MS Chapter 81

Since Lu Qingjia had already spoken, naturally no one else raised any objections.

Without delay, Lu Qingjia directly addressed the three most mentally unstable Players: “You go first.”

The three exchanged glances, their expressions puzzled, before stepping through the door. Inside, the remaining Players could even catch a glimpse of them returning to reality for a brief moment.

This confirmed their successful clearance.

Lu Qingjia then turned to the remaining female Player and another Player who controlled fire: “You two go next.”

The female Player seemed a bit embarrassed and said to Lu Qingjia, “Then I’ll take my leave first.”

Lu Qingjia nodded with a smile and watched as the two left.

Finally, his gaze fell on The Richest Man.

The Richest Man hesitated and said, “Why don’t you go first?”

“After all, all the puzzles in this instance have been solved, and you’ve already taken the most crucial golden watch. Although I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, I’m not entirely useless at this point.”

Lu Qingjia chuckled, “No need, you go first.”

The Richest Man was about to say more when he suddenly heard a voice in his head from Lu Qingjia.

This sentence made him stop being coy. He reached into his backpack and pulled out an Item.

He said to Lu Qingjia, “I got this from a previous instance. It can mark a tracking target, and the mark can even be sensed across dimensions.”

“We might end up in the same reality. Keep this, and I’ll come find you when the time comes.”

Lu Qingjia took the Item, which was a device the size of a grain of rice. It could be attached to clothing or even somehow embedded into the target’s body. It seemed like a highly effective tracking tool.

After the Intermediate Level Game, the higher the level and the more experience one had, the more Items they could obtain. Forming alliances in reality wasn’t as difficult as it once was.

Compared to the troublesome and inefficient methods of trying to bypass the Game’s rules to pass information after the Beginner Level Game, most successful alliances were established after obtaining effective Items.

Lu Qingjia stored the Item and smiled, “Alright, see you in reality then.”

“Then you better come out soon,” The Richest Man lingered, but Lu Qingjia, growing impatient, practically kicked him out.

As each person passed through the exit door, the number beside the door—the number of available passes—decreased one by one.

When The Richest Man finally exited, the number reset to zero, and a gleeful voice seemed to echo in the air.

Lu Qingjia wasn’t in a hurry to step through the door. Instead, he muttered, “Why so happy? The instance was cleared in less than three days.”

“According to the rules, until I leave, you can only repair the instance, not establish more advanced rules targeting me, right?”

“When I was clueless, I managed to get here. Now that I’ve pretty much stripped you bare, you’re still laughing?”

Each word was like a dagger piercing through.

Lu Qingjia then pulled out the golden watch and sneered, “You’ve been draining Players’ spiritual energy through this watch, right? Even though the watch hasn’t left this space yet, it’s already severed its connection with the Players. The suction tubes are cut, and the watch hasn’t left the instance—yet you’re still so pleased?”

He could sense the other party’s killing intent flaring up again, but Lu Qingjia didn’t care in the slightest. In fact, he was growing tired of these thunder-without-rain actions.

So he flashed a wicked smile and said to a certain presence, “Oh, by the way, that number on the door only limits people, right?”

As soon as these words left his mouth, the other party suddenly felt a sense of foreboding.

But in the next moment, the golden watch that had already integrated into his body reappeared in his hand. This thing had a rare Ability to transform—it could function both as an Ability and as an Item.

The reason the presence had remained relatively calm while Lu Qingjia was still in the instance was that if Lu Qingjia were to die, the watch would automatically detach from his body and drop as an Item.

For most people, obtaining such a powerful Item and being able to directly absorb it into their body as part of their Abilities would be a dream come true. They would never think of turning it back into an Item and risking it being stolen.

But Lu Qingjia had barely had it for half an hour before he pulled it out without hesitation.

He tossed the watch in his hand a couple of times and then threw it toward the door.

With a “whoosh,” the cornerstone of this space vanished without a trace.

People in reality often have instinctive reactions—like when a newly bought phone falls into water, they instinctively reach out to grab it, sometimes even falling in themselves.

Since the golden watch could serve as the cornerstone of an instance world and was the Item the presence relied on to absorb endless spiritual energy, as well as the collateral for setting up so many strict rules, it was undoubtedly a treasure that couldn’t be easily discarded by anyone, regardless of their level.

For Players below the level of an administrator, it was almost equivalent to half their net worth.

So when Lu Qingjia unexpectedly threw the watch, the other party panicked. In that critical moment, rationality didn’t catch up with instinct.

Moreover, the other party’s rationality had already been hanging by a thread due to Lu Qingjia’s repeated provocations. In that situation, they couldn’t even make a rational decision—the only thing on their mind was saving their precious Item.

A hand suddenly appeared out of thin air, grabbing the watch just before it completely disappeared beyond the door.

At the same time, a sinister smile spread across Lu Qingjia’s face—

“So you’ve finally come out, huh?”

The owner of the hand didn’t even have time to breathe a sigh of relief for catching the watch before freezing in place.

Suddenly, the entire space began to collapse. The already unstable instance world started to crumble due to the violation of the rules.

At this moment, the voice of the Horror Game, which had been silent for a long time, rang out: “Congratulations, Player Lu Qingjia, for completing the Hidden Quest of the instance, destroying an illegal game instance, capturing the perpetrator, and rescuing 1,356 missing Players. The instance has ended. Please voluntarily choose to log out of the Game.”

Lu Qingjia nodded, “Alright, no rush.”

With that, he walked over to the hand trapped in this space. The moment the hand had appeared in this world in violation of the rules, it had already been sentenced to death by the Game and couldn’t escape.

Lu Qingjia effortlessly took the golden watch back from the hand and said with a smile, “Thanks for catching the watch for me. Honestly, if it had been thrown into my reality, it wouldn’t have been a big deal since I’ve marked it. But if it had ended up in another reality, that would’ve been a huge loss.”

“After all, it’s such a precious Ability Item. Losing it would’ve been a real pain.”

The owner of the hand was trembling with anger, the hairs on their arm standing on end. But as powerful as they were, they were now powerless—unable to even lift a finger to crush Lu Qingjia, a mere Intermediate Level Player.

After retrieving the watch, Lu Qingjia chose to log out of the Game. Why bother with the so-called limit on the number of times the door could be used?

Back in reality, seeing Zhong Liyu sitting on his bed waiting for him, Lu Qingjia leaned in and kissed him with a pleased expression—

“I’m back.”

Zhong Liyu was overjoyed. When Lu Qingjia kissed him, he was too dazed to react immediately. But once he did, he immediately leaned in for more.

However, Lu Qingjia pushed him away, “Don’t mess around, there’s still work to do.”

Zhong Liyu, having gotten a taste of sweetness, was now in a blissful daze and complained, “What else is there to do now that you’re out?”

“Didn’t Yang Qian mention a Player disappearance case before? That’s where I went this time.”

Zhong Liyu didn’t seem panicked. If Lu Qingjia hadn’t come out after two seconds, he would’ve naturally gone to find him, not letting him just disappear.

Seeing Lu Qingjia toss him a watch, Zhong Liyu immediately understood its purpose upon holding it.

“This thing’s not bad, but it’s best to use some of its functions sparingly. The spiritual energy it absorbs is too mixed and has a repulsive effect on the user. It’s not as solid as what you’d gain step by step on your own. If you want to go further, you don’t need this.”

The Item that the presence had treasured so much was, in Zhong Liyu’s eyes, just so-so.

But for Lu Qingjia at this stage, it was indeed a very powerful Item.

He continued, “This watch can manipulate the time of the human body, with minimal restrictions. It’s effective on humans and living creatures, which just complements the shortcomings of your Old Uncle’s Ability.”

“If the two are combined, you’re indeed ready to challenge higher levels.”

Lu Qingjia nodded, “That’s quite a significant gain.”

Then, Lu Qingjia received follow-up feedback from the Game.

With the instance being cleared, all Players trapped in it naturally regained their freedom and returned to reality. Those who had been turned into NPCs also regained their memories.

However, having lost their Abilities, Items, and Points, and with their spiritual energy drained, they no longer had the self-protection capabilities of their respective levels.

This left them with two choices: first, to give up their Player status. The system would adjust their physical state to what it was before entering the Game, erase their memories of the Game, and let them return to ordinary life.

Such occurrences were rare in the Game. Unless the Game was exploited, causing large-scale harm to Players, this compensation option wouldn’t be available.

It was also a rare opportunity to leave the Game.

The second option was to give up their Intermediate Level status and return to the Beginner Level Game to clear it again, then climb back up step by step.

Some chose the first option, knowing their limitations and yearning for a peaceful life.

Others had adapted to making the Game the focus of their lives, enjoying themselves in reality.

To be honest, if the Game was seen as a high-risk job, the rewards were indeed incomparable to most jobs in reality.

Even the most modest Intermediate Level Players had thousands of Points reserved for enjoyment, which equated to being millionaires in reality. Having tasted the sweetness of moving from frugality to luxury and experiencing high-quality material life, many were unwilling to leave the Game and return to ordinary nine-to-five jobs.

As for the truth behind the instance, it was as Lu Qingjia had guessed—a high-level Player had exploited a loophole to create it, a breeding ground designed to harvest spiritual energy.

This Player was among the top-tier of Advanced Players, though he couldn’t compare to Administrators or Quasi-Administrators.

In the long competition, he had realized the gap between himself and the level of Players he admired. He understood that to reach the level of a Quasi-Administrator or higher, relying solely on his own talent wasn’t enough.

So he came up with this plan: as long as the net was cast wide enough, he would eventually catch some top-tier spiritual energy suppliers, providing him with a steady stream of high-quality Abilities to improve his fate.

Among the over a thousand people he had caught, landing The Richest Man and Lu Qingjia was already a massive win, equivalent to grafting their potential onto himself.

Had he succeeded, not only Lu Qingjia, but even The Richest Man would have become an outstanding Player with limitless potential.

Moreover, this Player knew that even if he exploited the Game’s instances, as long as he didn’t directly harm Players but only set rules in advance, the Game couldn’t touch him.

After all, such twists and schemes were part of the Game’s tests for Players. Relying on this rule, he had set countless traps in the instance. In short, if no one cleared the instance, he wouldn’t lose, and as long as he adhered to the principle of not directly intervening, he wouldn’t be punished.

But now, the outcome was clear for all to see.

Lu Qingjia even asked Zhong Liyu if he had any impression of this Player.

Zhong Liyu shook his head without hesitation, “Such a character isn’t worth filling a corner of my memory.”

Well, the arrogance of Administrators and Quasi-Administrators might have been one of the sources of this Player’s frustration.

But now, the Player’s fate wasn’t a pleasant one. With multiple charges against him, he was directly annihilated by the Game.

As for the lingering Players, having violated the principle of attacking Players in a non-competitive scenario, they would also be punished to varying degrees.

On the other hand, The Richest Man, having spotted the blank in the instance world early on and secured the position of The Richest Man, only existed as a receiver.

While there’s a principle in reality that without demand, there’d be no harm, the Game didn’t subscribe to that. It adhered to the principle of whoever acted was responsible.

It’s likely that The Richest Man had made preparations early on, not wanting to bear the guilt and face the Game’s reckoning. After all, he never believed he’d be trapped in the instance forever and naturally couldn’t only consider the present.

As for this clearance, Lu Qingjia’s outstanding performance aside, which instance since he entered the Game had he not received an S or higher rating?

This time’s rating was still the highest the Game could give, not only for his performance but also as a reward for helping the Game eliminate a major threat.

Lu Qingjia couldn’t help but ask, “Usually, if Players of the corresponding level can’t solve such issues, do you just let it slide?”

The Game replied, “How could that be? Don’t judge me by my appearance; I’m quite good at reading people.”

Generally, Players it particularly favored wouldn’t disappoint it.

“Moreover, even if it’s confirmed that Players of the corresponding level can’t handle it, ensuring that the instance only brings loss and trouble to the Game and no longer serves as a meaningful test for Players, arrangements will be made to clean it up.”

As for who would handle it, naturally, it would be the Administrators and Quasi-Administrators, whose existence was to maintain order within the Game.

A Player actually wanted to exploit the Game’s loopholes to harvest spiritual energy, thinking that by adhering to the rules, the Game couldn’t touch him and he could rest easy? That was a joke.

The Points Lu Qingjia received this time were also a considerable sum. He deposited them into his Points vault and lazily said, “There’s so much here with nowhere to spend it. Why don’t you arrange for me to be an exchange student again sometime?”

“Last time was just the Infinite Game, but isn’t there also the Extreme Game? I’d like to check that out too.”

The Horror Game burst out laughing, “Hahaha… what a beautiful dream! You’re already on the blacklist of those two idiots. They’ve refused to accept you as an exchange student, you know?”

Lu Qingjia retorted, “If I can’t reap the benefits, it means you’ve indirectly failed to gain advantages. What are you laughing about?”

The Game: “…”

Why are these people so annoying?

The Points were indeed piling up unused, but just the golden watch from this round made the entire trip worthwhile for Lu Qingjia.

This round didn’t yield many Abilities. Previously, when he had killed the wax museum owner and his family, he had only obtained the Ability to leave his body and possess others, and had also scavenged some convenient wax.

Because the wax museum owner’s family’s business direction was limited to wax figures, the Items they could use were only wax figures without seeming out of place. Thus, the application of their Abilities was restricted.

But in reality, this Ability could be used to possess any humanoid Item, and the requirements for the Item’s fineness weren’t strict.

Besides wax figures, statues, dolls, puppets, clay figures—theoretically, all these could be possessed. Lu Qingjia’s spiritual energy far exceeded that of the wax museum owner’s family, so he could use it more flexibly.

After tallying up the rewards, Lu Qingjia absorbed the watch into his body, attempting to integrate it with his Old Uncle’s Ability.

But Zhong Liyu stopped him, “You just got out. At least eat something first.”

Although only two seconds had passed in reality, Lu Qingjia’s body had been in the instance world for three days without injury. The Game wouldn’t specifically repair or adjust for this, so his physical sensations would still change.

Reminded by Zhong Liyu, Lu Qingjia indeed felt a bit hungry.

Just as he was about to get up and head to the kitchen for something to eat, he saw Zhong Liyu bring out a steaming bowl of rice topped with dishes.

How to describe it? The moment the lid was opened, it was like a scene from a childhood food anime—a burst of golden light filled with spiritual energy shot up into the sky.

The entire room was filled with the rich, pure aroma of spiritual energy. Even the two small potted plants in Lu Qingjia’s bedroom, which had been neglected recently and looked listless, perked up instantly, becoming vibrant and beautiful.

“This is—”

“Hehe, I got this a few days ago when I went back to my territory. There’s plenty of it. Your current strength can handle such powerful spiritual energy nourishment. From now on, you’ll eat this every day.”

Lu Qingjia knew that each Administrator had several top-tier cultivation worlds under their jurisdiction.

These worlds had their own cultivation instances, which could take hundreds or even thousands of years to clear. Players who reached this level naturally knew how to manage their forces and resources within these instances.

For example, back in the Infinite Space, the emperor, who was of ancient royal descent, lived in luxury to display his status. His resources generally came from cultivation instances.

An Administrator like Zhong Liyu could live that kind of life if he wanted to, but it wasn’t necessary.

After all, Players of the Horror Game still lived in reality, mingling with ordinary people. If the things he used for himself couldn’t be enjoyed by his loved ones, it would be too awkward.

Looking at the bowl of rice, although it wasn’t as extravagant as the emperor’s banquet with its myriad of dishes, it was still quite impressive.

The rice grains were distinct, semi-transparent with a slight greenish hue, plump and brimming with spiritual energy, looking like the finest jade meticulously carved.

Even without leaning in, the refreshing aroma was enough to whet the appetite.

The meat and vegetables on top were varieties Lu Qingjia couldn’t name from reality. According to Zhong Liyu, the meat came from spiritual beasts and fish that were gentle, rich in spiritual energy, and not overly aggressive.

These ingredients weren’t overly cooked because, for such top-tier ingredients, their natural flavors were already the epitome of freshness and texture. Ordinary cooking methods would only diminish their quality.

Of course, some preferred richer flavors, but for that, they couldn’t use ordinary cooking utensils or seasonings. They needed seasonings and sauces made from ingredients cultivated in the same spiritual energy environment. Only those who controlled vast wealth and resources could enjoy such deeply processed delicacies.

Zhong Liyu handed him the chopsticks, “Eat up. Try out the different ingredients and let me know which ones you like, so I can have them cultivated more.”

“Next time, I’ll prepare some with deeper flavors and seasonings for you to try and see which you prefer.”

Naturally, Lu Qingjia didn’t waste this goodwill. After the meal, he had to admit that while the emperor’s banquet was impressive, it couldn’t compare to this specially prepared meal tailored to his tastes and preferences.

After eating, Lu Qingjia went to the bathroom to freshen up, while Zhong Liyu dutifully washed the dishes.

When Lu Qingjia came out, Zhong Liyu took the opportunity to stay over.

But to avoid being kicked out, he had learned his lesson. So when Lu Qingjia came out, he saw a large cat lying on the bed, pretending to be asleep.

You can never wake someone who’s pretending to sleep!

Lu Qingjia thought about it and decided that, in this cat form, he couldn’t bring himself to drag Zhong Liyu out—it would be too inhumane.

So he got into bed, hugged the cat, and turned off the lights.

He slept soundly through the night and woke up feeling full of spiritual energy.

At some point, the cat in his arms had transformed back into a human and was now holding him instead, with one hand slipping inside his clothes.

This was Zhong Liyu’s habitual posture when they slept together, as if he had some kind of skin hunger, always needing to touch bare skin.

Of course, this was also one of the key reasons why he had been exposed when he turned into a cat.

Lu Qingjia kicked him. “Time to get to work.”

Zhong Liyu seized the opportunity to grab his ankle and plant a kiss on it, then opened his eyes.

His eyes were deep and mesmerizing, with slightly upturned corners and sharp contours, exuding an aggressive aura when he wasn’t being foolish.

Early in the morning, his voice still slightly hoarse, he greeted Lu Qingjia, “Good morning.”

Lu Qingjia’s throat tightened, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Zhong Liyu naturally sensed the atmosphere and was about to seize the moment when they heard a knock at the door.

“Boss, are you up?”

Lu Qingjia kicked Zhong Liyu away and replied through the door, “What is it?”

Xiao Wei’s voice came from outside, “There’s a guest here to see you. He says he’s your potential partner.”

At these words, the room fell into silence.

Zhong Liyu sat up with a dark expression, a knife suddenly appearing in his hand. “Damn it, does he think I’m dead?”

Lu Qingjia changed his clothes, and Zhong Liyu did the same in an instant, following him out the door.

When Xiao Wei saw him emerge from the boss’s bedroom again, her face showed a mix of excitement and intrigue.

She led the two to the main hall, where The Richest Man was seated. Hearing the footsteps, he turned around and waved at Lu Qingjia.

Then, with a somewhat provocative glance at Zhong Liyu, he smiled and said, “Jiajia, I’ve come to find you as promised.”

Zhong Liyu: “Promised?”

Beside them, Xiao Wei maintained her professional front desk smile, but inside she was screaming wildly—

[Fight, fight!]