As the group stared at her with eager anticipation, Xie Lingxi drew her lips slightly and spoke in a clear, sweet voice, her young tone warm and gentle:
“According to the old version of the guidebook, Realm Walkers must pass through the underground parking garage. During this process, an automaton appears every Three Minutes, chasing any Realm Walker who enters the garage. Those caught by it are eliminated.
‘The Realm Walkers need to locate the controller and shut off the automaton’s power before anyone else is eliminated—the controller is hidden inside one of the vehicles in the parking garage.’”
Wang Tai, known for his fiery temper, nodded with comprehension: “So we just need to find the controller and deactivate the automaton—correct? What do you think, Wang Tai?”
As others pondered, they immediately turned their gaze toward Zhang Yuanqing, eager to see what insights this young, capable member of the team might offer after successfully navigating the first challenge.
Your way of extracting the core issue is so blunt… Zhang Yuanqing remarked:
“In the old amusement park setting, elimination merely deducted experience points—not a death. But now, with the difficulty level raised to Rank S, each elimination corresponds to one person dying every Three Minutes.”
Xi Shi’s delicate expression softened: “We only have eighteen minutes…”
Her father, ever mindful of his responsibilities, shook his head slowly: “No—let us aim to avoid any deaths during this stage. The more people who enter the haunted house, the greater the chance that survivors will emerge.”
Father, you nearly didn’t make this clear—you’re speaking of the haunted house needing sacrificial players… Zhang Yuanqing sighed:
“Lingxi, will our skills be sealed in the parking garage?”
After a brief thought, Xie Lingxi shook her head: “The guidebook doesn’t mention that.”
Wang Tai then proposed:
“As soon as we enter the parking garage, let’s split up—this way we can locate the keys more efficiently.”
But Qu Tian Da Sheng immediately objected:
“Such a dangerous location—we cannot survive if we spread out.”
Wang Tai stared at him with disdain: “Are you afraid of dying? You’re just useless.”
Qu Tian Da Sheng glanced at him with a visible spark of anger, yet remained respectful due to Wang Tai’s authority, and added coldly:
“I’ll stick to my original suggestion—no dispersal.”
Splitting up is indeed the most prudent approach—if there are no traitors within the group… Zhang Yuanqing waved his hand, cutting off further debate.
“Let’s enter now. We can only formulate a strategy once we have sufficient information.”
He stepped first down the steep slope into the underground parking garage, which was flooded with bright white lighting.
As he descended the gentle incline, he glanced around, his expression tightening slightly.
The underground parking garage was vast—much like that of a large shopping mall—with vehicles neatly parked across every available spot.
The car models varied widely, their roofs covered in thick layers of dust.
Following behind, Xie Lingxi and the others entered the garage and immediately observed the scene. Wang Tai’s expression darkened:
“So many vehicles—we’ll never know when to start!”
Xi Shi’s eyes sparkled with concern as she said:
“What if we split up? With so many cars, how will we ever locate the right one?”
No one spoke—everyone had just received a voice prompt from the Instance:
【Ring! The team has entered the underground parking garage. Experience begins. Excess items have been cleared.】
【Hint One: Controller. Hint Two: Car Key. Good luck!】
【Timer: 00:02:55】
“Another skill has been sealed…”
“Even the item inventory isn’t accessible—what a mess, yet another seal!”
Several team members looked slightly concerned, but Zhang Yuanqing focused on the two clear hints.
How could there be such prompts? The old guidebook didn’t mention this specific hint at all…
In Rank S Instance missions, subtle cues are not always given—the Realm Walkers must observe and deduce patterns to find solutions. But here, in such a large underground garage, clear hints like ‘controller’ and ‘car key’ were provided—this clearly indicates the mission’s high stakes. Otherwise, why would the Spirit Realm offer these signals?
Zhang Yuanqing murmured: “Everyone, things aren’t going well at all.”
The group paused, regaining composure from their initial shock over skill seals, then slowly began to take in the instance prompts—each member now looked more serious.
“Car keys…” Wang Tai hurried toward the nearest business vehicle, attempting to open the door. But it remained locked.
He side-stepped and swung his arm, trying to shatter the glass.
Clang!
The sound was loud but the glass stayed intact—with no cracks forming at all.
“It won’t budge—so clearly, we must first locate car keys before we can find the controller…” Wang Tai spat out a stream of words:
“I’m proposing that we split up.”
Zhang Yuanqing surveyed the group and saw that everyone shared this idea. He then declared:
“Agreed—but don’t spread too far apart. Always keep yourself visible to your teammates. Time is short—let’s move!”
The timer seemed to press down like a ghost, urging urgency. The six Realm Walkers began searching without further delay.
The vast parking garage remained silent, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing through it.
Zhang Yuanqing deliberately stayed behind, ensuring everyone remained within his visual range while also diligently searching for car keys himself.
“This task feels off—such a large underground garage. We simply cannot locate the controller within Three Minutes. Even if we all perish here, I doubt we’ll find anything.”
As he thought this, suddenly he heard Xie Lingxi crouch down to the left front, then dive beneath one of the vehicles. A few seconds later, she burst out with excitement:
“I found a car key! It’s under the floor of this off-road vehicle!”
She lifted her slender arm, holding up the key.
At the same time, she pressed the unlock button on the key.
The garage remained completely silent—no response from any vehicles.
Xie Lingxi’s expression turned disappointed and helpless:
“The cars aren’t near me…”
Seeing this, the team members continued their search. Soon, Qu Tian Da Sheng called out:
“I’ve found a car key!”
He pressed the unlock button—the vehicle emitted two soft beeps, its tail lights flickered.
The group quickly gathered around, opening all four doors and thoroughly searching inside each one.
Her father sighed with disappointment: “Nothing here.”
“Wait—” Xi Shi’s eyes caught something. She leaned forward into the cabin, her lower body tucked in as she carefully picked up a card from beneath the seat.
It was a metallic card, brushed with gold on its surface, with a clear pond depicted at its center.
As they gazed upon it, information appeared clearly in everyone’s minds:
【Life Concentrate Liquid】
【Type: Potion】
【Function: Healing】
【Description: A potion infused with immense life energy—capable of healing all external injuries.】
【Note: As a consumable item, no cost is incurred.】
“Life Concentrate Liquid?” Xi Shi brightened. “I remember Life Essence liquid was a Musician Skill item. I didn’t expect to find a consumable in the vehicle. Do you think there are others inside other cars?”
With this discovery, their chances of success had greatly improved.
Is Life Concentrate Liquid related to the Musician Skill? I recall that Musician Skill is about singing—leveling up during the Elevated Stage… Zhang Yuanqing restrained his urge to ask further, since Wang Tai was a seasoned Realm Walker who had navigated many Spirit Realms—he was a reliable partner.
If the team learned that their leader was merely a rookie in this journey through the Spirit Realm, how would they feel?
“Let’s collect it first,” Zhang Yuanqing said as he glanced at the timer. “We need to keep searching for car keys—the time is running out.”
The group members scattered again and began actively seeking out the remaining car keys.
While searching, Zhang Yuanqing thought:
“The mission offers both clear hints and consumable items—this level of difficulty might exceed expectations. The culprit will surely sense this—and I hope he doesn’t cut down too many people. Otherwise, we may truly struggle to survive in the haunted house…”
Time passed steadily—no third car key was found. The Realm Walkers grew increasingly anxious, their pace of search growing more urgent.
At that moment, Qu Tian Da Sheng—who had been continuously monitoring the timer—suddenly cried out:
“The time has expired!”
The next instant, a powerful engine roar erupted from far away. Everyone froze and turned toward the sound—the entrance to the parking garage revealed a towering figure.
It stood nearly two meters tall, clad entirely in metal, with red-lit eyes, holding a three-foot-long saw in hand.
“Everyone must die! Everyone must die!”
The electronic voice echoed from the speaker at its chest.
“An Automaton?” Xie Lingxi exclaimed.
“Hoo-hoo-hoo…”
With deep engine groans, the automaton’s feet slid across the ground and it surged forward, racing over dozens of meters toward them.
“Spread out!” Zhang Yuanqing shouted.
Like pins struck by bowling balls, the team members scattered in all directions.
Xie Lingxi seemed less physically robust than others—her reaction was slightly delayed. As she tried to move aside, she was knocked down by the automaton and uttered a gasp—the pressure from her back hitting the vehicle’s body left her dizzy and unable to rise.
From the feet of the automaton, gaseous outlets released streams of air, allowing it to decelerate smoothly—an action beyond human capability. It then raised its saw high above, with powerful force, ready to strike.
The sound of the saw’s motor hummed steadily—like a whispered death song.
Xie Lingxi’s face had turned pale; her expression one of utter despair…