Chapter 39
In all his years, this was the first time Shen Li had ever told such a blatant lie in front of so many people.
He had sacrificed too much for Lu Chuan.
But things had come to this point—there was no turning back.
Lu Chuan lowered his head shyly, sneaking glances at the two before them—Mei Xue and Gu Quan’an—who exchanged a meaningful look. They both understood the situation.
Since Shen Li had come all this way, personally escorting Lu Chuan here, it would be unreasonable to refuse outright. Besides, they had already agreed to let the Resurrection Guild bring the Hand of Rebirth along. Star Guild might be weak now, but who knew if they wouldn’t rise again one day? It was better not to sour relations unnecessarily.
“Let me be blunt,” Mei Xue said. Though she was of Shen Li’s generation, she looked far younger. Her expression, however, was cold and distant, making her hard to approach.
“We can take you into the rule-type dungeon. As long as my safety isn’t compromised, I’ll share some dungeon information. But beyond that, I can’t promise much. I’ve entered this dungeon once before—barely escaped with my life, but I never fully cleared it.”
“We understand what a rule-type dungeon means,” Shen Li replied with a smile. “Just surviving alongside you is already valuable experience. If anything goes wrong, with the Seal of Contract as proof, we’d never hold you accountable.”
“The one entering the dungeon with me won’t be you—it’ll be him.” Mei Xue turned to Lu Chuan. “Shouldn’t you introduce yourself properly?”
“Um… what would Senior Mei like to know?” Lu Chuan asked softly.
Mei Xue narrowed her eyes, studying him for a long moment before asking, “The Hand of Rebirth showed me an item he obtained from the game earlier. While items are only part of one’s strength, it at least proved his ability. Do you have anything you acquired on your own?”
This was a test of strength, proof that Lu Chuan wouldn’t be a burden.
Ranking third or fourth on the newcomer board was impressive, but newcomers lacked experience. Some guilds even inflated reputations on purpose. Mei Xue and Gu Quan’an needed to see for themselves.
“I don’t know what you expect to see, but… maybe this will do.” Lu Chuan acted shy, while inwardly calculating what he could safely reveal.
The item that best demonstrated his strength was the Godslayer’s Cross.
But that was Wang Feng’s, and with Gu Quan’an of the Abyss Guild present, someone might recognize it—that would be suicidal.
The Godslayer Lord title was also out of the question. If he revealed it, they’d immediately suspect him of stealing the Cross, and demand to know how he killed a god.
As for the Deceptive Gambler title—absolutely not. He had to maintain his “bashful” persona.
Finally, Lu Chuan decided to show the Witch’s Elixir key.
“This is a key to a special dungeon I obtained earlier. Will this suffice?”
He wasn’t planning to enter that dungeon yet. With the key in hand, he could go anytime—no rush. And considering how the Executor had already altered every dungeon he’d been in, who knew if Lucas’ dungeon and its connected worlds had also mutated?
Lu Chuan wasn’t one to walk knowingly into a tiger’s den—unless the treasure inside was irresistible.
“I’ve heard of this dungeon,” Gu Quan’an suddenly said. “Your key hasn’t been used—that’s good.”
“Hm?” Lu Chuan and Shen Li blinked in surprise.
“Is there a problem with it?” Lu Chuan asked curiously.
“Originally, it was just a standard A-rank dungeon,” Gu Quan’an sighed. “But after an Executor enforced judgment there, it mutated. Artifacts infused with divine power became unpredictable. A few veteran players I know barely crawled out alive.”
“Then I’ll hold off for now.” Lu Chuan put the key away.
“That’ll do.”
Mei Xue didn’t comment further, tacitly acknowledging Lu Chuan’s ability.
Shen Li turned to Gu Quan’an.
“I’m fine either way,” Gu Quan’an said with a hearty grin. “I’m just tagging along with Sister Mei to learn. Teammates don’t matter much. Honestly, I’m curious about the Hand of Rebirth and Arrival of the God of Wealth—newcomer board rank three and four. I’ve never made it that high myself. Let me see whether the game’s main system really gives them preferential treatment.”
With Gu Quan’an also on board, Shen Li knew the deal was sealed.
“In that case, I’m relieved,” Shen Li smiled. “Once we finalize the contract, I’ll leave—so you won’t worry about me spying. As for Lu Chuan, any expenses he incurs in your guild will go on my tab.”
“Fine.”
The matter was settled. With the Seal of Contract, Mei Xue and Gu Quan’an wouldn’t harm Lu Chuan deliberately. Success.
Shen Li could bow out gracefully.
Before leaving, he pulled Lu Chuan aside.
“I’m leaving Noah Guild now, but don’t get reckless,” Shen Li muttered. “I got you in under the guild’s name, but really, this was my personal favor. I’ll cover your expenses here, but don’t rack up anything outrageous.”
“Relax, Captain Shen.” Still in his shy persona, Lu Chuan chuckled softly. “I’m my own financial director. Whatever you spend, I’ll just find a scapegoat to balance the books.”
There were plenty of people he disliked. Finding scapegoats was easy.
“No—I’ll pay what’s mine,” Shen Li said firmly. “Be careful. Rule-type dungeons are tricky. Stick close to Mei Xue—she’s cold on the surface but soft-hearted. If she pulls you out even once, it might save your life. And as for the Hand of Rebirth—I won’t tell you to avoid him, but don’t let him use you.”
“Captain Shen, could you repeat that? Who’s using who?” Lu Chuan asked with wide, innocent eyes.
“…Never mind. Just don’t kill him outright—we’re no match for the Resurrection Guild right now.” Shen Li sighed, realizing he was worrying too much. Lu Chuan was as sly as a fox.
“I know, I know.” Lu Chuan rolled his eyes inwardly at Shen Li’s nagging, though he kept it hidden.
Finally, Shen Li departed Noah Guild, still uneasy.
Meanwhile, Mei Xue arranged rooms for Lu Chuan and the Hand of Rebirth to rest. Once preparations were complete, they’d notify both to enter the dungeon together.
“Hello, I’m Lilus,” the Hand of Rebirth approached first, waiting at Lu Chuan’s door and extending his hand—though it was visibly not human.
Lu Chuan’s eyelid twitched, but he still gave it a light shake.
“Hello, I’m Lu Chuan.”
“You really can see it.” Lilus grinned with joy. “My hand is cloaked by disguise skills—others see me as normal. Only S-rank players can perceive the difference. Yet you, merely A-rank, see it clearly. Lu Chuan, your sanity must be low.”
“It’s not very high,” Lu Chuan admitted without hesitation. “And I doubt yours is much better.”
Despite his sunny, cute appearance, Lilus felt to Lu Chuan like a venomous snake hiding in the dark.
Too convincing.
“Likewise.” Lilus kept smiling. “Let’s cooperate well in this dungeon. I’m eager to witness your strength—then I can report back to my sister.”
Lu Chuan ignored him, opened his door, and slammed it shut.
Lilus’s expression instantly darkened.
Gnawing on his clawed hand, he muttered, “Sister, I’ll prove to you that I’m the strongest one!”
*
Elsewhere, Mei Xue and Gu Quan’an were preparing their dungeon gear. They had cooperated before, and both were familiar with the rule-type dungeon they were about to enter, so their teamwork was seamless.
“Between Arrival of the God of Wealth and the Hand of Rebirth, who do you think is stronger?” Gu Quan’an asked, intrigued. “This generation of newcomers is terrifying. Your guild’s Messiah is already a monster, and it’s hard to even imagine how powerful the number one, Eye of Rebirth, must be. Give them a few more dungeons and they’ll be storming the Grandmaster Board. Really, geniuses always come in clusters—it’s maddening.”
Mei Xue thought the question was boring and didn’t want to answer.
“Come on, tell me—do you prefer the sunny, cheerful Lilus, or the shy and charming Lu Chuan?” Gu Quan’an pressed.
“Do either of them even match your descriptions?” Mei Xue snapped coldly, finally losing patience. “They’re both little foxes, hard to tell apart.”
“I actually think that Lu Chuan is a bit strange,” Gu Quan’an rubbed his chin. “You and I may not look particularly scary on the surface, just like normal humans. But in the guild, very few players can even talk normally in front of us. Yet Lu Chuan seems completely unaffected. Of course, Lilus’ hand—well, that’s just innate, a bloodline ability against evil, nothing unusual there. But what’s really odd is Shen Li’s attitude.”
Shen Li was from their generation of players, and they’d dealt with him plenty. To put it bluntly, Shen Li treated the Star Guild like his own family. Logically, he shouldn’t be doting on Lu Chuan, who had joined halfway, especially when Shen Li already had Starry Shasha, someone he’d looked after since childhood. And yet, for this rule-type dungeon, Shen Li chose Lu Chuan over Shasha.
That fact alone spoke volumes.
At the very least, within the Star Guild, Lu Chuan—an outsider who joined late—was valued more highly than Starry Shasha.
Not normal. Way too abnormal.
“Once we get inside the dungeon, it’ll become clear,” Mei Xue said coolly. “This isn’t our era anymore. Back when we were young, we couldn’t climb onto the God-tier ranking, so now we’re just fighting one last desperate battle.”
The ones truly suited for gaming would’ve already become legends on the God-tier rankings—like the leaders of the five great gaming guilds.
“You’re right,” Gu Quan’an nodded. “We’ll see for ourselves soon enough.”
The next morning, Lu Chuan and Lilus were woken up.
After breakfast and some quick preparations, they went to meet Mei Xue and Gu Quan’an. The two were fully geared up, accompanied by several other well-equipped players. Their imposing presence made it clear—they, too, were dungeon-bound.
Which made sense. No way would they bring only Lu Chuan and Lilus, two rookies, without backup. That’d be way too risky.
“We’re just about ready, and we’ll be setting off shortly,” Gu Quan’an took the role of guide. “Before we go in, I’ll give you two a quick rundown of what to expect inside.”
Lu Chuan and Lilus immediately listened carefully.
“This rule-type dungeon, Mei Xue and I have already been through once. All we managed to get was a way to survive. Since we’re going in again so soon, the survival method probably hasn’t changed much. But if it has, then there’s nothing we can do.” Gu Quan’an sighed. “As for items, I recommend you bring plenty of things to restore health and blood, treat injuries, and regenerate limbs in emergencies. Other stuff—just a little is fine.”
“The dungeon we’re entering is an old apartment building. To get in, we have to establish good relations with the landlord, who’ll give us a tenant rulebook. Once inside, all food is strictly rationed. Any food we bring in will rot the moment we try to eat it. The apartment-issued food portions are tiny—just enough to keep us alive. If we want more, we either buy from the landlord or from the occasional street stall…”
Gu Quan’an explained in detail the conditions he and Mei Xue had faced last time.
On the first day, there were only three rules. On the second day, there were four.
Every day, a new rule was added.
The tricky part was that the new rule wasn’t announced until noon, so players spent the whole morning unaware. If they accidentally broke it during that time, they’d be erased.
But—if someone could figure out the new rule before the landlord announced it, they’d be rewarded with over seven days’ worth of food, plus the right to buy from stalls.
“In there, money and items aren’t accepted,” Gu Quan’an continued. “The only currency is ourselves—our souls and sanity are valuable, while flesh is cheaper.”
“To leave the apartment, you must pay the landlord twenty points of sanity and twenty pounds of flesh as ransom. That’ll get you judged unqualified and booted from the dungeon. Of course, that counts as a failure, and you’ll lose game points—but at least you’ll escape immediately.”
“So if either of you feels like you can’t hold on, use that method to get out. Failing once is fine. Just regroup and prepare better next time,” Gu Quan’an advised.
Lu Chuan knew Gu Quan’an wouldn’t lie in this situation. But he also wasn’t being fully honest.
They’d already failed once. Going back in meant they’d found some clue or hope of clearing it. But there was no way they’d share that clue with Lu Chuan and Lilus, two newcomers from rival guilds.
If it were good intel, why not give it to their own rookies?
The truth was obvious: Lu Chuan and Lilus might survive, but the dungeon run would almost certainly fail. And when it did, the point deduction would drop their rankings.
That was the real reason Mei Xue and Gu Quan’an brought them along. Their own rookies stayed safe, while rivals lost rank. Win-win.
Still, it was clear this apartment dungeon existed solely to devour players. There was no reason for Gu Quan’an to lie about that.
But that exit method was a scam.
Others might use it. Lu Chuan couldn’t.
He barely had over 60 sanity points. If he lost 20 at once, he’d definitely turn into a monster.
Not an option.
Lu Chuan felt uneasy.
“System, System—are you done upgrading yet?” Lu Chuan asked in his head.
[Just finished upgrading, Host!] #888 quickly replied. [What’s wrong?]
“So here’s the thing…” Lu Chuan repeated what Gu Quan’an had just said. “If I lose 20 sanity points at once, can I survive?”
#888 froze for a rare moment.
Then came a shrill outburst: [Aaaah host, you mustn’t go into dungeons that eat sanity! Do you even realize your situation?]
[If your sanity drops below 60, you’ll either mutate into a monster or attract the Burial Squad. Neither ends well.]
[If that really happens, the only option is to abandon your body and let me drag your soul out!]
#888 was on the verge of a breakdown. It had just finished upgrading, ready to proudly show off a new skill to its host—only to be hit with this disaster instead. The system felt like it was about to explode.
It couldn’t even level up as fast as its host was finding ways to die!
“Hey, calm down.” Lu Chuan felt a little guilty. “Just tell me what skill you gave me. Maybe it’ll help me survive the dungeon.”
[It’s a skill called God of Wealth’s Currency.] #888 muttered miserably. [It’s a defensive ability from the God of Wealth line—I deliberately evolved toward that for you.]
Since Lu Chuan’s offense was already strong, #888 had aimed for defense this time.
“Go on.” Lu Chuan perked up. This sounded promising.
[Simply put, you can convert your wealth into coins, and the coins will block one attack for you.] #888 explained cautiously.
“…How much per block?” Lu Chuan sucked in a breath. What kind of terrifying ability was that?
[It depends on both your total wealth and percentage of wealth spent. The stronger the attack, the more it costs. Wealth means everything—money, items, even yourself.] #888 said softly.
[But it’s really powerful, Host. I used all my upgrade points on it. If the Main God System ever discovers us, as long as you’re rich enough, I can use it to get us out alive!] #888 finally admitted its deepest worry.
Yes—#888 had always feared being discovered by the Main God System. With the Burial Squad incident, it was even more on edge. It really didn’t want to change hosts again.
Lu Chuan was advancing too fast. Originally, #888 had planned to slowly upgrade alongside him, protecting him all the way to God of Wealth. But Lu Chuan wasn’t following the script—taking on both real-world and dungeon challenges at once. 888 could hardly keep up!
Lu Chuan could hear the worry 888 had been hiding.
“Can’t you have a little ambition? Instead of always planning to run, why not focus on devouring the Main God System?” Lu Chuan scolded. Why did he have to be stuck with such a cowardly system?
[…Host, do you really think that’s my fault?] 888 wanted to cry. It hadn’t started out this timid, but with the way Lu Chuan kept courting death, how could it not be?
“Alright, alright, I’m not blaming you.” Lu Chuan sighed. “Still, this skill is really useful. At least now I feel a little more at ease.”
Host, you saying that only makes me more nervous!
But reality didn’t care about #888’s feelings. When Gu Quan’an and Mei Xue saw that Lu Chuan and Lilus had nothing else to add, they took out the key and activated entry.
[Player [Mephisto] has been detected using the dungeon key for “Flesh and Blood Apartment.” Enter?] The voice of the Main God System echoed.
“Enter.”
[Please confirm the list of companions.]
“[I Just Won’t Look], [Hand of Rebirth], [Arrival of the God of Wealth]…”
[Companions confirmed.]
[Welcome to the Rule-Type Dungeon: “Flesh and Blood Apartment.”]
