An S-Rank Dungeon?

Watching the glass doors slide open and shut on their own, Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow. She reached into the Void, pulled out a slender bamboo tube, and blew gently through it. A sweet, colorless vapor swiftly drifted through the hotel lobby. *Thud.* A figure tumbled into view, collapsing onto the floor about three meters from the front desk. Wearing a baseball cap and a face mask, his limbs flailed weakly as he struggled to get up, but he couldn't manage it. Xiao Yuan sneered, "Sneaking around!" Her brows furrowed in displeasure. "I told you not to come to the hotel recently. Did my words go in one ear and out the other?" Even without seeing his face, she could recognize Yuanshi Tianzun at a glance from his height and build. She was somewhat angry—angry that this fellow acted on his own whim, angry that he didn't use his brain, and angry that he refused to listen to reason. Zhang Yuanqing struggled a few more times. Seeing he couldn't get up, he simply played dead, lying flat on the floor to answer her question. In a low, solemn voice, he said earnestly, "I was worried about you. I know that with my level and abilities, I'd only be throwing my life away if we ran into a formidable enemy who could threaten you. But I still wanted to come see for myself. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to eat or sleep in peace." Xiao Yuan's expression visibly froze. Zhang Yuanqing continued, "Yet you told me not to come and wouldn't tell me what happened. I know your personality—if there's something you don't want to say, asking won't do any good. That's why I snuck over." With an aggrieved look, he added, "And what about you? You poisoned me before you even saw who I was." *He was worried about me. Even though he knew he could hardly help if real danger arose, he still snuck here...* Xiao Yuan's gaze suddenly dropped, her eyelashes trembling slightly. She gave a cold huff. "What could possibly happen to me? Master Wuhen is holding down the fort here at the hotel. Even your official Elders wouldn't dare act recklessly. Although it isn't suitable for him to make a move or take a life, if real danger comes, he's more than capable of getting me out of here." Her tone was haughty and defensive, but her cool, glamorous expression quickly softened. *Her attitude changed so fast. That piece of trash Ling Jun was right—Xiao Yuan seems icy and aloof on the outside, but she's actually soft-hearted and craves care and attention.* Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing knew the plan had worked. Ling Jun had said that aunties of this type had superb control over their facial expressions and would never let themselves look touched, so one had to probe further. Zhang Yuanqing cried out, "Auntie Xiao Yuan, what kind of poison is this? It's so potent, I don't have an ounce of strength left in me." Xiao Yuan looked down at him with her beautiful eyes and said indifferently, "A paralytic toxin. Just wait—it'll wear off on its own in ten minutes!" Zhang Yuanqing feigned shock. "Huh? Just a paralytic toxin? That doesn't seem right..." Xiao Yuan frowned. "What doesn't seem right?" Zhang Yuanqing said, "I feel burning hot all over, consumed by lust. Auntie Xiao Yuan, did you slip me an aphrodisiac? There's no time to lose—let's hurry to a room so you can detoxify me." Xiao Yuan let out a scoff and ignored him. *She didn't get angry? She doesn't mind me making slightly crude jokes in front of her!* Zhang Yuanqing was overjoyed. According to Ling Jun, when a woman doesn't mind dirty jokes from you, it means her tolerance for you is broad enough to accept verbal teasing. That was a privilege reserved only for very close friends. Ten minutes later, strength returned to Zhang Yuanqing's limbs. He pushed himself up from the cold floor tiles, patted off his backside, rounded the front desk, and grandly sprawled across the plush armchair where Xiao Yuan usually rested. Throughout the entire process, Xiao Yuan said nothing, implicitly consenting to his antics. Zhang Yuanqing stopped joking around. Looking at Xiao Yuan's back, he asked seriously, "Do you know who was tailing you? Have you been in contact with anyone recently? Did you catch the stalker?" Xiao Yuan did not turn around, keeping her eyes on the hotel entrance. "I've only done two things recently: one was helping you hunt down that Bewitching Demon, and the other was visiting the black market run by the Soldier Master sect. The stalker was extremely cautious—the moment they realized I'd noticed them, they gave up immediately." *The person tailing her is either a Spirit Realm walker from the Jinshan City branch or someone from the Soldier Master sect...* Zhang Yuanqing pondered. Xiao Yuan added, "By the way, after Heavenly King Demonic Eye was captured, a new manager arrived at the black market and reopened the investigation into you. But according to my observations, he isn't particularly keen on looking into you or the Palace Master of Halting Slaughter. He probably just wants to find out where Heavenly King Demonic Eye is." Zhang Yuanqing nodded. "Doesn't matter. As long as it isn't someone of Heavenly King caliber looking for me, we can ignore the rest." With Yuanshi Tianzun's current fame and standing, evil classes coveting him from the shadows were a dime a dozen. He was used to it. He continued, "I'll look into the Jinshan City branch. As for the Soldier Master sect, stay away from the black market for now. Even though the mastermind only sent someone to tail you without making any further moves, we still have to be on guard. "That said, staying on defense forever isn't an option. In a little while, if you get the feeling you're being followed again, we'll deal with it once and for all." Xiao Yuan remained facing away from him. "Mm. "No tournament matches today?" Zhang Yuanqing replied, "Don't know, don't care. How could a tournament compare in importance to Auntie Xiao Yuan?" "Ha!" Xiao Yuan scoffed. "With your strength, the top eight is pretty much your limit. Pushing any further is going to be difficult. Ending it here is fine too." "Hmph, a clumsy reverse-psychology trick. Just watch me bring back the championship for you." "It's not reverse psychology. You ought to know your own limits." "Auntie Xiao Yuan, you're not wifely at all. You should know how a virtuous wife and good mother cheers on her man at times like this. Sigh, I can't stay in this place anymore. I'm leaving." "Then why haven't you scrammed yet?" "Out of the kindness of my heart, staying to keep you company a bit longer." *** Bar Street. A bar on the corner had its doors tightly shut. Inside, the space was vast; interior walls had been knocked down to create an expansive area comparable to a grand hall. At the center of the hall was a crystal-clear pool, beside which sat a four-meter-wide circular waterbed. Scantily clad women were sprawled across it—some curled up in slumber, others splashing playfully in the water. A long table by the pool was laden with sumptuous dishes and fruit. Whether finished or not, the food was replaced every two hours. Dark-skinned and gaunt, Lust Divine General leaned lazily back against a plush armchair. Two beauties massaged his shoulders on either side, while another two knelt at his feet kneading his thighs. Yet another beauty peeled grapes and fed him fruit. Lust Divine General was intent on emulating King Zhou of Shang, creating a residence befitting a "lake of wine and forest of meat" wherever he went. He liked Songhai very much. As a top-tier metropolis, it gathered women from all corners of the country across every trade and profession—slender or voluptuous, each possessing the unique charm of her homeland. When they first arrived, they had resisted to the death. But under Lust Divine General's "bewitchment," they quickly accepted their roles as "concubines," "consorts," and "slaves," serving him whole-heartedly. Yet Lust Divine General was not infatuated with these women. His mind was entirely consumed by the silhouette of that mature woman. As a Bewitching Demon, Lust Divine General had no great thirst for blood; his only overpowering obsession was hunting beautiful women. *Knock, knock!* The brown double wooden doors sounded, and a swimsuit-clad woman waiting by the entrance opened them like a hostess. A burly man in a black tank top stepped onto the red carpet and entered the hall. Keeping his gaze lowered to avoid looking at the curvaceous women gathered inside, he walked straight up to Lust Divine General, bowed, and said, "Divine General, we have tracked down the woman's address. She is at Wuhen Hotel in Jinshan City. "In addition, I learned that she once followed Blood Swallow of the Spirit Society—the owner of Shijing Agritourism Farm. Later, due to ideological differences, she withdrew from the Spirit Society. "The Spirit Society originally intended to hunt her down, but Blood Swallow protected her." Lust Divine General rested with his eyes closed. "Ideological differences?" The burly man in the black tank top kept his eyes cast down and answered, "Supposedly, the woman possesses a strong moral compass. She believes that good and evil stem from the heart rather than one's class, and she refused to commit evil deeds, frequently clashing with other Spirit Society members." Lust Divine General opened his eyes, a bright glint shining within them. "She possesses a strong moral compass? Interesting... fascinating! This woman is too interesting! She is the most surprising and thrilling prey I've encountered in years." A member of an evil class who actually had a decent moral compass? That trait alone was enough to trigger the destructive impulses of most evil classes. *We're all crows—what makes you think you get to be a white swan?* Not to mention, she was an exceptionally gorgeous, mature woman. The tank-topped subordinate immediately asked, "She's an unaffiliated rogue walker now. Divine General, should we take our people and capture her right away?" Lust Divine General caressed the body of the woman beside him and said calmly, "No rush. Dealing with a Level 5 Witch Doctor requires patience. Contact Blood Swallow for me. Tell her I want to see her." The woman was a regular at the Soldier Master sect's black market. From the records Tian Lingling left behind, he had learned that her level wasn't low—she was a Level 5 Saint. Lust Divine General wasn't led around by his loins. He intended to lay the trap slowly and pull the net swiftly, ensuring he captured the beauty without a hitch. *** The following day, Zhang Yuanqing used the excuse of having no morning classes to return to his room after breakfast. Locking the door, he summoned Corpse No. 1 from the wardrobe as usual, nourishing it with lunar force for half an hour, before summoning Little Doubi to roam freely. The little infant spirit crawled around merrily, head-butted the bedroom door, and phased right through it. Zhang Yuanqing kicked off his shoes and changed into the new running shoes his aunt had bought for him, then opened the official forum to wait for news. If all went smoothly, headquarters would release an announcement today, meaning the finals would take place either today or tomorrow. The running shoes had been bought by his aunt after work yesterday, when she'd hurried off to the mall. For some reason, the woman had taken extraordinary pity on her nephew lately—she'd even shared half the yolk of her salted duck egg with him at breakfast. Wonders truly never ceased. Time ticked away minute by minute. At nine o'clock, Zhang Yuanqing, who was refreshing the forum constantly, saw a stickied post highlighted in red appear on the front page. [Tournament Modification Announcement] "The official purpose of organizing the arena tournament is to select talent and allow young contestants to familiarize themselves with and experience the killing trial in advance. In keeping with this principle, following deliberations by the headquarters' Council of Elders yesterday, a decision has been made to adjust the Transcendent stage arena tournament. "Following the format of a killing trial, we will drop the top eight contestants into a high-difficulty dungeon, letting them compete freely to determine their rankings in one go. This is the most prestigious and fair method. "To ensure fairness and impartiality, the dungeon will be jointly created by the five Alliance Leaders and the Taiyi Sect Master tomorrow at nine o'clock. The currently discloseable intel is that the dungeon difficulty is S-rank." Zhang Yuanqing stared in bewilderment. What shocked him in this notice wasn't the S-rank difficulty—the top eight contestants could be called the cream of the crop among official Transcendent stage walkers. The elite of the elite. Dropping them into an S-rank dungeon was understandable. What he hadn't expected was that the five Alliance Leaders and the Taiyi Sect Master could create a dungeon! Wasn't that something only the Spirit Realm could do? Zhang Yuanqing hastily exited the forum and @-mentioned Fu Qingyang in the White Tiger Guards group chat. [Yuanshi Tianzun: @Fu Qingyang, Centurion, what does it mean that the five Alliance Leaders and the Taiyi Sect Master are creating a new dungeon? Are you kidding me? Is that something they can even do?] #Yuanshi Tianzun recalled a message# [Yuanshi Tianzun: @Fu Qingyang, Centurion, what does it mean that the five Alliance Leaders and the Taiyi Sect Master are creating a new dungeon? The Alliance Leaders can even do something like that?] [Seven Times a Night: Too late. I already took a screenshot.] [Fu Qingyang: Two months ago, a high-level Night Wanderer boss leaked an aura capable of affecting a Transcendent stage dungeon just to find someone. Why would you think the five Alliance Leaders and the Taiyi Sect Master couldn't do this?] [Fu Qingyang: Of course, this so-called dungeon creation, as I deduce it, involves using their authority to fuse previously cleared faction dungeons into a new, uncleared dungeon. It isn't what you're imagining—creating a new Spirit Realm dungeon out of thin air.] *Using faction leader authority to fuse dungeons... That makes more sense. Gave me a fright—I thought walkers of the Alliance Leaders' caliber could actually create Spirit Realm dungeons out of thin air.* Zhang Yuanqing had a sudden realization. [Ling Jun: Competing for the championship inside a dungeon is extremely advantageous for you. But remember, under no circumstances should you clash with the top three too early, or you'll be knocked out right away.] [Xiao Naohu: Yuanshi, try your best to fight for a spot in the top three. If you don't make the top three, fourth place is no different from eighth. If it were an arena tournament, I wouldn't be optimistic about your chances, but in a dungeon, you have a shot.] [Sweep the World: If you make the top three, I'll livestream beating my wife.] Several members who frequently chimed in within the White Tiger Guards group came forward to encourage Yuanshi Tianzun. *It's quite touching, but hyping me up like this is going to make it really embarrassing if I don't make the top three...* Zhang Yuanqing quickly sent a red packet to plug their mouths. Switching back to the forum, he saw a crowd of official walkers discussing him. [Please Call Me Queen: Haha, S-rank! It's S-rank! Have any of those guys ever entered an S-rank? Yuanshi Tianzun has entered two!] [Wangfei: Honestly, I'm suddenly really looking forward to Yuanshi Tianzun's performance in the dungeon—even more than in the arena tournament.] [Lairifangzhang: If we can spectate inside the dungeon, then yeah, I'm looking forward to his performance too. Hearing before that he cleared two S-ranks sounded like a fairy tale—I could never wrap my head around it.] [Grand Academician of Wenyuan Chamber: We plan to recalculate the rankings. This time, more weight will be given to the contestants' past dungeon records. It will be updated punctually at 8:00 PM tonight. We hope for everyone's support.] [Milky White Breasts: Spectating Yuanshi Tianzun clearing an S-rank dungeon live? Holy crap, I'm suddenly hyped! Isn't this way more interesting than the arena tournament?] [Affectionate Jenny: Um, it didn't say we can watch, but it didn't say we can't either. Let's wait for tomorrow's notice. Hopefully it isn't a closed dungeon.] [Quri Kuduo: The dungeon is being created by the Alliance Leaders. They possess immense authority, so they should take spectators into account.] *Why do I feel like I'm being treated like a circus monkey...* Zhang Yuanqing's lips twitched. He scrolled all the way down. The comments were full of people eager to watch him conquer an S-rank dungeon. While they were naturally looking forward to how other contestants tackled the dungeon and the match itself, Yuanshi Tianzun had immense star power. After all, he'd risen to fame precisely by clearing S-rank dungeons. *** Huayu Hotel. Wearing a short skirt and a small T-shirt, Xie Lingxi sat before her computer, browsing the forum with relish. *An S-rank dungeon... Tsk tsk, I feel like Brother Yuanshi can run circles around them. But I shouldn't get too smug—those other guys are elites too...* As she read on, excitement and a smile bubbled up across her pretty little face. "Grand Academician of Wenyuan Chamber... Oh, the Scholars from the Five Elements Alliance. They're going to recalculate the rankings? Tonight at eight... This means Brother Yuanshi should rank in the top three, or at least fourth place shouldn't be an issue, right? "It'll also be a great chance to see the other contestants' dungeon clearing records. The top three contestants must have cleared high-difficulty dungeons too." While Xie Lingxi was absorbed in browsing the comments, her female assistant pushed open the study door and stepped in. Covering the phone's speaker, she whispered, "Miss, it's a call from the Madam." "My mom?" Xie Lingxi took the phone, cleared her throat, and said sweetly, "Mom, what's up?" A woman's voice came from the other end of the line. "My precious baby, Mom has missed you to death!" The voice was soft and enchanting, sounding not like a lady who had borne children, but rather like a young girl. Xie Lingxi replied just as sweetly, "Mom, I missed you too." Mama Xie was delighted and began rambling on about how much she missed her daughter, how she couldn't eat or sleep well every day, alternating between "precious baby" and "good daughter." After bandying back and forth for over ten minutes, Mama Xie coughed softly. "Lingxi, dear, your father went into a dungeon. You know that, right?" "I know!" Xie Lingxi said. "Well, um, could you have someone send back his invitation? Mom wants to go watch the tournament tomorrow," her mother said. Xie Lingxi paused. "Why do you want to watch a tournament? Wouldn't it be better to just host tea parties at home with the other ladies?" "Sigh, all the ladies want to watch the match! I heard there was an adjustment to the tournament—the official top eight contestants are competing in an S-rank dungeon, and that Yuanshi Tianzun has apparently cleared two S-ranks before. They all want to see it. "After the official news came out, people outside started scalping invitations for a hundred thousand yuan apiece, and Mom couldn't even grab one. For a top-tier event like this, if Mom doesn't go, the ladies in my circle will mock me! "My precious baby has been in Songhai for so long, and Mom has been so bored. Right now, I just want to go watch the match. My precious baby will grant Mom's wish, won't you?" Mama Xie's voice was soft, coquettish, and delicate, sounding like an innocent, wealthy socialite. "Fine, I'll have someone mail it to you." "Mm, then it's settled!" Her mother cut in without leaving room for argument. "Mom has tea to drink now, gotta hang up. Be a good baby!" Listening to the dial tone in her ear, Xie Lingxi handed the phone back to her assistant and said calmly, "Send my mom an empty parcel!" The assistant hesitated. "This..." Xie Lingxi snorted. "That black-hearted witch, putting on a white-lotus act with me? That trick might work on my dad, but her charms give her zero buffs with me. Pui!" As if she didn't know who taught her tea-master ways in the first place.