C4 Level 35?

Xie Yu, with his weapon at the ready, settled onto the living room sofa and launched the settlement interface. He hadn't checked the rewards from the newbie dungeon yet, but he was optimistic about their value.

He had single-handedly conquered the newbie dungeon, with the other four participants being mere NPCs. Naturally, he expected his haul to be the most substantial.

First, he glanced at the gold coins and experience points. The gold was essential for purchasing in-game items, such as a variety of clothes and home decor available in the store—its primary purpose. Beyond that, there were no other uses.

But what truly mattered to every player were the weapon points and experience points. Experience points would elevate a player's level and enhance their physical capabilities. With a high enough level, whether practicing Tai Chi underwater or leaping from a six-story building, a player could avoid a fatal outcome.

He received a generous eight weapon points, which Xie Yu promptly allocated to his Ring Blade. The black Ring Blade absorbed the golden light in silence, the luminescence melding into the metal and leaving behind a golden trace. What pattern it might eventually form was a mystery, but Xie Yu was eager to find out.

With time to spare, he spent his newly acquired gold on two Health Potions from the mall before revisiting the team list.

This time, he opted for a less ambitious challenge—a three-person dungeon.

The team formation was swift. A burst of white light later, Xie Yu vanished, and the living room was plunged into darkness.

"Welcome to the new world."

Following the same haughty proclamation, he found himself standing once again upon the earth.

Facing an official difficulty game instance, Xie Yu was on high alert. Kitchen knife in hand, he scanned his surroundings with caution.

Not far off stood a girl in a pristine white crescent moon dress, her long hair cascading down her back. Nearby was a shorter boy.

Their attire bore a resemblance, and the dim lighting made it hard to discern their features. However, judging by her statuesque and graceful figure, she was likely a stunner.

He checked their IDs—the girl in white was named 'Hibernation Awakening,' and the boy, 'Equinox.' Clearly, they were a teamed pair.

But that name... The 24 Solar Terms Squad?

He reminisced about his own ID, 'Resignation', and had to admit, it had a nicer ring to it.

'Resignation' carried a certain cultural heft.

Lost in thought, he craned his neck to survey his surroundings, his grip on the kitchen knife momentarily faltering.

Was this level of brutality really necessary for his first official dungeon run?

"Sis, our teammate is only Level 3, and he picked a kitchen knife for a weapon?"

On the other side, the diminutive Equinox gave Xie Yu's kitchen knife a disdainful once-over before whispering a complaint. He then turned to his cousin, his eyes lighting up with admiration.

His cousin was incredibly strong. If he hadn't shown significant improvement on his exams, she certainly wouldn't have agreed to bring him along for gaming.

With her guidance, acquiring gold coins and leveling up would be a breeze.

He'd had his eye on a particular piece of furniture for ages. Once he saved up enough gold coins, he planned to deck out his hall with a top-notch sound system and a professional microphone.

If real life wouldn't let him play, he'd be the loudest one in the game!

Jing Zhe merely gave him a cursory glance. Her cousin was motivated enough to climb 50 spots in his exams just to game. She felt it was only right to reward such effort.

After all, one shouldn't squash a high schooler's academic drive.

She turned to appraise Xie Yu.

A male player, named... Her gaze lifted slightly. 'Resignation'? Was it a nod to the idyllic phrase 'What a beautiful day for resignation'? He seemed to be a player with an artistic bent.

Having Lin Ying tag along for the level was taxing enough, and now they were joined by a poetic male player, prompting a subtle twitch in Lin Chuan's smile.

But her natural upturned lips always gave off a cheerful demeanor, masking any underlying thoughts.

"Don't underestimate the kitchen knife; wielded properly, it's formidable."

Lin Chuan glanced down at the slender sword at his waist. Weapons were only as good as their wielder; a well-handled kitchen knife could take down an opponent, even one armed with a renowned blade.

Xie Yu quietly sized up his two teammates. Their names suggested a partnership, and the way Equinox had immediately gravitated towards Jing Zhe upon entering indicated a connection beyond the game. They were likely well-acquainted in the real world as well.

Glancing downward, Jing Zhe wielded a sword—a rapier, to be precise—indicating he was a player who prioritized speed. The Equinox, lacking any visible weapons, left two possibilities: perhaps a dagger or a firearm.

With only a brief exchange of looks, Xie Yu had gleaned this much. But his attention needed to remain on navigating the game instance they were in.

Visibility was poor in the murky surroundings, and the sound of dripping water echoed from outside. They seemed to be in a cave or perhaps a vast warehouse.

Narrowing his eyes, Xie Yu could just make out a clutter of newspapers plastered on a nearby wall, suggesting they were indeed inside a large warehouse or a similar structure.

Flickering lights and shadows danced around them, their source uncertain—could they be specters? No discernible aura emanated from them. The ground was a dark, crimson hue, and there was a tacky sensation underfoot.

With information scarce, Xie Yu knew he needed to find an exit or a source of light, and fast.

As he contemplated his next move, Jing Zhe stepped forward.

"Watch your step," Xie Yu instinctively cautioned, though it aligned perfectly with his own strategy. Lingering here offered no escape; action was necessary.

He caught up, and the trio dashed ahead. The Equinox appeared frightened but not worried, a detail Xie Yu's keen perception didn't miss.

Was his confidence due to the female player?

Trailing just behind, Xie Yu's gaze lingered on Jing Zhe. Her moon-white garment fluttered behind her like a trench coat, and her long black hair cascaded down her back. One hand gripped the scabbard at her waist, the other poised on the sword's hilt, ready to draw at a moment's notice.

Checking the team panel, Xie Yu's eyebrows lifted. Jing Zhe was Level 35?

Matched with someone of such a high level, he clutched his kitchen knife. Unless they encountered significant trouble, there was no need to unsheathe his Ring Blade.

Then, a piercing sound cut through the air from ahead. Xie Yu, Jing Zhe, and the Equinox halted abruptly. A clue had emerged!

A vast mirror came into view, crisply reflecting their current surroundings.

The vast warehouse was shrouded in fog, with heaps of white bones scattered across the floor. The bloodstains had turned a dark red, not entirely congealed due to the ambient temperature, leaving a sticky residue underfoot.

"Have we stumbled into another haunted instance?" Choshunior Susukino asked, standing next to Hibernation Awakening, warily scanning their surroundings.

"It could be a Serial Killer's instance," Xie Yu responded.

"That's even scarier!" Choshunior Susukino shuddered. He wasn't afraid of ghosts; it was the instances with psychopaths that truly unnerved him. The reason was simple: there might not be ghosts in the real world, but serial killers were a grim reality.

"Whatever it is, we'll just wipe them out," Jing Zhe said, caressing his slender sword with a tone devoid of any emotion, as if the lives at stake were no more significant than chopping up vegetables.