Thanks to Cakeoverlord for the kofis! Enjoy the bonus chapters!

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When he opened it, the result was somewhat unexpected.

Inside the wooden box was an… eyeball.

Jian Xingyi was startled and almost took a few steps back.

Jian Xingyi furrowed his brows. “An antique…?”

What kind of antique looks like this…

Shanhai examined it closely. “Does it remind you of anything?”

Jian Xingyi took a closer look as well. First of all, this eyeball didn’t look human—it was several times larger than a human eye and much rounder. It was currently embedded in a piece of pink flesh; the flesh was a dull color and looked slimy and somewhat disgusting.

Jian Xingyi recognized the breathing holes in the flesh and frowned. “This looks a lot like the river monster we just encountered.”

Shanhai nodded.

Jian Xingyi scratched his head. “Ah…”

Could this be an eye that the river monster left behind?

Shanhai put the box away; they’d figure it out on the way back.

But if they really were the river monster’s eyeballs, why would they be here?

These questions remained unanswered for now. After trekking all day, the two could only set up a campfire on the spot to rest. After sleeping for four hours to recharge their energy, Shanhai pulled out his terminal, and the two slowly made their way forward.

This time, they didn’t follow the compass.

Although the compass could lead them to treasure chests, the chests here might not be worth the effort. It would be better to save time and clear the dungeon first.

After walking for ages, they finally arrived.

A cave entrance appeared out of nowhere in the vast snowy landscape—that must be the dungeon.

Jian Xingyi exhaled, “This dungeon is so far away.”

Even without veering off course, it took them half a day to get here—it seemed to be on the other side of the Heart of the Snow Mountains.

Jian Xingyi said indignantly, “This reward… better be worth it!”

After all, it took them two days to walk here from the Earth’s Core.

Upon entering the cave and opening his eyes again, Jian Xingyi found that Shanhai had vanished, and he was back in the vast, white snowfield.

For a moment, Jian Xingyi was confused.

Huh?

Had he really entered the dungeon?

The next moment…

【Ding!】

【Welcome, player, to the Thousand Bells Snow Mountain – Heart of the Snow Mountain Dungeon: 【Snow Mountain Saint II】】

Is this a follow-up quest for Snow Mountain Saint?

【The Holy Son was forged through a thousand trials and tribulations. In 【Snow Mountain Saint I】, players witnessed the Holy Son’s birth and passed on the torch.】

【The Holy Son will die for humanity, then be reborn as a true spirit. In 【Holy Son of the Snow Country II】, players will witness the death of the Holy Son’s physical form and his rebirth as a spirit. After this, there will be no more Holy Sons in this world—only the prophecies he left behind and the heroic spirits that exist in the air, untouchable and invisible, yet very real.】

Jian Xingyi: “……”

As rambling as ever.

But the mission should be similar to the last one—witnessing a birth, then witnessing a death now. Only, last time players had to pass on a torch; what about this time?

The system quickly clarified.

【Players must wield a blade to complete the task of slaying the Holy Son’s physical form.】

A blade appeared before Jian Xingyi’s eyes.

Jian Xingyi froze.

Huh…?

Jian Xingyi sheathed the blade and swallowed hard.

It’s not exactly difficult, but it’s not exactly easy either.

【S-Rank Dungeon rewards will be customized according to the player’s wishes! The system is listening to the player’s wishes…】

【Ding! Listening complete. The three items most desired by player 【Xinghe】 have been detected. Please select one as your reward for completing this mission!】

【One: 100 million dawn coins; Two: 100 plots of Grade A farmland; Three: 10,000 essence points.】

【Please make your selection.】

Jian Xingyi: “……!!”

Wow!!

This is definitely the kind of scale you’d expect from an S-rank dungeon!

In the past, Jian Xingyi would never have chosen dawn coins, but now they’re the resource the guild needs most—and that’s exactly why he came here in the first place.

Plus, he used to skip them because he could earn them himself, but 100 million…

Isn’t that way too much?!

Jian Xingyi had no choice but to reluctantly give up the farmland and essence points and choose the dawn coins.

【Player 【Xinghe】 has selected 【100 million dawn coins】 as a reward!】

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

When the progress bar reached 100%, Jian Xingyi briefly lost consciousness again, and the system’s voice echoed in his ears.

【Player 【Xinghe】 and Player 【Shanhai】 have started the dungeon!】

……

When Jian Xingyi opened his eyes, he found himself… still surrounded by a blinding white expanse.

Jian Xingyi sighed; if this kept up, he was going to start hallucinating.

The whiteness before him was so intense it made his eyes ache.

The next moment, he really did start hallucinating.

—Right before him stood a “Jian Xingyi” who looked exactly like him, down to the clothes and hairstyle, as if he’d just stepped out of a mirror.

Perhaps because both Shanhai and Jian Xingyi were tackling this dungeon for the first time, the system thoughtfully provided a hint.

【Players, prove your resolve to slay the Holy Son to Heaven and Earth. To kill others, you must first kill 【yourself】.】

Jian Xingyi froze. The “Jian Xingyi” across from him stood there, smiling at him.

【【Yourself】 is your truest self.】

Jian Xingyi drew his sword, swallowed hard, and walked step by step toward “Jian Xingyi.”

“Jian Xingyi” didn’t dodge or fight back; he just watched Jian Xingyi quietly, even with a hint of curiosity.

Thud—!

With his eyes closed, Jian Xingyi plunged the blade into the “Jian Xingyi’s” chest.

He could feel warm liquid covering the palm of his hand. This was the first time Jian Xingyi had actually killed someone in the game.

Yet the one he had killed was a false version of himself.

Jian Xingyi trembled all over, trying desperately to convince himself that this was all a lie.

This was just a common tactic used in the Snow Mountain dungeon—to break players down mentally and emotionally.

I can’t fall for this trap…!

Jian Xingyi closed his eyes, waiting for the illusion before him to fade. Only after he felt the resistance in the dagger in his hand gradually disappear did he finally let out a sigh of relief.

【Player 【Xinghe】 has killed 【themselves】, successfully proving their resolve.】

But then… nothing happened.

After the illusion faded, Jian Xingyi looked around at the still-blank, white surroundings.

What now?

I’ve proven it—what’s the next step?

Jian Xingyi thought to himself, “Could it be that the mission can’t proceed because the situation with Shanhai hasn’t been resolved yet?”

“That can’t be. This mission isn’t difficult. At least on my end, all I had to do was make up my mind to do it. Shanhai can’t possibly be unable to make a decision.”

Jian Xingyi felt a bit puzzled. Was this the difficulty level of an S-rank dungeon?

“Why does it feel so simple it’s almost unreal…?”

After pondering for a moment, Jian Xingyi suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, and goosebumps broke out all over his body.

No, no!!!

This isn’t right!

This is an S-rank dungeon—an S-rank dungeon even more difficult than the previous A-rank 【Snow Mountain Saint II】!

The reason he found it easy was because he… was a player with no combat power!

This dungeon is designed for high-power players; the higher the power, the harder it is to handle. After all, the system probably never expected a player like Jian Xingyi to enter and clear the dungeon.

After all, this is an S-rank dungeon located deep within the Heart of the Snow Mountains—a high-difficulty map—so naturally, it’s targeted at high-power players.

Jian Xingyi, with his low power, actually came out ahead in this situation!

Jian Xingyi never imagined that his low combat power would one day actually be useful.

So if it were Shanhai, he would be facing another “Shanhai.” And if this dungeon’s “self” is modeled after his own personality, then that “Shanhai” must also be a combative person.

Two Shanhai fighting each other… aside from slowly wearing each other down, how could there possibly be a winner?!

Jian Xingyi finally understood why Shanhai had sustained such severe injuries when he accompanied him through 【Snow Mountain Saint】 earlier… The only one in this game capable of wounding Shanhai that badly was himself!

Cold sweat broke out all over Jian Xingyi’s body, and he immediately activated the Symbiotic Anchor.

【Player 【Shanhai】 is still in the dungeon and cannot respond to the anchor】

【Detected that the anchor point has been upgraded to Unimpeded Travel — Beep — System calculating — Beep —】

It felt like a glitch.

Jian Xingyi thought to himself, the system had better not waste the wish Shanhai had gone out of his way to fulfill.

The final result the system gave was…

【Player 【Xinghe】, do you wish to travel in the opposite direction to where Player 【Shanhai】 is located?】

Jian Xingyi: “……”

In other words, Shanhai, who hasn’t completed the mission yet, can’t respond to his summons to come over and complete the “escape”—but he can go there?

Jian Xingyi thought to himself, though he might not be able to help much, but…

【Player 【Xinghe】 clicked to confirm, teleporting now…】

……

Jian Xingyi regained consciousness once more. As expected, he was surrounded by a vast expanse of white, but he spotted Shanhai not far away…

Two Shanhais.

Jian Xingyi froze.

Just as he thought…

The two identical Shanhai were now covered in wounds of all sizes, a sight that made Jian Xingyi’s heart clench.

“Xinghe…?” One of them—Shanhai No. 1, holding a rifle and his chest heaving from the intense exertion—paused.

“Why are you here?” The other one—Shanhai No. 2, standing farther away and currently kneeling on the ground—frowned slightly.

Jian Xingyi: “I…”

Jian Xingyi didn’t know what to say.

—He didn’t know which one was the real Shanhai.

Shanhai No. 1 took a deep breath and looked at himself with some irritation. “Xinghe, don’t come over. Wait for me to handle this.”

With that, he charged at No. 2. Shanhai No. 2 forced himself to his feet and raised his spear to block the attack, veins bulging in his arms from the strain.

At first glance, No. 2 seemed to be at a disadvantage, but he quickly swept his leg out, sending No. 1 flying. No. 1 landed heavily in the snow and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

But No. 2 was also exhausted, his hands braced against the ground, both eyes bloodshot.

Jian Xingyi watched with a heavy heart.

It seemed these two Shanhai had been fighting for a long time. If they kept this up, it would only lead to mutual destruction—both Shanhai would die!

Jian Xingyi thought to himself, he had to do something…

He had to help…!

If only he could identify which one was the real Shanhai and help the genuine Shanhai kill the fake Shanhai…

“Thud!”

The two grappled once more, but they were like mirror images of each other—too familiar with one another’s moves. Beyond inflicting wounds, they made no real progress.

Jian Xingyi was pacing frantically.

What should I do…

What should I do?

Just as Shanhai No. 1 locked No. 2 in a chokehold, his other hand was about to drive the hilt of his knife into No. 2’s abdomen; while No. 2 was about to thrust his long sword into No. 1’s waist, Jian Xingyi shouted, “Stop! Stop!!”

The situation was critical. Jian Xingyi’s breathing was ragged and rapid. He raised his gun with trembling hands, the muzzle pointed at the two men. “If you don’t stop, I’ll shoot.”

The two men barely managed to stop.

Shanhai No. 2 gasped, “Xinghe, go ahead and shoot.”

Jian Xingyi froze.

Shanhai No. 1 also closed his eyes. “Fighting like this will lead nowhere. You decide.”