"Why the hell was Yuanshi Tianzun voted as the suspect? Are they brain-dead? In a situation like this, you obviously target Zhao Chenghuang! Take out the strongest player first! All that rhetoric was just a smokescreen—bunch of idiots!"
"World Returns to Fire is a disgrace to the Scarlet Fire Gang! A disgrace to Fire Masters! He doesn't act like a Fire Master at all!"
In the spectator stands, the Fire Masters erupted in fury.
The development inside the conference room had caught the audience completely off guard. Not just the straightforward, hot-headed Fire Masters, but spectators of other classes found it baffling as well.
It was true that Yuanshi Tianzun was adept at clearing Spirit Realms, but clearing dungeons depended heavily on one's state of mind and the specific type of trials involved. No matter how formidable Yuanshi Tianzun was, he was not an all-rounder. The moment he ran into an area outside his expertise, the risk of disaster was exceptionally high.
Zhao Chenghuang, by contrast, possessed a constant level of raw combat prowess. He was as strong as his stats dictated and would not fluctuate simply because the dungeon took a strange turn.
Eliminating Zhao Chenghuang first was undoubtedly the safest, most stable choice.
"Actually, World Returns to Fire didn't make the wrong call. If he wants to push for first place, an S-rank dungeon is his best opportunity. But with Yuanshi Tianzun around, he has zero confidence in outplaying him in dungeon mechanics. Prioritizing Yuanshi Tianzun's elimination is a wise move—unless World Returns to Fire didn't want to win to begin with."
"World Returns to Fire has a good head on his shoulders. He really is different from ordinary Fire Masters. But that guy Tone-Deaf—I swear *he's* the real Fire Master here! If the five contestants from our Five Elements Alliance had formed a coalition, it would've been five against three. If they tied the vote, everyone would lose points together. Then, after entering the trial, all five of them could join hands to eliminate the Taiyi Sect contestants, and the top three spots would have been contested exclusively within our alliance! The Houtu Boots wouldn't have been snatched away by Taiyi Sect either!"
The speaker was a middle-aged man who beat his chest in grief and indignation, furiously denouncing Tone-Deaf as an idiot.
His Spirit Realm ID was *Cephalosporin with Wine the More You Drink the More You Have*.
Meanwhile, groups without much collective factional loyalty, such as members of the prominent Spirit Realm clans, grew thoroughly excited. They chatted animatedly, their faces flushed with anticipation, as if a grand drama was reaching its climax.
"Fascinating! Isn't Yuanshi Tianzun supposed to be an S-rank specialist? Only an opening like this can really showcase what he's made of! It wouldn't be nearly as fun with any other contestant!"
"Thrilling! It's this exciting right from the start! How is Yuanshi Tianzun going to prove his innocence now? Can he pull off a one-versus-seven? I bet this round will be the most brilliant, unsurpassable highlight of the tournament in years—assuming Yuanshi Tianzun lives up to his reputation, of course."
"Isn't this ten times more entertaining than mindless brawling in an arena?"
In a corner, a woman with a slender, oval face turned toward her daughter beside her. Furrowing her delicate, willow-leaf brows, she said worriedly, "Baobao, things aren't looking good for your Brother Yuanshi."
Xie Lingxi was not rattled in the slightest. "Relax, Mom. Brother Yuanshi won't go down that easily. You have no idea—his situation in Jinshui Amusement Park was way more perilous than this."
Mother Xie's eyes lit up, and she threw an arm around her daughter's shoulder. "Quick, tell Mom about it! Once I hear it, I can brag to the other ladies!"
*Proving his innocence...*
Annie fixed her ocean-blue eyes on the hazy projection suspended in midair and murmured, "Night Wanderers aren't Scouts. Solving a murder case must be Yuanshi Tianzun's weakness, right?"
Her brow furrowed slightly.
Beside her, Mr. Bill corrected her, "Not weakness. The proper Chinese term is: shortcoming!"
By saying so, he tacitly agreed with Annie's assessment.
"Rongrong, that Yuanshi Tianzun is going to be knocked out in the very first round!" a sleek, fair-faced young man exclaimed excitedly, glancing at the glamorous woman beside him.
Yet the gloating expression on his face instantly froze. Zhu Rong's fine brows were knit tight, her face grim, clearly displeased.
The young paramour swallowed the rest of his mockery, intense jealousy flashing across his handsome, feminine features.
As someone close to her, he could clearly sense that Zhu Rong's fascination with Yuanshi Tianzun was growing stronger by the day, while she was becoming increasingly indifferent and neglectful toward the handsome boys around her.
In the Elders' gallery, Elder Hongying turned to look at Elder Gou, who sat one seat over, and asked with a smile, "Old Gou, what kind of dungeons were that kid's two previous S-ranks? Give us an appraisal—can he pass this stage?"
Elder Sun crossed his arms over his chest, raised his chin, and snorted. "I bet he can't!"
Elder Gou ignored him, paused in thought, and replied, "He should have no problem!"
Elder Hongying arched her brow, her curiosity thoroughly piqued. "Then I'll certainly be looking forward to it."
Just then, the blurred scene floating above the arena gradually sharpened.
***
His surroundings came into clear focus. Zhang Yuanqing found himself in a cramped, enclosed room. There were no furnishings of any kind, only three items resting on the ground: a briefcase, a small black-lacquered box, and a ceramic bowl.
Inside the bowl sat a large clump of damp, muddy earth.
Aside from those, the room was completely bare.
However, he noticed a fist-sized aperture in the front wall, through which he could view the adjacent chamber.
*This must be the cell where I'm being held. How is the storyline supposed to proceed? Am I supposed to wait for the other contestants to come interrogate me?* Zhang Yuanqing looked down at himself and suddenly realized that his pajamas were gone.
He was now wearing a light blue casual suit jacket, matching trousers, and leather shoes. A few traces of blood stained the hem of his jacket and the cuffs of his trousers.
*Wait, is this not my body?* Alarmed, he hastily reached up to touch his face, then pinched his earlobes.
Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief. It was still his own body; only the clothes had changed.
*Bloodstains...* Zhang Yuanqing took off his suit jacket to inspect it. The back of the garment was covered in mottled, smeared bloodstains, and the back of his trouser legs were heavily splattered as well.
*These must belong to the victim?*
Putting the suit back on, Zhang Yuanqing shifted his attention to the three items on the floor. He stepped forward and picked up the black-lacquered wooden box. A prompt immediately popped up in his field of vision:
[Item: Wraith's Ashes]
[Remarks: Touching the ashes allows you to transform into a spirit body. Note: The ashes cannot be transferred to the adjacent room unless actively used.]
[Item: Sacred Porcelain Bowl]
[Remarks: The porcelain continuously generates earth. This earth possesses the ability to dispel spirit body state.]
*Two task items that counter each other? What's the point of this...?* Withdrawing his hand, he picked up the briefcase. Inside were a pair of cracked spectacles, a smartphone, and a novel manuscript.
[Item: Spectacles]
[Remarks: These are your glasses. You have high myopia (-5.00 diopters). They were accidentally broken last night during your visit to Professor Li.]
[Item: Smartphone]
[Remarks: You secretly recorded a video of last night's conversation to use as blackmail against Professor Li.]
[Item: Novel Manuscript]
[Remarks: You are Professor Li's ghostwriter. Due to a decline in writing quality, you were facing termination, so you traveled to the capital with your manuscript in an attempt to persuade Professor Li to continue your collaboration.]
*These must be key clues for proving my innocence. The note on the manuscript gives me a motive for murder, while the video on the phone can weaken that motive...* Having examined the items, Zhang Yuanqing was pondering his next move when the Spirit Realm's notification chimed in his ear:
[Ding! The detective team is heading your way to execute you. Please escape the sealed room within eight minutes and reach the crime scene. The crime scene is located in Faculty Dormitory Building 3, Room 404.]
[Hint 1: The key is in the adjacent room.]
[Hint 2: Your abilities have been sealed. All items within the room are indestructible.]
[Hint 3: In this stage, you may use an item once.]
*Fuck...* Hearing the Spirit Realm prompt, Zhang Yuanqing's pupils shrank, and his gaze turned blank for several seconds.
*Proving my innocence isn't enough—I have to break out of a locked room first?!*
*Escape the sealed room, escape the sealed room...* Looking around, he strode over to the window and threw a punch at the glass, only for an invisible force to rebound him backward.
*The hint wasn't lying. Everything in this room is indestructible. That means using the Bloodthirsty Blade or Brawler Gloves to blast through the door is out of the question. I have to follow the rules and retrieve the key. And the key is in the adjacent room.*
Zhang Yuanqing walked over to the western wall and peered through the hole into the adjoining chamber.
Next door was another sealed room—four bare walls, no doors, no windows, and no furnishings.
A dim hanging light bulb held the darkness at bay. In the center of the floor lay a brass key.
Zhang Yuanqing's heart stirred, and he looked back at the black-lacquered box. He now understood what it was for.
Opening the box, he saw pale white ash inside. The moment his fingertip touched the ash, his body shifted into a translucent spirit body.
Zhang Yuanqing immediately floated toward the door, but an invisible barrier blocked his way, and a dialogue box appeared before his eyes:
[This door can only be opened with the key!]
*As expected, no cheating the system. I have to go next door to get the key...* With time running out, he hesitated no longer, turned around, and plunged straight into the wall.
He passed through into the adjacent room and floated directly toward the key.
Yet when he reached out to grasp it, his hand passed harmlessly through the brass key. In spirit form, he could not interact with physical objects.
*I can't pick it up...* Zhang Yuanqing pondered for a few seconds before his eyes brightened. He quickly phased back through the wall into the first room.
He touched the damp earth in the ceramic bowl.
The next instant, his body shed its spirit form and returned to flesh and blood.
Zhang Yuanqing scooped up a handful of earth from the bowl, stepped up to the wall with the hole, and tossed the earth through the opening.
*This way, I can dispel the spirit body state in the other room and grab the key.*
Dabbing his finger in the Wraith's Ashes to turn into a spirit body once more, Zhang Yuanqing phased through the wall and bent down to pick up the clump of dirt on the floor. Right at that moment, however, his entire body froze.
*Wait! If I touch it, my body will return to normal, and then I won't be able to get back...* Zhang Yuanqing yanked his hand back as if struck by lightning.
*Escaping this room isn't as simple as I thought.*
He rapidly reviewed every detail. *To enter the next room, I must use the Wraith's Ashes. To pick up the key, I have to touch the dirt. But once I touch the dirt, I revert to flesh and blood and can no longer phase through walls. Meanwhile, the Wraith's Ashes cannot be moved into this room without being used. If I restore my physical body here, I'll be permanently trapped. It's a dead end...*
Panic began to claw at his chest.
*Nearly two minutes have passed since the prompt. Only six minutes left. How do I break this?*
*Everything in the room is indestructible, including the walls, windows, and door. But I can use one item. If I use the Yinyang Robe to lay out a thirty-meter formation, I can teleport to any spot within it. But I'm only allowed one item in this stage! If I burn my one item use on the Yinyang Robe now, I won't be able to use the Discerner's Glasses at the crime scene later, which means certain defeat...*
The Discerner's Glasses boosted observation and deductive abilities. That had been his ace in the hole when he was voted suspect—his hope for a desperate comeback.
Now he realized just how steep the climb was.
*As expected of an S-rank dungeon. Being made the suspect is basically a death sentence. This is insane...*
He racked his brain for several minutes without finding a solution, growing increasingly anxious.
Had he not been in spirit form, cold sweat would have already been pouring down his forehead.
*Around five minutes left! What do I do? What do I do?! The great Yuanshi Tianzun, eliminated in the opening trial? That would be utterly humiliating! However lavishly they praised me before, that's how mercilessly they'll mock me later!*
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yuanqing forced himself to calm down. Panic only clouded the mind.
There were techniques to problem-solving. Sometimes, when a problem seemed insurmountable, one had to examine the people who created it.
When the dilemma itself hit a wall, consider the intent of the designers—for instance, why this trial was constructed this way.
*From the dungeon's design logic, the core objective of this stage is for the suspect to prove their innocence. Every obstacle and puzzle is merely buildup for that. In other words, before the ultimate test arrives, every single barrier must have a viable solution. Otherwise, the vote in the conference room wouldn't have been to select a suspect—it would have been an outright execution vote.*
*From the perspective of a tournament, setting an impossible dead end right here just to knock out a contestant would be a farce. The player wouldn't accept it, and the audience would protest it as an unfair scripted death.*
*Even though there's an allowance to use one item, how could the dungeon creators guarantee that whoever was voted suspect would possess an item capable of escaping a locked room?*
*Therefore, there must be a way out within the given parameters—and it must lie within the provided information and tools...*
Zhang Yuanqing's mind spun at maximum speed, like an engine pushed past its redline.
Suddenly, a spark of inspiration flashed in his mind. He had it!
***
Outside, in the spectator stands, the Spirit Realm walkers watching the locked-room scene were either scratching their ears, lost in thought, or frantically discussing possibilities with their companions.
"Yuanshi Tianzun stopped! He didn't pick up the dirt! That was close—if he touched it, he would've lost right there!"
"But how does he get the key? Has anyone figured it out?"
"Coating himself in ash turns him into a spirit body so he can phase through walls, but a spirit can't touch the key! If he reverts to his physical body to pick up the key, he can't get back. It's completely unsolvable!"
"Isn't this absurd? Are S-rank dungeons really this brutal? This is just stage one, and my brain is already fried!"
"Time is running out! Yuanshi Tianzun is done for!"
The arena was in an uproar. The loudest clamor came from the Fire Masters, but most of the audience was silently putting themselves in Yuanshi Tianzun's shoes, desperately trying to figure out what they would do in his position.
Many even felt an urge to compete with him, to see who could solve the puzzle first.
It was a prime opportunity to test their own mettle.
Nearby, Mother Xie exclaimed in dismay, "Oh dear, Baobao, Mom doesn't understand a thing! If someone like me went into an S-rank dungeon, wouldn't I die in three seconds flat? Do you think this Yuanshi Tianzun can clear it?"
Xie Lingxi furrowed her brows in silence, racking her brain for a solution, too preoccupied to indulge her silly mother.
Annie and Mr. Bill were both quiet, immersed in their own calculations.
Guan Ya pondered rapidly while asking, "Fu Qingyang, did you figure out a way?"
"Yes," Fu Qingyang, seated beside her, replied calmly.
"What way?" Guan Ya's eyes brightened, eager for the answer.
Fu Qingyang said coolly, "He's already providing it."
Guan Ya snapped her head back toward the floating projection.
"What is he doing? Did he find a solution?!" someone shouted.
The commotion instantly died down, and countless eyes fixed on the display. In the image, Yuanshi Tianzun had returned to the original room.
First, he touched the earth to dispel his spirit body state. Then, picking up the ceramic bowl, he strode over to the wall aperture and began piling lumps of earth directly underneath it.
The pile grew higher and higher, stacking upward until it reached the exact height of the hole.
A pillar of earth had been erected.
Next, the audience watched as Yuanshi Tianzun discarded the bowl, took the black-lacquered box, removed its lid, and carefully balanced the open box atop the pillar of earth.
Touching the ash with his finger, he shifted into spirit form and phased through the wall into the adjacent room.
He bent down to touch the first clump of earth he had tossed in earlier, reverting to flesh and blood. Striding beneath the hanging light, he scooped up the brass key, hurried back to the hole, and tossed the key through the opening.
Then, Yuanshi Tianzun reached his finger through the aperture to touch the black-lacquered box resting on top of the earthen pillar, dipping his finger into the Wraith's Ashes.
The next second, his body dissolved into a translucent spirit body, and he phased back into the original room.
Touching the earth again, he restored his physical body, scooped up the key from the floor, dashed to the door, slid the key into the lock, and swung the sealed door wide open!
At that moment, absolute silence gripped the spectator stands.
A few seconds later, an explosion of deafening cheers and shouts erupted, shaking the entire colosseum.
"That works?! Isn't that exploiting a bug?!"
"It's not a bug! It's a brilliant utilization of the task items' properties! Yuanshi Tianzun's biggest hurdle was that he couldn't turn back into a spirit body to return, and the ash couldn't be carried into the next room. There were no tables or chairs in that room, so once he restored his physical form next door, he wouldn't be able to reach the ash. But by exploiting the bowl's infinite production of earth, he built a pillar to elevate the box! The Wraith's Ashes couldn't enter the room, but his hand could reach through the hole to touch it! Brilliant! Utterly brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?!"
"Give me enough time and I might have thought of it too, but never that fast! In a lethal dungeon like this, being one step faster in your thinking is the difference between life and death! As expected of Yuanshi Tianzun!"
"Clearing two S-rank dungeons wasn't luck—it's pure, undeniable ability! I'm completely sold! If he actually clears his name, won't the other seven contestants get their faces slapped hard?"
"Damn, hearing that gets my blood pumping! This match is phenomenal!"
Amidst the clamor, Mr. Bill shook his head and sighed with admiration. "Impressive, truly impressive. I had a vague notion of that approach, but I could never have reacted as quickly as he did."
Annie breathed a sigh of relief, her heart fluttering with excitement. She smiled radiantly. "Suddenly, I'm really looking forward to seeing what he does next."
*Brother Yuanshi is amazing!* Xie Lingxi beamed with joy, only to hear her mother gasp beside her:
"That simple? Well, I could've thought of that too! It's not that hard!"
*Fools only ever judge the difficulty of a problem after seeing the answer...* Xie Lingxi curled her lip. "Building a nuclear bomb is simple too, Mom. The hard part was figuring it out the very first time."
"Not bad," Fu Qingyang remarked with a faint smile.
Guan Ya, who was just about to smile, froze for a moment. It had been years since she had seen Fu Qingyang smile so genuinely and effortlessly; usually, he was either arrogantly aloof, sneering, or wearing a polite, hollow smirk.
On the other side of the arena, Zhu Rong stared unblinkingly at the young man in the projection. The young paramour beside her could hear the heavy, ragged sound of her breathing.
Elder Hongying nodded approvingly and chuckled. "The boy is clever. He possesses remarkable quick-wittedness. Old Sun, you really made a fool of yourself."
Elder Sun: "..."
Elder Gou said slowly, "Yuanshi has an extraordinary talent when it comes to dungeon mechanics. Just watch—the other seven contestants are in for serious trouble."
Elder Hongying hummed in agreement. "It's been many years since I've seen such an exceptional junior. The last one was the Demon—"
She seemed to recall an unpleasant memory, and the smile vanished from her face.
***
Zhang Yuanqing snatched up his briefcase and dashed out of the sealed room.
He had to reach the crime scene before the detective team arrived to arrest him, and find the clues to prove his innocence.
According to his deduction, once he arrived at the crime scene, he would be granted time to plead his case. But if the detective team intercepted him anywhere outside the scene, he would inevitably be swarmed.
And eliminated from the trial.
*Just you wait,* he thought. *Watch your daddy turn the tables and slaughter you five traitors.*
Chapter 197