While Zhang Yuanqing was still drinking his porridge and heading to work, Jiang Yubi sat by the window, playing a game on her PS5. She stretched out her arms, revealing two smooth, pale forearms that swayed gently with each movement of the controller. When Zhang Yuanqing woke up refreshed, there was a vibrant audio soundtrack echoing in his ears. The room glowed with the soft luminescence of a television screen, while the ceiling light remained off. He sat up and glanced toward the window. Jiang Yubi was seated cross-legged in front of the TV, immersed in her game, sleeves rolled up, her body swaying rhythmically as she played. Zhang Yuanqing yawned, then rose to turn on the overhead lamp and moved to stand behind her, watching her play. The game was a horror title—darkly atmospheric with eerie music—and featured a hunched, awkward little figure wielding a bloodied axe that fought through wave after wave of monsters, cutting down enemies and leaving them in splendorous gore. The glow from the screen reflected off Jiang Yubi’s clear, autumn-like eyes. Her round, well-proportioned face shimmered with a pleasant energy, tinged with excitement. “This game is really good,” she said without turning around. “It's perfect for nighttime play—it has a very healing effect.” Jiang Yubi had three main hobbies: shopping at malls, watching horror films, and playing horror games. “I see,” Zhang Yuanqing replied, though his tone was lukewarm. “It’s actually quite interesting.” Jiang Yubi turned to him with a sharp look. “What's the point of pretending you're impressed? You’re acting all stiff!” She resumed her game, adding: “The entire story is about self-healing—every boss character follows a certain pattern. As long as you pay attention, even a small boy can defeat the most intimidating demons. However, the haunting visuals and music often send people into panic, undermining their calm judgment.” “Why don’t you try it?” she suggested. Zhang Yuanqing didn’t feel like joining in. Since leaving the Spirit Realm nearly twenty hours ago, he had been waiting for the next phase—perhaps even his final passing. With only about fourteen more hours until the realm would reopen, he found himself wondering what to do with his last few hours of life. What should he regret? What was truly meaningful? Should he call out a fit of anger at his mother? Hold her in tears over a series of complaints? Or accompany his uncle for one more rap performance? He suddenly realized—he didn’t have any deep regrets, nor any dreams or ambitions. As a well-off university student, life had always been smooth and uneventful. Only those who’ve weathered many storms carry the weight of unresolved sorrows. “Oh come on!” Jiang Yubi twisted her waist and pouted playfully. “Play with me!” Watching her graceful silhouette, Zhang Yuanqing’s expression softened. He settled beside her and took over the controller from her hand. If his life was destined to last only a few more hours—then one more game session with Jiang Yubi would be just fine. Under her guidance, which was full of chatter and enthusiasm, he eventually completed the game. When he checked the time, it was already past midnight eleven. “Good job,” she said, drawing a soft, delicate circle on her fingers as she praised him. “You’ve got real talent.” She sucked gently at her own fingertips, then gave his shoulder a light pat before wiping some of the moisture from her mouth onto his clothes. “How about that? You’re a mess now,” Zhang Yuanqing groaned, clearly reluctant. “Pah! That’s not just juice—it’s nectar and ambrosia!” Jiang Yubi declared with a haughty tone. “Don’t you realize how fortunate you are?” “Nectar and ambrosia?” Zhang Yuanqing scoffed. “How much does it cost per pound?” “How much? I’ll never sell it—though I’m happy to offer you a few sips,” Jiang Yubi pouted, determined to press her advantage. Zhang Yuanqing leaned back in an effort to avoid the contact. Clack! The handle of the door turned. Grandma stood at the doorway, frowning at them both. Both Zhang Yuanqing and Jiang Yubi immediately sat upright with formal grace. “What about your dinner?” Grandma asked sharply. “You’re awake all night, playing games like you're trying to become a god! You want to live on earth but then expect to rise into heaven?” Zhang Yuanqing lowered the controller. “Got it, got it—I’ll eat right away.” Grandma glanced coldly at her daughter before Jiang Yubi quietly retreated back to her bedroom. …… The dinner had been kept warm all along; Grandma heated the chilled vegetables once more. Zhang Yuanqing filled his stomach with a hurried meal and returned to his room to check on his inventory—confirming that the spirit-protecting talisman was still intact. He then reviewed his own attributes panel in detail. As he prayed for good news from Li Dongze, he began reflecting on every small moment he’d experienced inside the Temple of the Mountain God. During the game session with Jiang Yubi, something new had struck him. If the Spirit Realm itself is also a kind of game—does it contain certain rules or patterns? If so, even someone like himself—a young man without much physical strength—might be able to succeed in the trial, simply by discovering those underlying systems. As he continued thinking, a sharp ringtone cut through his thoughts, causing his heart to momentarily freeze. He grabbed his bedside smartphone. The caller ID read an unfamiliar number—he answered. “Hello? Is this Zhang Yuanqing?” A warm, elegant voice came through the speaker, and Zhang Yuanqing’s eyes widened with delight. “Have you received information about the She Ling Tunnel?” he asked eagerly. Guan Ya nodded softly: “The Chief has secured more detailed materials for you. He’s sent them directly to your email. I know young people often overlook their inboxes, so I thought it’d be better to call and notify you personally.” Indeed—what an official touch! It was clear that joining the official team had been a wise choice. Zhang Yuanqing felt his spirits lift with renewed energy. Though he resisted the urge to rush straight to his computer to check the email, he said sincerely: “Thank you very much, Li Chief, and thank you, Guan Ya sister—I’d like to treat you both to dinner once I complete my trial task.” “The trial is successful,” Guan Ya murmured quietly. After a pause, her voice softened with an unusual warmth. “That’s wonderful—look forward to it.” She had already reviewed the documents passed down from Taiyi Gate. The material left her heart cold and full of despair—now understanding why Li Dongze had remained so gloomy throughout the day. In Li Dongze’s eyes, this newly recruited Night Wandering Deity might very well fall in the trial phase. After completing his game session, Zhang Yuanqing unfolded his ergonomic chair and immediately launched his notebook to log into his email account. He sifted through a stack of unread messages until he found Guan Ya’s email. He downloaded the attached document. — **She Ling Tunnel – Spirit Realm No. 0079 – Difficulty Level: S – Type: Solo (Death-type)** **Main Objective One:** Survive for three hours. **Main Objective Two:** Explore Spirit Realm No. 0079. Exactly the same as my trial task… Zhang Yuanqing felt a spark of hope—this was promising, content that his assigned tasks were closely aligned with the actual mission details. **The scene of Spirit Realm No. 0079 is not actually the She Ling Tunnel—it’s an ancient Ming Dynasty temple known as the San Dao Mountain Queen's Temple.** **I suspect this queen holds a very distinguished status—perhaps even beyond that of just a Night Wandering Deity. Although it's uncertain whether there was indeed such a legendary figure in the Ming Dynasty, or whether she is a creation of the Spirit Realm itself.** Then followed an extended description of the history and deeds of the San Dao Mountain Queen’s story—consistent with what Zhang Yuanqing had observed during his visit to the temple. Next: **Surviving for three hours seems manageable at first. When reviewing the notes, I encountered persistent interference from a restless spirit whose nature is to continuously drain the life energy of living beings until the target perishes.** **As a Night Wandering Deity, I have an innate ability to suppress spirits—thus, I required little effort to remove this ghost. However, when attempting to absorb it completely, I encountered strong resistance. This may be part of the Spirit Realm’s protective mechanism for such restless ghosts.** **All visitors who read the notes are cursed and haunted by this spirit—its presence never ceases, no matter how briefly it is repelled. Each time a ghost is eliminated, one gains approximately fifteen minutes of peace.** **An especially notable point: The temple’s main hall features a candle—a powerful item with protective and purifying capabilities. As long as you remain within the main hall, you are safe. However, this candle eliminates your sense of fear—prolonged exposure to its glow renders one fearless. While that seems beneficial in such a perilous realm, it becomes ultimately fatal: staying in constant candlelight causes one to lose all sense of apprehension. This feeling of unwavering calm is actually deadly within the context of this trial. Moreover, the candle cannot be moved or carried out of the realm.** **After spending half an hour inside the main hall, I suddenly heard cries for help—originating from one of the side courtyards—the sound was accompanied by terrifying shrieks that didn’t resemble any human voice. After a moment’s hesitation, I decided to investigate that courtyard.** The main hall is indeed a safe zone—something I personally confirmed—but I hadn't expected it to be so crucially dependent on the candle. I had originally assumed it was due to the elegant Mountain God Queen. The cries came from within the large fig tree—though I didn’t hear the shrieks at first. The eastern courtyard, indeed, seemed terrifying. Zhang Yuanqing’s expression tightened as he felt a chill pass through him. He took a deep breath and focused his attention on reading ahead. The following details were vital—if he could anticipate what lay in the other courtyard before entering it, he could avoid potential danger during exploration. **The fig tree is very dangerous—do not look back, do not look back…** **It seems this tree has grown consciousness—but why does it cry out for help? As for those terrifying roars, I couldn’t locate their source because they interrupted my progress. They turned out to be a pair of red dancing shoes.** **At first, the fig tree did not launch an immediate assault—it invited me to dance, testing its intentions. I accepted the invitation—out of cautious curiosity…** **I was unable to remember the steps at all—the patterns were chaotic and disorganized. For someone with no background in dance, this requirement seemed utterly impossible—even for a person experienced in dancing, remembering such complex sequences would be nearly impossible. I failed—and the red shoes launched pursuit.** **After successfully escaping back to the main hall, two of my ribs were crushed beneath them—now I clearly understand its true nature. This appears to be an exceptionally powerful object—an item that operates according to specific rules. Its tracking is unaffected by terrain or obstacles—it continues relentlessly until it achieves its goal. Based on this, I believe this qualifies as a rule-based prop.** **It’s incredible—that a trial realm should contain such a rule-based object! Now I finally understand why Qian Shou, despite carrying a special item, perished in the Temple of the Mountain God. And why no one has ever succeeded in completing this realm before—what kind of joke is that? Only Level 1 novice Night Wandering Deities or ordinary people could enter the She Ling Tunnel—how can they possibly succeed?** **The reasons behind the temple’s decline remain unknown, as does the secret tied to its thousand-year legacy. I hope to successfully complete my second main objective and return this truth to the organization.** That was all—the document ended with no further updates. Zhang Yuanqing knew now that this Night Wandering Deity had likely already fallen during her pursuit of completing the second mission.