Zhang Yuanqing opened his eyes blearily. Sunlight streamed through the window, accompanied by a flood of noisy commotion.
Outside, the street was bustling, yet the living room was unnervingly quiet.
*Why am I sleeping on the floor?* He stared at the ceiling, confused for several seconds.
Then he sprang up with a start. *Holy crap, what time is it? The match is today! Why didn’t Grandma wake me up? Doesn’t she know her beloved grandson was passed out cold on the floor?*
He lunged toward the bed, snatched his phone from the nightstand, and gasped at the screen.
It was 8:57 AM on a Saturday.
*Damn it, only two minutes before the dungeon starts! It’s Saturday, no wonder Grandma didn’t wake me—she assumes I stayed up all night playing video games...*
Tossing his phone aside, Zhang Yuanqing bolted from the bedroom like a sprinter out of the blocks, raced through the living room, and burst into the bathroom. Without a second thought, he whipped out his pillar and let loose a torrential stream.
"Ahhh..." He tilted his head back, wearing an expression that was half agony, half bliss.
He could afford to leave a yin corpse behind, but an empty bladder was non-negotiable. He had no desire to cause a scandal in the arena just because he couldn't hold his pee.
*Hurry, hurry!* Zhang Yuanqing sank his qi into his dantian, flexed his lower abdomen, and emptied his bladder at lightning speed. He whipped around and dashed out of the bathroom, dashed back into his bedroom, grabbed the small medicine bottle on the nightstand, and dumped the pills straight into the breast pocket of his pajamas.
Kicking off his slippers, he slid his feet right into the brand-new running shoes his aunt had bought him. Leaving the laces untied, he dashed over to the wardrobe, wrenched the door open, and slapped a hand onto his yin corpse's shoulder.
Just in time. The very next second, the Spirit Realm’s prompt chimed in his ears:
[Ding! The Spirit Realm map is activating. Entering the Spirit Realm in 30 seconds. You are entering the dungeon "Final Battle," ID: 7119.]
[Difficulty: S]
[Type: Multiplayer (Non-lethal)]
[Main Quest: Eliminate all opponents.]
[Note: Non-Spirit Realm items may not be brought inside.]
[Dungeon 7119 Introduction: This dungeon is divided into three major trials. Each trial will eliminate a set number of contestants until a champion is determined.]
*Thirty seconds of prep time...* Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the clothes hanging over the ergonomic chair. After a moment's hesitation, he decided thirty seconds wasn't enough to change, so he gave up on the idea.
*Pajamas it is. A genius is supposed to be eccentric anyway,* he muttered to himself.
Before long, the scene before him wavered and distorted like ripples on water.
As the blur cleared into focus, Zhang Yuanqing looked around. He was in a small conference room of about twenty square meters. In the center stood a long brown table bordered by eight high-backed chairs.
Currently, eleven figures stood by the table: eight contestants and three yin corpses.
Sun Miaomiao looked left and right, remarking, "Huh, why a conference room? Is the first trial being held here? Looking at this setup, it's not a contest of brawn, but of wits?"
The others scrutinized one another, maintaining calm facades while remaining on high alert.
After a brief hush, nothing happened. No further prompt sounded from the Spirit Realm, leaving the conference room in dead silence.
*The atmosphere is so stiff...* Sun Miaomiao looked around again, voicing her curiosity: "The official forum thread mentioned that our match would be projected onto the spectator arena, but there aren't any cameras here. I wonder what method the dungeon is using."
*Huh? What projection? Why didn’t I know about this?* Having had no time to check the forum, Zhang Yuanqing kept his eyes lowered and held his tongue.
Qingsongzi looked toward the sweet, lovely Sun Miaomiao and offered a smile. "Among the orthodox professions, Water Ghosts can create projections. Among evil professions, it’s Illusionists."
"Oh, right!" Sun Miaomiao nodded.
She actually knew this already; she had only brought it up to break the ice.
At that very moment, a gathering of official walkers was assembled at the colosseum from the opening ceremony.
Down on the stage rested a basin-sized round mirror framed in clear crystal. It beamed a light-blue ray into the air, which unfurled and coalesced into a projection of the conference room.
"The first match is set in a conference room? I hate intellectual battles the most! Throwing the top eight contestants into an arena for an all-out brawl would be way more exciting."
"You uncouth Fire Master, that kind of fighting is both meaningless and dull. Personally, I'm really looking forward to the conference room drama."
"Get on with it! I can't wait to see the top eight pit their wits against each other."
"Hey, look! Why is Yuanshi Tianzun wearing pajamas? Did he oversleep?"
The spectator stands buzzed with restless chatter as discussions erupted all around.
In one section of the stands, a woman in a sheer gauze gown gazed at Yuanshi Tianzun's projection, an elegant smile on her lips. "Sweetie, so that's Yuanshi Tianzun. Quite the handsome lad. If I were twenty years younger, I’d be calling him 'big brother' with every breath, too."
Her voice was soft and gentle, naturally winning a man's favor.
Xie Lingxi smiled sweetly. "Mom, you can't go calling him that. You're thirty-seven. Dad, with his receding hairline and growing potbelly, is your true destiny. Wouldn't you agree, my dearest mother?"
Xie Lingxi said this certainly not because her mother had sent Aunt Wang to snatch her invitation, but because she genuinely believed her parents were a match made in heaven.
The woman—who looked more like her sister than her mother—covered her mouth with a light chuckle. "When your father was young, he was a handsome man on par with international superstars. I enjoyed his finest years. Oh, by the way, I heard you pulled quite a few strings and spent a tidy sum to get your hands on an invitation.
"Honestly, baby, if you wanted to watch the match, you should have just told me. It's not like your own mother would rob you of your things."
Mother and daughter beamed radiant smiles at each other, both acting as though they only had the other's best interests at heart.
Meanwhile, in the conference room, World Returns to Fire pulled out a chair, sat down casually, and laughed. "Eight chairs, precisely matching the eight of us. Let's all take a seat. Sitting down should trigger the quest, right, Yuanshi Tianzun?"
He looked toward Zhang Yuanqing.
The other six contestants stared back with impassive expressions.
Zhang Yuanqing gave a slight nod, pulled out a high-backed chair at random, and sat down.
Seeing this, the others felt at ease enough to take their seats as well.
Once seated, Zhang Yuanqing scanned the seven contestants. Zhao Chenghuang, clad in black from head to toe, had domineeringly taken the head of the table. He carried a cold, aloof air, as if that seat belonged to him by right.
To Zhao Chenghuang's left sat Sun Miaomiao. As pretty as she was, what truly drew admiration were her bright, dark eyes—so lively and pure that seeing them made one forget worldly cares.
Next was World Returns to Fire. He had ordinary features and was not quite thirty, wearing a black tank top and loose black pants. He looked resolute rather than reckless, physically robust without being hulking, with excellent proportions.
Tone-Deaf was a pale, scholarly young man with delicate features, a stack of various bracelets around his wrists, neatly styled hair, and silver stud earrings, exuding the distinct aura of a pop musician.
Qingsongzi had balanced features and a mild demeanor, sharing a bit of Heavenly King Demonic Eye's sunny, cheerful vibe. However, Zhang Yuanqing noticed the man casting discreet glances at Sun Miaomiao several times.
After everyone was seated, no one spoke. Tensions ran a bit high; this was their first time entering an S-rank dungeon.
Yuan Ting, whose ordinary features carried an air of nobility, looked Zhang Yuanqing up and down. "Yuanshi, why are you in pajamas? Did you oversleep?"
*Why are you staring at my pajamas? A gossip enthusiast's perspective really is different from normal people...* Zhang Yuanqing chuckled softly. "Why wouldn't I wear pajamas? To me, an S-rank dungeon is as effortless as eating and drinking. Once this match is over, I plan to head back and catch a nap."
Yuan Ting paused in surprise before complimenting him, "You sure are confident."
*He's so full of confidence...* The other contestants felt a chill in their hearts, inwardly growing wary.
At that moment, the Spirit Realm’s prompt duly sounded in everyone's ears:
[Ding! Contestants are in position. Please listen carefully to the following briefing: Professor Li of Capital City University was brutally murdered yesterday. The suspect is a visiting friend from out of town. After the incident, constables responded swiftly to the report and apprehended the suspect.]
[The Public Security Bureau has entrusted a detective squad with full authority over the case. Today, the detective squad intends to execute the suspect to deliver justice to the deceased.]
[The eight contestants are required to vote among yourselves to select one suspect and execute him. If no suspect is selected within ten minutes, everyone will be deducted 10 points.]
[After a suspect is chosen through the vote, you will formally enter the dungeon scene. The suspect may prove their innocence within the scene to clear their name. Success awards 30 points; failure results in immediate elimination.]
[Executing the suspect awards the detective squad 10 points each. Conversely, 10 points will be deducted from each squad member if they fail to do so.]
[Note 1: Each contestant's initial score is 20 points. Reaching zero points results in elimination.]
[Note 2: Before the Final Battle, the contestant with the highest score will receive a powerful item (cannot be taken out of the Spirit Realm).]
Listening to the prompt, the eight contestants around the table shifted slightly in expression.
The same voice echoed in the ears of the spectators outside.
"Hey, the dungeon briefing is here! World Returns to Fire’s mind works fast—he figured out immediately that all eight contestants had to sit down to trigger the quest... Holy shit, what did I just hear?"
"Vote one contestant as the suspect? Isn't that basically setting up a one-versus-seven? That's intense!"
"Even though there's a chance to prove one's innocence in the scene, being voted as the suspect is basically starting on hell mode. Zhao Chenghuang is finished. If I were the others, I'd vote him out straight away."
"Haha, look at Zhao Chenghuang's face—it's so dark! Interesting, this is way too interesting!"
Not only the contestants in the room, but the spectators in the stands were also stunned before erupting into a roaring wave of excitement.
Compared to a direct brawl, this battle of wits was vastly more engaging. The contestants would have to compete in both brains and brawn, elevating the spectacle to an entirely different level.
The audience's enthusiasm surged in an instant.
[Voting begins!]
A dialog box popped up before each contestant's field of vision, listing eight IDs corresponding to the eight walkers at the table.
A brief silence fell over the conference room.
Staring at the prompt hovering before them, none of the eight contestants spoke. Each harbored their own hidden motives.
*Who designed this rule? It's downright vicious...* Zhang Yuanqing watched the contestants' expressions, his mind racing. *Whoever is chosen as the suspect is practically halfway eliminated. This rule is clearly aimed at targeting the strongest—either the strongest in combat prowess or the strongest at clearing dungeons. They'll definitely seize the chance to vote the most formidable person as the suspect.
*Without a doubt, the choice for suspect will come down to Zhao Chenghuang or me.*
On that point, he was painfully self-aware.
*Yuan Ting and Sun Miaomiao are from the Taiyi Sect; they won't vote for Zhao Chenghuang. Among the remaining four, Earth God is quite friendly toward me and will definitely vote alongside me. Qingsongzi, World Returns to Fire, and Tone-Deaf have unclear stances. I need to find a way to win them over.*
Almost simultaneously, Zhang Yuanqing and Zhao Chenghuang spoke up:
"Everyone follow my lead, vote for Zhao Chenghuang (Yuanshi Tianzun)."
Their eyes locked across the table, invisible sparks nearly flying between them.
The other six contestants remained silent.
Their expressions were calm, devoid of panic or gravity. Clearly, they too had realized who this rule was intended to target.
World Returns to Fire gave a light chuckle. "Why don't you two say a few words to campaign for votes against each other?"
Zhang Yuanqing said in a deep voice, "Everyone knows Zhao Chenghuang's combat strength. Using this method to eliminate him benefits all of us. None of you are confident you can defeat him in combat, right? I'm different. I'm a newcomer, and everyone seated here is a senior to me. In terms of sheer martial might, I'm by no means at the top."
With that, he raised a hand and tapped on Zhao Chenghuang's name.
Earth God, dressed in a leather jacket and leather pants, chuckled geniality. "I vote for Zhao Chenghuang."
He tapped the empty air, casting his vote for Zhao Chenghuang.
Unflustered, Zhao Chenghuang first cast his vote for Yuanshi Tianzun, then lifted his chin and spoke coolly, "This is an S-rank dungeon. Who poses the greatest threat here? You all know the answer in your hearts."
Sun Miaomiao raised her hand immediately after. "I vote for Yuanshi Tianzun."
A two-two tie.
Seeing this, Yuan Ting could only shoot an apologetic look at Zhang Yuanqing as he raised his hand. "I vote for Yuanshi Tianzun."
He couldn't possibly vote against his fellow sect member, Zhao Chenghuang.
*Two to three. I'm falling behind...* Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly looked at Tone-Deaf, Qingsongzi, and World Returns to Fire, saying, "Although our Five Elements Alliance has five people while the Taiyi Sect only has three, that isn't the full picture. Each of them has a yin corpse, which effectively makes six of them—and that doesn't even count their spirit servants. Eliminating the strongest one right now works in our favor."
Having no personal rapport with the three, he smartly emphasized the divide between the Five Elements Alliance and the Taiyi Sect, reminding them that they belonged to the same organization.
Qingsongzi's gaze flicked back and forth between the two for a moment before he smiled. "I vote for Zhao Chenghuang. As much as I hate to admit it, this guy is so strong it makes me despair. If we can take him out in the first trial, everyone can breathe a little easier."
The score was tied once again.
Everyone immediately turned their eyes toward World Returns to Fire and Tone-Deaf. Their choices would determine who became the suspect—and that suspect was very likely to become the first person eliminated.
Tone-Deaf wore a look of hesitation. He needed to weigh who truly posed the bigger threat.
*Between the two of them, as long as one votes for Zhao Chenghuang, the other will definitely follow suit. Nobody wants a deadlock...* Zhang Yuanqing urged, "There are three Taiyi Sect members here, and Night Wanderers pose far too great a threat. There's nothing to hesitate about—vote for Zhao Chenghuang!"
"I vote for Yuanshi Tianzun!"
A sudden hush fell over the conference room. Everyone turned in astonishment toward World Returns to Fire.
*Vote for me?* Zhang Yuanqing's expression changed. He had never expected that World Returns to Fire, a member of the Five Elements Alliance, would vote against him.
World Returns to Fire shrugged and gave his rationale: "From the briefing of this trial, we can infer that an S-rank dungeon won't just be a test of raw martial might. In other words, Zhao Chenghuang's advantage will shrink, while Yuanshi Tianzun's will expand."
Earth God said in a low voice, "Even if that's true, you didn't have to choose Yuanshi Tianzun."
World Returns to Fire shook his head. "No, old man, you're mistaken. Remember Note 2? The contestant with the highest score will receive a powerful item. I'm skilled at clearing dungeons. If Zhao Chenghuang is the one left, I'm confident I can win that item and use it to challenge him. But if Yuanshi Tianzun stays, I have no confidence I can beat him in dungeon mechanics. If you were in my shoes, old man, how would you choose?"
Earth God fell silent.
Everyone immediately looked toward Tone-Deaf. The pressure instantly shifted entirely onto the Musician.
Zhao Chenghuang looked at Tone-Deaf and said calmly, "There are eight of us. If you vote for me, it will be a four-four tie with no outcome. Ten minutes from now, every single one of us will lose ten points. But if you vote for Yuanshi Tianzun, he becomes the suspect, and you won't lose a single point.
"Once we enter the scene, we execute him together, and everyone gets ten points."
With that, he turned his gaze onto Yuanshi Tianzun, the corner of his mouth curving upward. "You've lost!"
Between harming oneself alongside others versus harming someone else for personal gain, Tone-Deaf's choice was painfully obvious.
The fair-featured Tone-Deaf smiled and shook his head. "Looks like I don't really have a choice."
Without hesitation, he tapped Yuanshi Tianzun's ID.
[Ding! The voting has concluded. The suspect is "Yuanshi Tianzun." Entering the scene in three seconds.]
*Fuck! Just you all wait...*
Zhang Yuanqing's vision went dark as the world around him rippled away like water.
Chapter 196