Golden flames erupted across the thumb-thick root, instantly turning it to charcoal.
Provoked, the roots crawling over the passage walls suddenly came "alive," writhing across stone like a dense swarm of serpents.
The banyan tree spirit had not expected this mortal outsider to possess such sharp wit. Seeing its lie exposed, it dropped all pretense and shrieked furiously:
"Since you refuse to come over, then die!"
The cavern floor cracked open at its words, fragments of stone heaving upward as thick roots burst through the ground like writhing tentacles, coiling toward Zhang Yuanqing.
At this distance, Zhang Yuanqing could have escaped even without the red dancing shoes.
*It really was trying to trick me into getting closer.* Instead of retreating, Zhang Yuanqing charged forward. A slide tackle carried him beneath the grasping roots, closing the distance between him and the banyan tree. He then sprang into the air, leaping several meters up to dodge another sweeping strike.
More and more roots ruptured the earth, dancing frantically within the cavern.
Zhang Yuanqing wove and leaped between the tentacles with graceful agility. No matter how hard the roots tried, they simply could not catch him.
If he had not subdued the red dancing shoes and relied on the Demon-Subduing Pestle alone, the mortality rate for a novice facing this stage would have been extraordinarily high.
*Tap, tap, tap.* The red dancing shoes sprinted along the wall, dodging the coiling and slamming roots. With a push from his knees, Zhang Yuanqing shot like an arrow straight through the encircling barricade of roots and crashed toward the trunk.
Seeing the human shooting toward it, the face on the trunk showed unmistakable terror.
*Boom!*
The stone at the base of the roots shattered, and an even denser surge of roots erupted like a geyser, erecting a wall of wood.
Zhang Yuanqing struck down hard with the Demon-Subduing Pestle.
Golden flames spread across the surface of the wooden wall, scorching the banyan tree spirit until it shrieked in rage.
Seizing his momentum, Zhang Yuanqing smashed through the carbonized barrier and plunged the tri-edged spike of the Demon-Subduing Pestle deep into the trunk.
*Thunk!*
The spike sank deep into the wood. A brilliant, magnificent sun erupted within the pitch-black cavern.
Golden light warped the trunk and twisted the human face, tearing agonized screams from it as sizzling blue smoke poured forth.
In an instant, the souls hidden inside the trunk also dissolved into blue smoke amid their wails.
Every spectral monster vanished, obliterated within the golden light.
As the golden radiance faded, the cave returned to darkness, but it had suddenly become clean and clear.
The first thing Zhang Yuanqing did was not check whether the banyan tree spirit was thoroughly dead, but immediately unequip the red dancing shoes and store them in his inventory.
Nearly five minutes had passed since he entered the cavern.
Only after putting the shoes away did Zhang Yuanqing turn his attention to the great banyan tree. It had withered, its bark cracked and devoid of moisture, its roots strewn limply throughout the cave.
A cold voice echoed in Zhang Yuanqing's mind:
[Ding. Congratulations on completing the S-rank trial quest. Character card unlocked. Rewards are being tallied.]
[Obtained Item/Prop: Demon-Subduing Pestle.]
[EXP Reward: 100%]
[You have become a Night Wanderer.]
[EXP Reward: 20%]
[Character card reward activated. Reward item: Red dancing shoes.]
[Departing Spirit Realm in five minutes...]
*It's finally over...* Zhang Yuanqing felt exhausted in both body and mind, entirely drained of strength.
He had cleared Sheling Tunnel, accomplishing what no one had managed in decades.
As the notification chime sounded, a black crescent mark flared on Zhang Yuanqing's forehead. A mysterious, bizarre power burst forth from the scalding sigil, surging into his body with crude, overbearing force.
His skin flushed bright red like a cooked shrimp. The mysterious power washed through his body, integrating into cell after cell, fusing into every bone. The wounds on his arms healed at a rate visible to the naked eye.
He began to twitch uncontrollably as two illusory black moons surfaced in his eyes before vanishing again.
The pain quickly subsided, replaced by a comfortable sensation like soaking in a hot spring.
*So soothing...* Zhang Yuanqing felt languid all over, relaxed enough to stretch. Instinctively looking down, he started in shock—his physical body was standing right in front of him.
*My soul came out of my body?*
Panic stirred in his chest. With the instinctive wish to return to his flesh, his soul sank at once, merging back into his physical frame.
Upon regaining control of his body, Zhang Yuanqing realized something new had been added—something called talent.
He accepted this talent naturally, as though he had been born with it.
At the same time, he felt brimming with infinite energy and strength, even harboring the illusion that a single punch could shatter a planet.
Zhang Yuanqing opened his character status panel:
[Name: Yuanshi Tianzun]
[Race: Human]
[Class: Night Wanderer]
[Level: 1]
[Skills: Night Walk, Spirit Devouring, Lunar Spirit]
[EXP: 20%]
[Morality Points: 60 (Initial Value)]
[Night Walk (Active): Condense the power of Taiyin to shroud yourself, entering the Night Walk state. While the skill is active, briefly turn invisible and retract your scent and breath, concealing body sounds and heat. Duration: six seconds.]
[Spirit Devouring (Active): Devour spirits to enhance your spiritual nature.]
[Lunar Spirit (Passive): A Night Wanderer possesses a robust physique, exuberant vitality, and potent self-healing. Under the shroud of night, all abilities of a Night Wanderer receive a massive boost.]
He was officially a Night Wanderer, and he had gained an extra 20% EXP along with item rewards. His harvest from this trial Spirit Realm was bountiful indeed.
Zhang Yuanqing opened his inventory. The red dancing shoes rested quietly in the first slot; the half-hour countdown had disappeared.
He was now officially their owner.
Two minutes later, he had grown accustomed to his physical state, and the wounds on both arms were fully healed.
Zhang Yuanqing then turned his gaze toward the stone coffin.
The completion of the quest meant the exploration progress had reached 100%, so was the coffin empty?
*It seems the banyan tree spirit really was the temple master. That means every "character" has appeared. How did he turn into a tree spirit, then? Is his physical body inside the stone coffin?*
With these thoughts, Zhang Yuanqing strolled up to the coffin, intending to loot it. Perhaps some treasure was buried inside with the body.
There were still over two minutes left before he would exit the Spirit Realm—plenty of time.
To be safe, he summoned the red dancing shoes again, selecting equip mode.
The stone coffin was wrapped in withered roots. Zhang Yuanqing swung the Demon-Subduing Pestle, severing the desiccated roots one by one to reveal the coffin in full.
It was roughly two meters long, carved with exquisite patterns, and covered in a light layer of dust.
*Creak...*
He slowly pushed the coffin lid open and peered inside. As a Night Wanderer, even without the divine power of the Demon-Subduing Pestle, he could easily see through the dark.
Lying in the stone coffin was a female corpse dressed in an ancient silk gown that had rotted long ago. Her arms were crossed over her flat abdomen, her waist slender as a willow branch, her figure shapely, completely free of decay.
Her features were exquisite, the contours of her cheeks outlining a flawless face, her nose dainty and straight, her lips sensuous yet pale. Her eyes were closed, framed by thick, overlapping lashes.
A peerless beauty.
*This...* Zhang Yuanqing stumbled back in shock, only one thought echoing in his mind:
*Is this really Lady Sandao?!*
Compared to the statue in the main hall, this corpse was less benevolent and more coldly aloof, less plump and more slender with the youth of a maiden.
Yet her facial features were an unmistakable seventy to eighty percent match.
*Did the banyan tree spirit speak the truth after all? Was Lady Sandao the source behind the disappearance of the temple's disciples?*
For a moment, he was overcome with panic, doubting his own judgment—and an erroneous judgment always brought immense danger.
*No, that's wrong. My quest is already completed, which proves my deduction was correct. In that case, does the lady in the stone coffin belong to a hidden quest?*
Zhang Yuanqing immediately regretted prying the coffin open.
Since Lady Sandao lay here, the Mountain God Temple undoubtedly held a deeper layer of secrets.
This could very easily trigger a series of unfavorable reactions, such as activating a hidden quest.
Just as he was about to push the lid back into place, he caught a glint of dark luster between the woman's lips.
*There's something in there?*
After a brief hesitation, he pinched her pointed chin and parted the plump, sensuous lips, getting a clear view of that dark luster.
It was a pure, pitch-black pearl.
[Name: Spirit Crystal]
[Type: Consumable]
[Function: None]
[Description: A soul crystal purified by the power of the Sun God. It contains immense spiritual power and is the tonic a Night Wanderer craves most.]
[Remarks: Lady Sandao has already cleansed all stray thoughts from the crystal. Consume with peace of mind.]
Zhang Yuanqing reached in with two fingers and plucked the pearl out.
The bead melted rapidly, turning into a strand of viscous energy that shot between his brows.
[Ding. You have gained 22% EXP.]
Power surged through Zhang Yuanqing's body, bringing back the illusion that a single punch could obliterate a planet.
He felt noticeably stronger. Even without opening his status panel, he could clearly sense the improvement in his skills.
The duration of Night Walk had increased by three seconds, rising from six to nine.
*An unexpected boost. Rest in peace, My Lady...* Zhang Yuanqing silently pushed the coffin lid back into place, pretending he had never opened it.
As the seconds ticked down, Zhang Yuanqing grew restless and anxious, terrified that some unwelcome anomaly might occur—like triggering a hidden quest and aborting his return.
Fortunately, nothing happened. Watching the timer on the glowing blue screen, the countdown began:
5, 4, 3...
Suddenly, a long, drawn-out breath sounded in the dark, silent cave.
Zhang Yuanqing: "..."
The coffin lid was shoved open from within. A pale, delicate hand reached out, gripping the rim, and the beauty inside sat up.
Her deep, pool-like eyes swept across the cavern, meeting Zhang Yuanqing's frozen gaze.
She stared at him, the corner of her mouth curving upward.
That smile nearly frightened Zhang Yuanqing to death on the spot.
Right then, the scenery tore apart like reflections upon water ruffled by wind. The countdown hit zero.
Everything blurred into nothingness.
A moment later, the surroundings stabilized. Bright, white incandescent light shone from overhead onto clean white walls, a desk, a computer, a television, a double bed...
The curtains swayed in the breeze, accompanied by the crisp chirping of birds outside the window.
He was back in the mortal world.
Chapter 18