Chapter 23: Night Stroll in Yin Guard Village 21

Chapter 23: Night Stroll in Yin Guard Village 21

Under the countless watchful eyes on and off the screen, the previously unnoticed NPC finally spoke with a stiff expression.

"I am Xu Yangshu, 32 years old, originally from the deep mountains of western Hunan." He paused before adding, "That is, here, in Yin Guard Village."

Xiao Xiao, being impatient, interrupted before he could finish, "Can you get to the point!"

When would this endless storytelling end?

However, Xu Yangshu looked bewildered, as if unsure what the crucial part was. Distracted, he almost didn't know how to continue.

Nervously nodding, his body began to tremble involuntarily.

For some reason, he seemed to have a fear of the players around him. His gaze darted among them as if they were terrifying beasts, as if he feared being devoured at any moment if he wasn't careful.

Everyone assumed he was just too frightened to think straight, but Qin Fei, gazing at the pitifully thin progress bar above his head, noticed a glint in his amber-colored eyes.

This guy, who had managed to pretend to be dead since the beginning of the dungeon, was definitely no fool to be easily deceived.

His silence wasn't due to being stunned; it was likely because he didn't trust the players before him and thus held back his thoughts.

For Qin Fei, gaining someone's trust might be as effortless as eating and drinking.

The passive effect of his innate skill was subtly at work. Even though Qin Fei had done nothing so far, in Xu Yangshu's eyes, this slender youth already appeared much more gentle and reliable than the others.

Look at those clear, pristine eyes, that refined and elegant demeanor.

This was probably what people meant by having "a face that screams 'good guy'."

Xu Yangshu's gaze swept across the players before inevitably landing on Qin Fei without any surprise.

Of course, this was just the beginning.

A gentle smile played at the corners of Qin Fei's eyes as he reached out, smoothing out the creased collar of Xu Yangshu's shirt in full view of the latter's wary gaze.

The first step to winning trust: baiting the hook.

"Are you hungry?" Qin Fei asked casually, as if greeting an old friend on a street corner.

Hungry?

Xu Yangshu was taken aback.

A single word, simple yet profound, acted like a key that unlocked a long-sealed door. The suppressed desire, smothered by fear all along, burst forth. His stomach rumbled, and saliva began to involuntarily accumulate.

Xu Yangshu looked up, stammering, "Hungry..."

Of course, he was hungry. How could he not be after two whole days without food?

Qin Fei observed this display, the amusement in his eyes deepening.

Behind the young man's seemingly gentle demeanor lay an intense determination. It was as if Qin Fei didn't see an entirely unfamiliar adult male sitting across from him but a vulnerable creature, unaware of its predicament, that had fallen into a trap, ready to be shaped and manipulated by the hunter.

The second step in gaining trust: fulfilling needs.

Qin Fei gazed at Xu Yangshu for a few seconds, then coughed softly. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out an apple the size of his palm.

Surrounding players: ???

Xiao Xiao was stunned. "You even brought apples into the instance dungeon?"

Five storage slots! Non-stackable!

Xiao Xiao had always meticulously planned his inventory for an entire night before entering any dungeon, yet Qin Fei used his to carry apples??

Xiao Xiao was dumbfounded.

Qin Fei blinked innocently. "I didn't bring them into the dungeon."

Even if he had wanted to, he couldn't have.

The young man smiled and shrugged nonchalantly. "Do you remember that old man we met yesterday?"

"The one who mutated later. I... borrowed them from his house."

Ling Na, standing behind the two, couldn't help but twitch her lips upon hearing this.

Yesterday, in that room, she had noticed Qin Fei constantly eyeing the pile of fruit on the altar. At that time, she suspected he was up to something.

She never expected him to actually retrieve it.

Despite everyone's chaotic and desperate escape through the graveyard last night, Qin Fei still managed to hold onto his apple...

It was truly hard to comment on that.

Ever since Qin Fei produced the apple, Xu Yangshu's gaze had frozen, stuck to the fruit like it was glued there.

His prolonged hunger left him so emaciated that even sitting up made him see stars.

In his eyes, the allure of the apple was no less than winning a five million lottery ticket.

With a casual gesture, Qin Fei handed the apple to Xu Yangshu, who was drooling over it.

This action stunned the spirits watching the live broadcast.

"What's going on? I thought the host was going to use this apple to threaten him."

"Indeed, why did we give in so easily? How can we expect to extract any more information from him now?"

"This streamer seems a bit naive."

The chattering and buzzing voices rose up, drowning out the entire new talent live broadcast hall.

These remarks were coming from the newly arrived spectators who had been drawn in by the commotion only moments ago.

The long-time spectators standing before the screen, on the other hand, had a completely different reaction. With enigmatic expressions adorning their faces, they said in a profoundly irritating tone, "Just wait and see, it's definitely not what you think."

Since the beginning of the instance, they had never seen the anchor fail to charm any NPC!

Threat? Haha.

It was just an apple. How much leverage could a threat really provide?

What was so impressive about intimidation? The art of persuasion was the ultimate strategy!

Once they witnessed the anchor winning the NPC's heart with an apple, getting sold by the anchor yet still helping him count the money, they would understand the true meaning of awesomeness!

Unbeknownst to himself, Qin Fei, who had been crowned the "King of Flattery" by the audience, did not disappoint.

His innate talent proved useful once again in this critical moment. Xu Yangshu, who had always been on guard, found himself inexplicably captivated by Qin Fei's warm and sunny smile when their eyes met.

Those translucent amber eyes seemed to hold a ray of light, clear and gentle, with an earnest yet subtle concern in their gaze when they looked at him.

In that instant, an uncontrollable thought surged within Xu Yangshu's heart: he was absolutely certain that the person showing kindness to him held no ulterior motives; it was purely out of genuine warmth and goodness.

He was genuinely concerned for him!

The man cautiously reached out to accept the apple.

What a wonderful apple!

Xu Yangshu was almost moved to tears.

Having pretended to be dead in the coffin for two days, he had missed several meals delivered by the guide, and his only memory of the village's cuisine was the first night's feast, which reeked of death and decay.

Compared to that repulsive feast, this apple, emitting a subtle fruity aroma, felt like a divine gift.

Xu Yangshu leaned in and gently took a bite.

With a crisp crunch, the blend of sweet and sour juice flooded his taste buds.

A small section of the progress bar above Xu Yangshu's head instantly jumped forward.

"Strange Entity Among Travelers: Affection Level 8%"

The effect was quite satisfactory.

Qin Fei's expression remained unchanged, but the amusement in his eyes deepened slightly.

The fruit from the old man's house was a gift the Inn had given to the villagers of Shadow Village. Judging from the freshness of the fruit, it was likely that they had come on the same vehicle as the players, so it wouldn't harm anyone. Sharing it with Xu Yangshu posed no issue.

Xu Yangshu on the other side was already oblivious to everything else.

He devoured the apple with abandon, quickly reducing it to just a core.

Finished, there was nothing left to gnaw on. Xu Yangshu lifted his head with a tinge of regret.

In an instant, he found himself gazing into Qin Fei's eyes, filled with gentle amusement:

"Are you full?"

Xu Yangshu shook his head honestly.

A tall and sturdy man, after going three days without food, could never be satisfied by just one apple!

To be truthful, the apple had merely whetted his appetite; now, his stomach burned with hunger, making him feel even more miserable than before.

"Mm, I see." Qin Fei nodded understandingly. "If you're still hungry, there will be more later."

The young man's tone held a blatant coaxing quality. As his lips moved, two words that sounded like music to Xu Yangshu's ears escaped: "All you can eat."

Qin Fei wasn't exaggerating.

The tour guide had been providing meals according to the number of participants these past few days. The two irrational players in the mortuary certainly wouldn't be able to eat much, and adding himself to the mix, they had enough for a three-person dinner, more than sufficient to satisfy this NPC before him.

Of course, Qin Fei always kept his promises. If Xu Yangshu truly had an insatiable appetite, he wouldn't mind personally asking the tour guide for additional meal boxes.

After all, he was now the guide's close friend, so he believed that his tiny request wouldn't be rejected.

Xu Yangshu's eyes also grew brighter and brighter as Qin Fei spoke.

Could it really... be like this?

Following that, as if to verify Qin Fei's words, the door to the funeral parlor was knocked on the next moment.

Before anyone could approach, the guide himself stepped in, his face relaxing slightly as their gazes met. He held up the basket in his hand, gesturing to the players, "I'm here."

Qin Fei patted Xu Yangshu's shoulder. "See, I didn't lie to you, did I?"

Xu Yangshu was already overwhelmed with excitement.

In that case, he wouldn't hold back!

Box after box, Xu Yangshu devoured his food as if he hadn't eaten in eight lifetimes, clearing each plate under everyone's watchful eyes. In no time, three empty plastic containers piled up before him.

"Want more?" Qin Fei asked with genuine concern.

Xu Yangshu shook his head, wiping his lips with lingering satisfaction, before forcing himself to look away from the lunchbox. "No, thanks."

A deeper smile appeared on Qin Fei's face. "Sure."

Point three in earning trust: revealing vulnerability.

For someone with strong guardrails, gaining their complete trust in a short amount of time was virtually an impossible task.

Merely pleasing them with words and actions was insufficient; such gestures could sometimes push them further away.

Revealing vulnerability appropriately could instead make the other person realize a fact:

They were on the same side, bound together like ants on a rope, sharing common interests and enemies.

"Sigh," the slender and refined youth stood in the middle of the courtyard, frowning with concern. "I wonder how many more days we can have like this, with enough food to eat."

"Mm," he muttered to himself. "I really wish we could leave this place."

Xiao Xiao froze, then suddenly had an epiphany. He quickly put on an anxious expression and nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes! We don't eat or sleep well here, and we're constantly tormented. It's truly miserable!"

Before the two, Xu Yangshu's eyes indeed flickered as expected.

After a long while.

He hesitantly spoke up,

"What... do you want to know?"

A satisfying meal had surprisingly managed to completely change the NPC's attitude.

Amidst the live-stream viewers, there was an immediate chorus of slapping thighs.

"Ah! I was hoping to see that pretentious kid get exposed, but he actually managed to win them over??"

"How is he so skilled at manipulating the NPCs' emotions? Aren't NPCs usually dismissive of players?"

"You don't understand, huh? Hehe... He's clearly just here to watch the spectacle." A spirit entity chuckled mysteriously.

Upon hearing this, the new players eagerly gathered around, "So what did he do before? Tell us! Tell us quickly!"

In the center, the spirit appeared to be deeply gratified by its own vanity, stroking its non-existent beard as it drawled, "Well, it all started three days ago when this live broadcast began..."

...

On the screen, Xu Yangshu was surrounded by players, looking bewildered as he asked, "W-Were should I start?"

Qin Fei pondered for a moment before suggesting, "Tell us first, why did you come here?"

"I came here on a mission," Xu Yangshu replied obediently to Qin Fei's question. "As I mentioned earlier, this is my hometown. I wasn't lying."

Shouyin Village was nestled in western Hunan, an ancient village with a history of over a hundred years.

Surrounded by mountains, the land was barren, and water sources scarce. However, it was situated at the intersection of three major mountain ranges, making it a crucial transportation hub in the midst of the peaks.

"Have you heard of the zombie-herding in western Hunan?" Xu Yangshu's expression was somewhat distant.

The players immediately nodded.

Zombie-herding, also known as spirit migration, had been an enigmatic folklore about "zombie-herders of western Hunan" that had been passed down through generations.

In rumor, Corpse Walkers had the secret arts to animate the dead, guiding the bodies of those who perished far from home back to their native soil for a peaceful burial.

Xu Yangshu let out a long sigh. "My ancestors were in this line of work."

Shouyin Village was, in fact, a village of Corpse Walkers.

Due to its strategic location along major transportation routes, for centuries, countless Corpse Walkers passed through these mountains, gradually attracting more and more inhabitants to this once-barren land, turning it into a temporary resting spot for these practitioners.

Day by day, people set up camp here, eventually considering it a permanent residence.

The origin of Shadow Village was thus revealed.

Everyone held their breath, surrounding Xu Yangshu in silence.

The atmosphere within the funeral parlor was so still that even the spectators on the other side of the light screen unconsciously softened their breathing.

From Xu Yangshu's disjointed account, the hidden secrets behind this village, which had slumbered for years, were now unfolded before everyone for the first time.

"Didn't you say you had something to take care of? What was it?" Xiao Xiao inquired.

"It's a long story," Xu Yangshu replied, looking rather dispirited.

Although the Xu family's ancestral roots were in Western Hunan, Xu Yangshu had never set foot in these mountains throughout his entire life.

The reason was simple: The elder of the Xu family had moved out of Shadowguard Village more than fifty years ago, when Xu Yangshu's father was still just an infant, let alone Xu Yangshu himself.

"Corpse herding was an ancient practice. In recent decades, with bridges being built and roads paved everywhere, and as societal norms became more progressive, superstitions were gradually eradicated, leading to the decline of this craft."

That was why the Xu family left the village.

As time passed, there were fewer and fewer people who needed corpse herders, and the profession could no longer sustain the family's expenses.

Thus, the Xu family relocated to a town at the foot of the mountain, where each family member found work and led an ordinary, honest life.

Xu Yangshu gave a wry smile. "To be honest, I've never had any direct experience with this. It's all from what my dad told me."

When he was young, Xu Yangshu used to rummage through things at home for fun. In the storage room, he stumbled upon a pile of old books with yellowed pages. The blue cloth-bound covers bore the marks of time, and the titles were written in calligraphy using a brush.

"The Secret Art of Corpse Herding in Western Hunan."

How could such an item exist in our home?

Xu Yangshu rushed to ask his father, who then revealed the story behind it.

"In my father's recollection, our family used to have connections with the village in the earlier years," Xu Yangshu explained. "But after a few years, for some unknown reason, all contact between our family and the village was severed."

At that time, Xu Yangshu was still young and fascinated by stories. He immediately turned to his grandfather, urging the old man to share tales about the village.

Strangely, the grandfather who had always doted on his grandson was unusually tight-lipped this time.

Not only did he refuse to tell Xu Yangshu anything, but he also strictly forbade anyone in the family from ever mentioning the words "Shou Yin Village" again.

For many years following that, Shou Yin Village vanished from the Xu family's consciousness. The storage room with the old books was locked up by Grandfather Xu.

The players seemed to grasp something.

Apparently, something terrible must have happened in Shou Yin Village back then, causing Grandfather Xu to avoid any mention of it at all costs.

Qin Fei: "What happened after that? How did you decide to return to the village, and which book were you looking for?"

Xu Yangshu scratched his head, a faint hint of embarrassment appearing on his tanned skin, as if he was a bit ashamed to talk about it.

"My grandfather and parents passed away early, so I entered society at a young age, not really knowing what to do."

With a momentary lapse in judgment, Xu Yangshu began to swindle his way through life.

To be a con artist, one had to establish a plausible persona first.

At this point, Xu Yangshu recalled the books stored at home.

He got someone to unlock the storage room.

"To learn necromancy, you can't just learn that. You need to have some understanding of the Five Elements, feng shui, and various esoteric knowledge," Xu Yangshu said.

Grandfather Xu's collection was diverse, and to become a qualified fraudster, Xu Yangshu hastily read through all the books, gaining a superficial understanding. Then, he officially stepped out into the world.

"The Xu Family Feng Shui Business" thus opened its doors, and Xu Yangshu managed to survive for several years by relying on the trivia he picked up from his idle reading in the storage room.

"I may not have any real skills, but I sure know how to talk," Xu Yangshu said with a slight air of arrogance as he lifted his head. "Over time, I actually made a name for myself."

In recent years, some people in the business even call him Xu Half-Prophet, seeking his advice for any matter that arises.

Unfortunately, as the saying goes, "One can't walk by the river without getting their shoes wet."

Especially Xu Yangshu, who was barely knowledgeable but pretended to be well-versed.

Recently, during a ritual for a family, he made a rookie mistake and was exposed on the spot.

Upon realizing they had been deceived, the family immediately turned hostile and wouldn't let go of Xu Yangshu.

Hearing that Xu Yangshu had been boasting about being the descendant of authentic zombie herding masters from Western Hunan, they issued a challenge: in two weeks, he must perform a live resurrection before the entire city.

If he failed, they vowed to have his legs broken.

This left Xu Yangshu utterly terrified.

"They've stationed four or five burly men at the bottom of my building," Xu Yangshu said with a grimace. "Even when I go downstairs to buy a pack of cigarettes at the gate, someone trails me closely behind."

There was no escape for him.

For the following three days, he buried himself in his attic, hoping to save his life with the knowledge from his grandfather's book collection.

But how could such a skill be mastered overnight?

Besides, Xu Yangshu had no means of finding a corpse to experiment on and test his success.

He sighed. "In the end, it was my tongue that saved me."

He convinced the family that reanimating corpses was not a task to be taken lightly; he needed to return to his hometown first to fetch some necessary items.

Xu Yangshu's plan was straightforward: he might not know how to do it, but someone else in his village surely did.

According to his father's recollections, every household in Shadowguard Village had once relied on necromancy for their livelihood, even though the practice had declined decades ago. Still, an entire village of necromancers! Surely, there would be one or two who still retained the skill.

As long as he could return to the village, he would find a way to cope.

Perhaps due to his persuasive tongue, the family actually agreed to his proposal.

They consented to let Xu Yangshu visit his ancestral home, but on the condition that he be accompanied by four guards.

Xu Yangshu naturally agreed.

"I should be able to deal with that family after completing this journey, and if worse comes to worst, I can escape from the village, which would provide at least some cover compared to running directly from the city," Xu Yangshu explained.

"But it was here that I started to sense something amiss," he said, his expression turning distant. "I realized that something was not right about Shadowguard Village."

"In this day and age of advanced internet and public transportation, one can usually find information about even the most remote mountainous areas online," Xu Yangshu continued.

As the sky grew darker, the dim light cast an eerie pallor on his face. "But not Shadowguard Village."

After deciding to visit Shadowguard Village, Xu Yangshu spent the night searching for directions online. Strangely, his efforts proved fruitless.

The village's name did not appear in search engines, nor could he find any trace of it on mapping software.

"There were some old letters in the warehouse. I followed the addresses on the letters to search for satellite images online, but all I found were barren mountains and wilderness."

Although he found it peculiar, Xu Yangshu had already known that the village was extraordinary, so he was not overly alarmed. After all, the villagers were practitioners of the esoteric arts; it was only natural for them to maintain a certain level of mystery, wasn't it?

Knowing the exact location, it wasn't a big deal that he couldn't find any information about the village; Xu Yangshu promptly went online to book a ticket.

But he failed.

The mountain where Shouyin Village was located was too desolate – there were no transportation routes available.

According to the app's information, Xu Yangshu could only take a bus to the nearest county and then figure out the rest on his own.

"At that moment, I suddenly saw an advertisement while booking my ticket."

"Do you wish to experience the most pristine, untouched mountain scenery?

Do you long for an authentic taste of Xiangxi's local customs?

Jincheng Travel Agency - Six Nights and Seven Days in Xiangxi, we warmly welcome your arrival!"

By now, it was evident that something was amiss.

How could a village that didn't even appear on a map have become a tourist attraction?

Furthermore, where in the world would there be so many coincidences that Xu Yangshu happened to see the travel agency's promotional information while he was buying tickets online?

"But at that moment, it was as if my mind had been bewitched," Xu Yangshu frowned in distress. "I signed up for the trip, not only for myself but also for those four people."

Strangely, when the day of departure arrived, the person from the travel agency who came to pick them up said they had only received Xu Yangshu's registration.

What was even stranger was that those four people, who were so vigilant that they couldn't even relieve themselves without keeping an eye on Xu Yangshu, actually let him leave alone!

"The strangest thing of all was that none of us found anything strange about it," Xu Yangshu forced a smile, stretching his face. "Everyone thought everything made perfect sense, and I just got on the travel agency's bus like that."

He had passed out as soon as he boarded the bus and didn't even have a clear look at its interior.

When he woke up again, it was three days ago, and the bus was already nearing the village entrance.

At this thought, Xu Yangshu shuddered again.

His face crumpled into a more hideous expression than a burnt pancake: "The driver's appearance... was truly terrifying."

Xu Yangshu had never seen such a frightening face in his life – it was as if a horror movie had come to life.

He was genuinely terrified, especially after witnessing Wang Shun explode during the village feast, leaving a deep psychological scar.

This village was utterly abnormal, and its inhabitants were likely monsters themselves!

Then, Xu Yangshu pretended to be dead.

"Died just like that?" Qin Fei's skeptical gaze lingered on his face, piercing like a sharp knife, making one's heart tighten.

Xu Yangshu chuckled softly. "Actually... there's a bit more to it."

"Although my family moved out of the village, we never sold the ancestral home where our ancestors lived. When I was young, my father told me that while going through some old books at home, there were even more such texts in our hometown," Xu Yangshu revealed without concealment.

At this point, there was no point in hiding anything. He decided to come clean.

"The books contain genuine treasures. This was part of the reason I came all this way," he explained.

Despite the passage of over a decade, Xu Yangshu could still vividly recall his father speaking those words as if it were yesterday.

"The Xu lineage was once a renowned family throughout western Hunan. We possess an inherited technique called 'Necromancy,' which bridges the realms of the living and the dead. Once mastered, it can make corpses speak and even turn living beings into zombies."

Xu Yangshu's grandfather had moved the entire family away, leaving behind their invaluable martial arts techniques with a sense of guilt in his heart.

He had left that most precious book behind in the old residence, hoping that one day, an offspring with a destined connection would return to this land and revive this craft.

The moment Xu Yangshu finished speaking, the players' eyes all flickered simultaneously.

This sounded like a crucial clue.

It was even highly possible that it was an item related to a hidden quest.

The audience on the other side of the screen also fell silent, their eyes glowing as they fixated on the man at the center of the screen who was speaking non-stop.

Curious, Xiao Xiao asked, "So you're planning to go back to the village, and if you can't find anyone to help you, you'll look for that book in the old house and teach yourself?"

Xu Yangshu's face twisted into a grimace. "I don't have such grand aspirations."

He had already accepted the truth when he emerged from the storage room at home – with his intellect, he would never be able to learn the art of necromancy in this lifetime.

Xu Yangshu simply thought that in this vast world, there must be other necromancers besides those in Guarding Yin Village.

He packed away the old book, intending to peruse it himself in his leisure time or sell it to someone with a connection to it.

After all, while such items might be mere scraps of worn paper, they could be invaluable to those in need.

Xiao Xiao was utterly convinced: "You're really... your grandfather's obedient grandson."

The elder had hoped to leave it for a promising descendant, yet here his descendant was, contemplating selling it.

After Xu Yangshu finished speaking, he retreated into the coffin, feeling dejected.

To him, the instance dungeon was a genuine world, and the players were just like him—victims of the deceitful travel agency that lured them into this remote village.

A group of unlucky souls, and not particularly intelligent ones at that—who would fall for such a trick? Only fools!

Unlucky plus foolish equaled a double dose of misfortune!

Thus, Xu Yangshu believed their fate was sealed.

How could anyone escape a ghost's lair unscathed? At least based on his limited knowledge of the occult, it seemed utterly implausible.

Since it was impossible, why bother worrying? Death was inevitable, so he might as well take a good nap and become a comfortable ghost!

Xu Yangshu laid down on his back, no longer needing to feign unconsciousness. He slept soundly, soon accompanied by gentle snores.

Sun Shouyi: "...."

How should he put it? Having such a positive attitude was actually something worth learning from.

Moreover, this ability to fall asleep instantly reminded him of someone... He glanced secretly at Qin Fei.

Qin Fei was pondering over Xu Yangshu's words.

Xu Yangshu had spoken in bits and pieces, but the most valuable information was the "Necromancy" he mentioned at the end.

The guide's voice echoed again in Qin Fei's mind:

"No living person can leave Shouyin Village."

He hadn't fully grasped the guide's hidden meaning while in the car, but now Xu Yangshu had opened up a new line of thought for him.

If the living can't leave.

Then, what about the dead?

Xu Yangshu said that the book could teach someone to transmute the living into corpses.

If the players could find that book, perhaps they might genuinely be able to turn the tide.

Knife Scar and Cheng Song went to the other side of the yard, whispering to each other about something. The rest of the group gathered together.

The players had their own thoughts.

In the live broadcast hall, among the spirits watching the live feed, an inappropriate voice suddenly echoed.

"Boring, truly boring!"

At the spot nearest to the screen, a spirit shrouded in a pale golden aura shook his head with disinterest.

In front of the screen, all the spirits were packed closely together watching the live broadcast, but he alone enjoyed a seat for himself.

It was the front and center seat, offering an impeccable view of the spectacle.

A commotion instantly erupted among the audience.

"It's an advanced-level spectator!"

"When did they arrive?"

"It seems they appeared out of nowhere. We didn't see them just now. Perhaps they've activated a separate space."

Like players, spectators in the Rule Worlds also had a clear hierarchical structure.

Those with higher points could freely enter high-ranking live halls, enjoying exclusive seats and personalized customer service. They could even decorate their avatars with various ornaments and appearances.

Some advanced spectators would adorn themselves entirely, jingling as they walked, resembling a Christmas tree, to showcase their extraordinary status.

The radiant golden glow emanating from this spirit body was one of the expensive decorations available.

Such high-ranking big shots rarely made an appearance in an F-rated live hall.

Interest piqued, someone promptly asked, "Can you elaborate? What makes it uninteresting?"

"Didn't they introduce a new lead?"

"Yeah, I think it's quite intriguing!"

The big shot listened to the animated chatter around him and curled his lip. "Just watch, they'll be heading straight for Xu Family's old residence to search for that book."

It was as clear as day, even a blind man could see it.

The big shot let out a light sigh, seemingly regretting the time he'd wasted on this trivial instance. "But they won't find anything, I assure you."