1,000 points, then A-grade…

【Essence Points Required: 5,000】

Jian Xingyi: “…”

Alright, alright, my heart, which had been hanging in the balance, has finally given up.

However, once the livestock area is upgraded to A-class, not only does the number of animals it can hold increase to a substantial 50, but the attack power bonus for cold and hot weapons is a whopping 80%.

Plus, the first round of breeding won’t take so many days anymore—it’s all just two days. It can also self-sustain like an A-class field, so he won’t have to worry about running out of chicks in the future.

It certainly sounds great, but… 5,000 essence points is way too much, isn’t it?!

Jian Xingyi let out a heavy sigh.

It seems he still has a long way to go before he can enjoy chicken meat and eggs.

Currently, all his livestock provide the same bonuses. Since he isn’t sure if chicken meat and eggs will offer different special bonuses, he dares not take such a gamble.

If he had 5,000 essence points right now, he’d most likely invest them in raising more cattle and sheep, or even expanding his pond, to increase his meat supply and meet the demands of various guilds, players, and the upcoming zombie hordes.

“I don’t have any chickens left…” Jian Xingyi leaned listlessly against a tree trunk, looking like a dejected fish that had lost its dreams, his tone sorrowful. “The chickens flew away…”

Only then did Shuixi realize what Jian Xingyi meant by “chickens.” With a mix of laughter and tears, she comforted him: “You’ll have them again someday.”

“Mm…”

Just as Shuixi was about to plan their route to continue the ascent, Jian Xingyi received a message from Wu Yun.

Wu Yun: 【We’ve detected a major blizzard coming in the next two days. Avalanches are likely to occur everywhere, and the weather isn’t suitable for climbing. For safety’s sake, you should head back immediately.】

Jian Xingyi showed the message to Shuixi.

Shuixi nodded. “A major blizzard is beyond our capabilities. Let’s head back first.”

Jian Xingyi also notified Lone Wolf and the others, telling them they needed to regroup immediately and then return.

Lone Wolf: 【Got it! We’ll wait for you! By the time you get here, we should be done chopping. We’ve stripped this whole area bare.】

Jian Xingyi checked the guild’s inventory count.

The guild had 120,000 yesterday. Adding Akita’s group’s haul, the 200,000 from his dungeon run, and the wood gathered by Lone Wolf and Haha in the Avalanche and Snow Forest…

Wood: 435,000

Zombies Killed: 7,110

Jian Xingyi: “……!”

Yay!

Building one wall used to require 400,000, but with Cangshui’s recipe, it’s now down to 350,000. So… they’ve already secured enough wood for one wall!

Unfortunately, the zombie kills aren’t keeping up…!

But regardless, this is great progress!

When Jian Xingyi and Shuixi returned to 【It’s Really Cold】 with the squad, Jian Xingyi saw Cangshui waiting at the gate to greet them for the first time.

“Xinghe…!”

Cangshui excitedly pushed his wheelchair up to Jian Xingyi and said with a trembling voice, “You… you know those vine seeds you gave me that day… they worked!”

“Huh?”

Cangshui said, “They really can reinforce the bricks!”

No way?!