Chapter 10: S-Rank Trial Realm

 Chapter 10 - S-Rank Trial Realm

"Night Wanderer!" Zhang Yuanqing calmly replied.

"I asked about your profession," Li Dongze emphasized.

"Night Wanderer," Zhang Yuanqing repeated.

Li Dongze was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly straightened his back, leaned forward, and stared at Zhang Yuanqing intently. "You, a Night Wanderer?"

"Yes," Zhang Yuanqing nodded.

"Wow..." Li Dongze raised his butt from the seat, remaining silent for a dozen seconds to digest this information. He then raised his voice and asked again, "You are a Night Wanderer? I... I've just stumbled upon a Night Wanderer?"

This was something he had never expected, as if he had just expressed a wish for a five-million-dollar lottery and had won it immediately.

"Found a treasure..." Li Dongze put down his wine glass and kept examining Zhang Yuanqing with excitement.

Each Night Wanderer was a highly sought-after individual. They were the target of various major spiritual realm teams and factions.

Li Dongze knew of an incident where a woman from the Hundred Flowers Society went to great lengths, even seducing a Night Wanderer from the Red Fire Gang, to make him change sides and join their faction as a double agent, even becoming a slave to two families due to the resulting conflict.

This incident nearly escalated into a conflict between the Red Fire Gang and the Hundred Flowers Society, and the intervention of the Five Elements Alliance headquarters failed to resolve the issue. It only subsided when the Night Wanderer died during a spiritual realm mission.

"By the way, I don't know your spiritual realm ID," Li Dongze hid his excitement and maintained a composed demeanor in front of his future subordinate.

Zhang Yuanqing raised his head proudly and confidently said, "Yuan Shi Tian Zun!"

Li Dongze fell silent for a few seconds and clapped his hands, saying, "Great name."

Hey, isn't your praise a bit forced? And why do you look like you want to beat me up... Zhang Yuanqing humbly replied, "If you like it, that's good."

At that moment, a black business car entered the Kangyang District Public Security Bureau and parked in the parking space near the green belt.

"Now, let's arrange for your onboarding procedures. The monthly salary will be 20,000, and there will be allowances for missions, as well as additional performance bonuses for accomplishments. Any problems with that?" Li Dongze seemed eager to get things done and settled.

"None at all," Zhang Yuanqing's eyes lit up. A monthly salary of 20,000 was considered high even in a big city like Songhai.

He remembered that in the company where his mother worked, the monthly salary for management-level employees was only 50,000 to 100,000. But, of course, that was just the base salary and didn't include bonuses, commissions, and stock options.

As they entered the back of the small building, Zhang Yuanqing liked the office atmosphere where ordinary staff members were diligently working. He mumbled to himself, "I like this office atmosphere."

Li Dongze didn't linger and took Zhang Yuanqing up to the second floor. The noise reduced on the second floor, and the layout was simpler. The entire left side was Li Dongze's personal office, while the right side had nine desks. Most of them were vacant, with only two occupied.

Those two were the investigators who visited Zhang Yuanqing's home yesterday—the tall and beautiful woman and the absent-minded engineering student.

"Guang Ya, help him with the onboarding procedures," Li Dongze called out from a distance and said with a smile, "I've recruited a new colleague."

The engineering student raised his head, glanced at Zhang Yuanqing, and nodded slightly before lowering his head to continue his work.

The half-foreign beauty smiled and stood up, saying, "It seems you successfully completed the trial mission, little boy who's a fan of older women."

Little boy who's a fan of older women?! Zhang Yuanqing's expression froze for a moment. Then, Li Dongze beside him explained, "Guang Ya likes to joke around. You'll get used to it."

He then reprimanded the female subordinate, "Don't say strange things in front of our young university graduate here. He's just a kid."

Zhang Yuanqing casually glanced at the mixed-race beauty walking towards him. She was wearing an OL dress, and her shirt was tucked into her skirt, accentuating her slender waist and shapely, long legs wrapped in black stockings. Her slightly curled long hair gently swayed with her steps.

Her sharp facial features had a three-dimensional delicacy of a Westerner, yet her skin was fair and delicate.

"Director Li, I want to consult some matters related to the trial realm," Zhang Yuanqing didn't forget the purpose of his visit today.

"I have something to attend to now, so you can ask Guang Ya. I'll go ahead and deal with my business," Li Dongze said warmly before leaving.

The tone is like a class teacher treating an exemplary student. After finishing the instructions, Li Dongze hurriedly returned to his office to report the news of recruiting a Night Wanderer to his superiors.

"Chief Li seems like he took the wrong medicine today? He's walking like he's floating," Guang Ya mumbled and then turned to Zhang Yuanqing with a smile, saying, "Come with me to fill out a form and give me your ID."

"I didn't bring my ID."

"Give me your ID number then."

She took Zhang Yuanqing to an empty desk, handed him a form, and noted down his ID number before heading downstairs.

Zhang Yuanqing picked up a pen from the pen holder and unscrewed the cap while scrutinizing the form. This form was different from the regular onboarding form; it corresponded to the attributes panel of a spiritual realm practitioner. In addition to basic information like profession and level, there was a column for trial realm missions.

Just in time, he would ask about how to pass the Shi Yan Tunnel later...

After completing the form, Guang Ya returned with two contracts. She pulled a chair beside him and sat down, her round buttocks pressing against the chair's surface, revealing her ample bosom perfectly.

"Chief Li must have given you some basic training," she lazily leaned back in the chair, her posture emphasizing her impressive chest.

Zhang Yuanqing caught a whiff of a pleasant fragrance and secretly admired her.

Starting from here, I'm collecting names for characters.

In an era where the average level was only C-rank, an E-rank expert was enough to impress others.

"Your onboarding procedures are done. Here are the contracts and a confidentiality agreement."

After Zhang Yuanqing signed, Guang Ya's smile faded, and she said seriously, "There are a few things I need to explain to you. From today onwards, your original ID can no longer be used. The organization will provide you with a new one, and it will be ready within three days. You can use it to buy high-speed rail tickets, plane tickets, and have access to the green channel."

"As for the new phone card, it will be given to you tomorrow."

"Why?" Zhang Yuanqing couldn't understand this process.

"When you named yourself, the spiritual realm should have prompted you that you can't use your real name."

Zhang Yuanqing nodded in understanding.

Guang Ya continued in a solemn tone, "There's a reason for this... We divided the spiritual realm professions into two categories: lawful professions, also known as orthodox professions, and evil professions."

"Spiritual realm practitioners with evil professions tend to be brutal, bloodthirsty, or cruel and sadistic. They have a unified preference for hunting orthodox spiritual realm practitioners, which is us. It's dangerous for spiritual realm practitioners to expose their identities in the real world."

"It's like a factional conflict in a game?" Zhang Yuanqing's expression became serious.

He found it strange when he was told not to use his real name when naming himself last night.

So, Li Dongze and Guang Ya might not be their real names?

"However, rest assured, we are an official organization. Usually, we are the hunters, and they are the prey."

Seeing the smile vanish from the young man's face, Guang Ya comforted him, "You can trust that Sister Guang Ya is an exceptional hunter."

Zhang Yuanqing breathed a sigh of relief and gave her a sugar-coated compliment, "You're very eloquent."

She smiled deeper at his words and said, "Your words are sweet. Have you had several girlfriends?"

"I'm single!"

Guang Ya was surprised, "Your trash can is so clean; I thought you had a girlfriend."

Again with the trash can. Do women have some kind of special fetish for trash cans? Zhang Yuanqing silently complained.

Guang Ya giggled, "Do you want Sister to help you buy a girlfriend online?"

Enough! You, this woman, no, you this old matchmaker... Zhang Yuanqing replied irritably, "No need, I prefer a real girlfriend."

关雅's laughter trembled like flowers in the wind, "I like you, little guy."

"Well, joking aside, let's get back to business. There are a total of ten spiritual realm teams in the Kangyang District, and we are the second team. In our team, there are five spiritual realm practitioners, and with you, it will be six. Among the five spiritual realm practitioners, only Chief Li and I belong to the White Tiger soldiers. You were recruited by Chief Li, and after you become official, you will also be a member of the White Tiger soldiers. I hope you remember this," she said.

This sounds like there are deeper prejudices between the factions of the Five Elements Alliance than I imagined... Zhang Yuanqing immediately said, "I'll follow Sister Guang Ya from now on."

He didn't mention Li Dongze because he wanted to gain the favor of the young lady.

As expected, Guang Ya's smile became even more charming, and she said with a smile, "Besides me and Wang Tai, the other spiritual realm practitioners usually don't come to clock in for work. You're still a student, so you don't need to come here every day. Don't be too reserved. Chief Li is a very nice person. The only thing is that he might speak strangely when he's emotional and has a strong attachment to elegance."

"As for Wang Tai, his profession is a 'Scholar.' He excels in learning and research and is a civil servant. You can ask him anything you don't understand. When you graduate from college, you can ask him for help with writing your thesis."

"But he's not good at socializing and dislikes it. You don't need to bother with him too much; just treat him as a tool."

"As for me," she said with a smile, "I really enjoy dealing with energetic young boys."

For a moment, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't tell if she was being sincere or joking.

He quickly labeled the members of the team in his mind based on his understanding: Chief Li, who emphasizes elegance and occasionally speaks in a translated tone; the socially awkward science and engineering guy; and the old matchmaker.

"By the way, what's your zodiac sign?" Guang Ya asked.

"Scorpio!" Zhang Yuanqing didn't understand why she suddenly asked this question, but he answered truthfully.

Guang Ya gave him a strange look, "Are you really single?"

What does this have to do with my zodiac sign? Zhang Yuanqing was puzzled.

Guang Ya seemed disbelieving but didn't dwell on the topic. She picked up the form Zhang Yuanqing had filled out and said, "Elementary Venerable... 21 years old... Ha, does your ID have enough momentum? Aren't you afraid of getting beaten up when you go out... Night Wanderer..."

Guang Ya's beautiful face froze for a moment, and she blurted out, "You're the Night Wanderer?!"

Zhang Yuanqing was enjoying her expression.

"No wonder Chief Li walks like he's floating..." Guang Ya muttered, then smiled with delight, "Now we have a Night Wanderer in our team too. You can't run off with wild women from other organizations."

Zhang Yuanqing noticed that Wang Tai at the nearby desk also looked up and glanced over. But this time, his eyes were filled with sympathy and compassion.

"Wait a moment..." Guang Ya left the office area with an unpleasant expression and walked towards Li Dongze's office.

What was with that look she gave me, like she saw a dead person? Zhang Yuanqing felt a bit uneasy.

At this moment, Wang Tai from the adjacent desk spoke in a calm tone, "There are guides, that's for sure. Submitting details of your spiritual realm experiences is the duty of every official practitioner, and the organization will give corresponding rewards. But, the Shi Yan Tunnel is a bit different. Take a look for yourself."

He handed Zhang Yuanqing a laptop.

Zhang Yuanqing, half-curious and half-uncertain, took the computer, and on the screen was an open document.

Summary of Shi Yan Tunnel Trial Realm in Songhai:

[King Village Ruins, C-rank, mission requirement: survive until dawn.]

[King Village Ruins, C-rank, mission requirement: Successfully survive until dawn.]

[The dangers in the village come from the hanged ghosts and the desolate graves outside the village. When facing the hanged ghosts' claim for life, spiritual realm practitioners need to do a handstand to avoid danger. However, those with weak physical strength can only rely on their own luck.]

[At midnight, the vengeful spirits in the desolate graves will gather in the village. Spiritual realm practitioners need to go to the nearby shop first to find candles and light them up to avoid being attacked by the ghosts.]

......

[Port Water Reservoir, B-rank, mission requirement: Cross the reservoir.]

[During the crossing, water ghosts will try to drag you underwater. Don't resist; instead, dive and hold your breath for two minutes. The water ghosts will leave on their own.]

......

Zhang Yuanqing's eyes scanned through the detailed information about each trial realm. The dangers and challenges seemed real, and he couldn't help feeling the excitement of facing the unknown. However, seeing the comments and notes left by other spiritual realm practitioners below each entry, he couldn't help but sense the difficulty and the potential risks.

He also noticed that the Shi Yan Tunnel was marked with a bright red label, indicating that it was an extremely dangerous trial realm. There were only a few practitioners who attempted it, and most didn't survive. The comments included warnings and advice, and many urged caution or discouraged attempting it altogether.

Zhang Yuanqing felt his heart pounding, and he turned to Wang Tai, who was observing him silently. "What's the story behind the Shi Yan Tunnel? Why is it considered so dangerous?"

Wang Tai leaned back in his chair and said calmly, "The Shi Yan Tunnel is a unique trial realm. It's not just a simple test of strength or skill; it's a psychological and emotional challenge. Those who enter the tunnel will encounter their deepest fears, regrets, and insecurities. The ghosts and apparitions they encounter are not merely illusions; they are a reflection of their innermost struggles and traumas."

"In other trial realms, you can often rely on your physical abilities and skills to overcome challenges. But in the Shi Yan Tunnel, your mind and spirit will be tested. It's not just about surviving the night; it's about facing your own demons and finding the strength to overcome them."

Zhang Yuanqing listened attentively, his curiosity piqued. "So, those who survive the Shi Yan Tunnel will gain some kind of mental breakthrough or growth?"

Wang Tai nodded. "Exactly. Those who successfully survive the Shi Yan Tunnel often experience a profound transformation. It's a life-changing experience that can strengthen their mental fortitude and resolve. However, not everyone is prepared for such a trial, and attempting it without sufficient mental preparation can have severe consequences."

He looked at Zhang Yuanqing earnestly. "If you decide to take on the Shi Yan Tunnel, make sure you are mentally and emotionally prepared. It's not a challenge to be taken lightly."

Zhang Yuanqing took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The idea of facing his deepest fears was daunting, but he also understood that growth often came from overcoming challenges.

"I will think carefully about it," he replied.

Wang Tai smiled encouragingly. "Take your time to consider it. There's no rush. Whenever you feel ready, the Shi Yan Tunnel will still be there."

With that, Zhang Yuanqing returned the laptop to Wang Tai, feeling a newfound sense of respect for his fellow teammate. He knew that he had a lot to learn from the experienced scholar.

As Zhang Yuanqing continued to familiarize himself with the details of the other trial realms, he couldn't help but wonder about the adventures and experiences that awaited him in the world of spiritual realms.

Zhang Yuanqing's eyes widened as he read through the descriptions of the trial realms. Each one seemed more challenging and dangerous than the last.

The "Port Water Reservoir" trial, marked as B-rank, required crossing the reservoir. The presence of water ghosts attempting to drag him down into the depths sounded terrifying, but he noted the advice not to resist and instead hold his breath for two minutes. He hoped he could muster the courage to face this trial when the time came.

However, it was the "Ghost Bride" trial that truly gave him pause. An A-rank trial, it required spending the night with the alluring and wild Ghost Bride until dawn. The description portrayed her as an enticing beauty, but also warned of the difficulty in lasting until morning. Only one courageous man had managed to survive the night, but he was left with a lasting aversion to women.

Zhang Yuanqing found himself torn between the allure of adventure and the potential risks. It was clear that these trials were not to be taken lightly, and the consequences of failure or recklessness could be severe.

He turned to Wang Tai again, seeking advice from the experienced scholar. "Wang Tai, have you ever attempted any of these trials? Do you have any recommendations for which one I should try first?"

Wang Tai smiled knowingly. "I've attempted a few trials in my time, but I haven't done all of them. Each trial offers unique challenges and rewards. As for which one you should try first, it really depends on your own strengths and preferences."

"For beginners, the King Village Ruins trial might be a good choice. It's a C-rank trial, and surviving until dawn may be less psychologically demanding compared to some others. It will give you a taste of what the trials are like without overwhelming you."

"As for the Port Water Reservoir trial, it's more physically demanding, but if you have confidence in your endurance and swimming abilities, it could be a good challenge for you."

"As for the Ghost Bride trial... well, that's a tough one. It's not recommended for beginners or those without a strong mental fortitude. It's best to gain more experience with other trials before attempting something of that magnitude."

Zhang Yuanqing nodded, appreciating the advice. "I see. I'll start with the King Village Ruins trial and work my way up from there. And about the Shi Yan Tunnel, I'll take some time to consider it before making a decision."

Wang Tai patted him on the shoulder. "That's a wise choice. Remember, the trials are not just about survival; they are opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Take them seriously, and always prioritize your safety."

Feeling more confident and determined, Zhang Yuanqing made up his mind to train harder and prepare himself for the upcoming trials. He knew that he had a lot to learn and experience, and he was eager to embrace the challenges that lay ahead in the world of spiritual realms.

As Zhang Yuanqing continued reading the descriptions of the trials, his expression shifted from confusion to disbelief. The trials seemed too easy, with high survival rates for most of them, except for the Ghost Bride trial, which required exceptional endurance. This contrasted greatly with his own S-rank trial, the Shi Yan Tunnel, which lacked any detailed information on its difficulty or requirements.

Finally, he came across the description of the Shi Yan Tunnel:

【Shi Yan Tunnel, difficulty unknown, requirements unknown.】

【The initial event involved a construction team that accidentally entered the spiritual realm during the tunnel's construction. Out of twelve people, only one survived, but they suffered from severe mental trauma. They re-entered the realm 36 hours later and perished within it.】

【Note: This spiritual realm scene is extremely perilous, and there have been no known instances of successful completion of the Shi Yan Tunnel.】

The last sentence was emphasized in bold red letters, causing Zhang Yuanqing's eyes to widen in shock. The reality of the danger he was about to face began to sink in. This trial was unlike any other, and the lack of information only intensified the mystery and danger surrounding it.

Feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation, Zhang Yuanqing couldn't help but feel the weight of this new revelation. It was clear that the Shi Yan Tunnel was an unprecedented challenge, and he would be stepping into uncharted territory.

Gathering his thoughts, he resolved to face this trial head-on. He knew that no amount of preparation or advice could truly prepare him for what lay ahead. He had to rely on his instincts, wits, and determination to navigate the unknown dangers of the Shi Yan Tunnel.

Taking a deep breath, he turned to Wang Tai and said, "I've made up my mind. I will attempt the Shi Yan Tunnel trial."

Wang Tai's expression turned serious, and he nodded in understanding. "Remember, Zhang Yuanqing, the Shi Yan Tunnel is not to be underestimated. Take your time to prepare and train. Trust in yourself, and don't be afraid to seek help from the team if needed. Your safety is paramount."

"I will," Zhang Yuanqing replied with determination. "I know it won't be easy, but I'm ready to face whatever challenges await me."

With newfound resolve, Zhang Yuanqing continued to read up on the other trials, seeking any information that might help him prepare for the Shi Yan Tunnel. As he delved deeper into the world of spiritual realms and trials, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. The journey ahead was uncertain, but he was eager to prove himself and grow as a spiritual realm practitioner.