Chapter 60: Return

 

Listening to the Spirit Realm prompt in his ear, Zhang Yuanqing felt a bit excited about the experience points reward for the S-level instance. He had consulted Guan Ya and Li Dongze before, and they had informed him that after completing the trial task as a Spirit Realm traveler and obtaining a character card, the experience points reward was usually 0-5%. After that, completing a multiplayer Spirit Realm task would grant around 5-10% experience points.

For a solo Spirit Realm task, the experience points were 10-15%. In other words, even with a 100% clearance rate for the Spirit Realm traveler, it would take more than 10 multiplayer Spirit Realm runs or close to 10 solo runs to level up. The difficulty of leveling up was evident.

Zhang Yuanqing's trial Spirit Realm was an S-level instance, and the completion reward was 20% experience points. Then, he triggered a hidden task, prying a spirit body crystallization from San Dao Shan Niang's mouth, which added another 22% experience points. The rewards from one mountain temple were equivalent to four or five runs of a multiplayer Spirit Realm for others.

"Under normal circumstances, to reach level 2, I would need to enter the multiplayer Spirit Realm five times, or three times for the solo Spirit Realm. I wonder if the Golden Water Amusement Park can allow me to reach level 2 in one go," Zhang Yuanqing eagerly anticipated.

Within the official organization, Level 1 was considered entry-level personnel, and Level 2 marked entry into the elite class, with better salary and benefits.

【Reward settlement in progress... Received items/props: Cat King Music Box, Red Headscarf】

【Experience points reward: 40%】

【Mainline settlement completed... Ding, congratulations on completing the hidden task, reward settlement in progress...】

【Received items/props: Steadfastness Orb】

【Experience points reward: 25%】

【Hidden task settlement completed... Ding, congratulations on being promoted to Level 2 Night Wanderer (夜游神)...】

【Ding! Character card reward activated, reward item: Disguise Ring.】

【Settlement completed! Exiting the Spirit Realm in five minutes...】

"Even more rewarding than the 'She Ling Tunnel,' truly worthy of an S-level instance in the Transcendent Realm, 65% experience points, four items, what a huge gain..." Zhang Yuanqing was dumbfounded, listening to his heart beating wildly in his chest.

Immediately, he sensed a scorching heat at his brow, knowing that the black moon mark was about to manifest. Oops, the black crescent moon couldn't be seen by outsiders... his heart skipped a beat as he subconsciously looked at Xie Lingxi.

The little girl's pupils seemed unfocused as she stared into the void, probably checking her character panel and reviewing the quest rewards, completely oblivious to her surroundings.

Zhang Yuanqing breathed a sigh of relief and turned away.

Then, the scorching black moon mark surged with a powerful lunar force, forcibly washing through his body in an almost overbearing manner, merging into each cell and intertwining with his bones.

He couldn't help but convulse as he felt changes happening at the level of his life. His gene sequence underwent a recombination...

Three brand new innate talents naturally integrated into his instincts.

【Name: Yuan Shi Tian Zun】

【Race: Human】

【Profession: Night Wanderer】

【Level: 2】

【Skills: Night Roaming, Devouring Spirit, Lunar Spirit, Howling Moon, Enchanting Art, Spirit Script】

【Experience points: 23%】

【Morality: 90】

【Reputation: 15】

【Howling Moon (Active): Borrow power from the lunar force to significantly enhance one's attributes for fifteen minutes. After the skill ends, it enters a three-hour weakened state. Note: This skill can only be used at night, the pre-skill action: Look up and howl at the moon.】

【Enchanting Art (Active): Can induce illusions and disorient the target. Note: Ghostly beings love to use this skill to bewilder mortals.】

【Spirit Script (Active): A unique spirit script belonging to the Night Wanderer that can draw talismans and formations. Note: Currently, it can only be used to draw spirit scripts targeting spirits.】

Zhang Yuanqing focused his mind and sensed the nature of these skills. Enchanting Art leaned towards control and support, lacking direct damage but adding versatility and expanding the Night Wanderer's options. On the other hand, Spirit Script could be used to create talismans and inscribe formations, not only to restrain spirits but also to nurture and refine them.

"Finally, I can further cultivate Little Doudi," Zhang Yuanqing thought with joy. He then opened the inventory to check the obtained items.

Besides the Cat King Boombox, the instance rewarded him with two items and one consumable.

【Name: Red Wedding Veil】

【Type: Ornament (Consumable)】

【Function: Summon】

【Description: The veil worn by the Ghostly Bride in the Golden Water Amusement Park's wedding scene. It has been blessed by a certain indescribable entity. It is an inseparable part of the Ghostly Bride and can only be obtained by those who successfully deceive her.】

【Note 1: When you put on the red wedding veil, you can summon the Ghostly Bride. This item can be used three times.】

【Note 2: Hahaha, I laugh at the Bride's lack of intelligence, laughing at her failed attempt to steal the rice.】

【Note 3: Using the red wedding veil in the spirit realm may attract the gaze of that indescribable existence. After reading Note 2, I believe you will use it with caution.】

"Wow, this thing comes with sarcasm? If Three Daoist Shan learns about this, she'll probably be furious..." Zhang Yuanqing gasped, feeling both pleasantly surprised and speechless. He suspected that the Ghostly Bride was either at the pinnacle of the Transcendent Realm or had reached the Saint Realm. This kind of summoning could serve as a life-saving measure.

What made him speechless was that the item had low offensive power but an extremely strong provocation effect. The remarkable and elegant Daoist Shan would most likely pursue him with great fury if she sensed it.

No way, he must never use it in the spirit realm... he decided in his heart.

【Name: Steadfast Pearl】

【Type: Bead】

【Function: Enhancement, Defense】

【Description: An item for Earth Element users, condensed with the power of the earth, capable of enhancing strength and defense.】

【Note: Steadfastness comes at a price.】

Zhang Yuanqing now had three new skills, a couple of powerful artifacts, and a higher level. With all these rewards, he felt confident that he had made significant progress in the Transcendent Realm. However, he was also aware that challenges and dangers would only increase as he continued his journey as a Night Wanderer. But with his wit and newfound abilities, he was ready to face whatever came his way.

【Name: Disguise Ring】

【Type: Accessory】

【Function: Disguise】

【Description: A magical ring that can change one's appearance, allowing you to adjust your features as you wish.】

【Note: Don't you have a sense of what you look like?】

"Mo Jun's role card reward is to obtain one item for each instance completed? Damn, that's a bit OP... The Disguise Ring's function is simple and straightforward. The Steadfast Pearl's drawbacks feel a bit unreliable. Well, let's try it out..." Zhang Yuanqing said to himself.

He took out the Steadfast Pearl from his inventory. It was about the size of an egg, with a brownish color and an inexplicable sense of weight when he held it. As he grasped the pearl, he felt like he became stronger, as if a powerful force was flowing through him. At the same time, he also felt slower, as if a mountain was pressing down on him, making his movements extremely sluggish.

"How can I fight with this pearl? The pros and cons are quite obvious. This is just a regular item. Both the Demonic Subduing Staff and the Red Dancing Shoes were abnormal."

As he was thinking, he suddenly heard cheerful cheers.

"Brother Wang Tai, can you imagine? I got a 35% experience reward, one item, and one consumable. It's so generous! The rewards are too generous; it's truly an S-grade instance," Xie Lingxi exclaimed happily as she tallied her rewards, looking like a little girl who had received a lollipop.

"Brother Wang Tai, what rewards did you get? How much experience did you gain, and did you receive any items?" She blinked her lively eyes, looking expectantly.

She already had two items, one given by her elders and another obtained from the solo instance. Now, she had received a third item. Could you even imagine it?

"You dare to show off your expression like that... you're practically writing it on your face..." Zhang Yuanqing nodded slightly and replied, "Not bad! I didn't get much. I received a 65% experience reward and three items, one of which is consumable."

"Are you trying to let everyone know that you're Mo Jun with such fanfare?" Xie Lingxi was stunned, her face stiffening. Her mouth slowly opened, and her gaze became blank as she stared at him.

"I clearly sensed the resentment towards the rich coming from you!" Zhang Yuanqing felt pleased.

Xie Lingxi mumbled, "How... how could this be? Why are your rewards so much higher than mine? The spirit realm is unfair!!"

Zhang Yuanqing comforted her, "Perhaps the spirit realm wants you to experience the ups and downs of the world."

"???" Xie Lingxi was on the verge of tears.

If only she knew that this was only my second time entering the spirit realm, the feeling of ups and downs would be even more direct! Zhang Yuanqing didn't continue to suppress her and patiently waited for their return.

.While thinking about the future benefits of completing subsequent instances and successfully obtaining the S-grade instance's first kill, Zhang Yuanqing knew that the experience rewards and item rewards would likely decrease for future runs. However, the rewards would still be higher than those of regular instances, making strategies crucial.

The Cat King's Boombox was left behind by his elder brother. It seemed to hold some valuable information, so he planned to thoroughly investigate it once he returned to reality, hoping to find useful clues.

He also remembered that he still had to fulfill his father's final request...

"Wang Tai, how come we didn't see River Lord? Can we exchange phone numbers?" Xie Lingxi asked, glancing at the countdown timer that was about to reach zero.

"River Lord should still be at the roller coaster. Didn't we exchange phone numbers already?" Zhang Yuanqing replied.

"I gave you a fake number," Xie Lingxi confessed.

"Oh, I gave you a real one," Zhang Yuanqing said.

"No, I'm sure the number you gave me is also fake," Xie Lingxi wrinkled her nose.

Zhang Yuanqing looked at her and thought, We are just spirit realm friends. Once we leave the instance, we will go our separate ways. Why do we need to keep in touch? You're still young; we can have deeper communication when you turn eighteen.

"Spirit realm travelers should avoid having too much interaction in reality, even with those from the same camp," Zhang Yuanqing said casually.

"I will find you!" Xie Lingxi huffed.

As the conversation ended, the scenery of the Detective's Detective Agency blurred like ripples on the water's surface and quickly faded away.

The scene went from blurry to clear, and Zhang Yuanqing saw the familiar desk, double bed, desk lamp, and TV... He returned to reality.

The room was pitch-black, silent, and the curtains were tightly drawn, isolating the outside noise. The digital clock on the bedside table showed that it was 5 AM.

He had spent five hours in the spirit realm, but Zhang Yuanqing felt like he had experienced countless changes. He opened the curtains, revealing the dim morning light. The streets were sparsely populated, with sanitation workers riding garbage trucks passing by leisurely.

Breakfast chain stores on the roadside had already opened for business, releasing a dense aroma of food.

Zhang Yuanqing turned on the lights and stood in front of the full-length mirror, examining himself. His skin had become fairer, his facial features remained the same, but he felt much more refined, exuding a strange aura.

After pondering for a moment, four words flashed through his mind - Eerie and Noble!

"I remember Yuan Ting also had this kind of aura. The higher the level of the Night Wanderer, the more distinct this aura becomes..."

Clearly, this change was brought about by the dense power of the moon after leveling up.

"In the future, I could also give a charming smile... No, I can't do that. What if I'm pursued by young girls? That would be troublesome..." Zhang Yuanqing chuckled and walked to the bed, taking out his phone from the cold bed.

The story continues...

While contemplating the future benefits of successfully completing subsequent levels after obtaining the first kill in the S-level spirit realm, Zhang Yuanqing thought about the generous rewards he had received. The experience points and items obtained in later runs would certainly be lower than the first kill, but they would still be higher than those from ordinary spirit realms, making strategy crucial.

The Cat King's Boombox, left by the fellow traveler, seemed to hold some valuable information. Zhang Yuanqing planned to thoroughly research this item once he returned to reality, hoping to find useful insights.

He also had some personal matters to attend to, as he needed to fulfill his responsibilities as a father, per his late father's request.

As the countdown neared its end, Xie Lingxi suddenly asked Zhang Yuanqing if they could exchange phone numbers.

Zhang Yuanqing replied that the River God should still be around the roller coaster area and reminded her that they had already exchanged numbers.

Xie Lingxi teased him, saying the number he gave her must be fake, to which Zhang Yuanqing calmly responded that the number he provided was genuine.

However, Xie Lingxi insisted that his number was also fake, playfully wrinkling her nose.

Zhang Yuanqing glanced at her and thought to himself that they were merely spirit realm acquaintances and would likely part ways after exiting the realm. He figured that she was still young and that they could have more meaningful exchanges when she turned eighteen.

He advised her not to have too many real-life connections with spirit realm travelers, even those from the same faction.

Undeterred, Xie Lingxi declared that she would find him, to which Zhang Yuanqing chuckled.

As the scene began to blur like ripples on water, they returned to reality.

Zhang Yuanqing found himself back in his familiar room. The clock showed that it was five in the morning, and the room was shrouded in darkness with tightly drawn curtains and soundproof glass separating him from the outside world.

Feeling like he had experienced a lot despite only spending five hours in the spirit realm, Zhang Yuanqing opened the curtains to reveal the serene early morning scene outside. The streets were nearly empty, with only a few sanitation workers cycling by, collecting trash.

Breakfast chains were already open for business, exuding the warm aroma of food.

Looking at himself in the full-length mirror by the window, Zhang Yuanqing noticed that his skin had become fairer, and although his features remained unchanged, there was a peculiar charm exuding from him – a sense of sinister nobility.

Recalling that Yuan Ting also had a similar aura, he attributed it to the rich influence of the Taiyin power after leveling up.

Suppressing the desire to be alluring, he reminded himself that he shouldn't act that way. After all, if young girls started pestering him, it would be quite troublesome.

Deciding to leave those thoughts behind, Zhang Yuanqing walked to the bed and picked up his phone from the cold bedding.

He lit up the screen and saw an unread message: "You're out, call me immediately. Everyone is waiting for you - Guan Ya."

Zhang Yuanqing considered for a moment. What if he hadn't come out yet? Well, she would probably contact him on her own when it's daylight to confirm if he survived the spirit realm.

He exited the message box and dialed Guan Ya's number.

--------