Chapter 52

“You are the true Rookie King. That kid just got lucky, what is he anyway? Your Master Lyle is a renowned figure on the Heavenly Ranking.”

The man on the left was clearly of a lower status than the one on the right. He flattered shamelessly, “In the last Instance, your clearing ability was so strong that everyone willingly let you be the captain! Your Evil Spirit Ability is so similar to Mr. Lyle’s, you’re a great candidate for the Heavenly Ranking, practically a ‘Little Lyle’…”

“Enough!”

His flattery was abruptly cut off by a cold, harsh rebuke.

The man’s brows furrowed tightly, his brow forming a deep crease. He gritted his teeth, “Song Changrong, I’ll say this one last time. I’m not ‘Little Lyle’, I’m Feng Shan.”

“Stop with the useless nonsense.”

Song Changrong fell silent, “Understood, Young Master.”

Feng Shan said impatiently, “In the game, call me by my name.”

“Alright, Feng Shan.”

“In this Instance, if you defeat Lu Li and become the most discussed rookie on the Forum, Mr. Lyle will definitely see you in a new light.”

Feng Shan saw Lu Li and the Bandaged Man nearby, seemingly chatting about something amusing. Both wore joyful smiles, and Feng Shan muttered bitterly, “What’s there to be so proud of?

He’s not the only one who can draw out the Evil God. Does he really think he’s that special!”

Suddenly, he spotted the blindfolded girl, and immediately walked over excitedly, greeting her with gentlemanly courtesy.

“Miss Mirella, we meet again. Your outstanding performance in the last Instance was truly unforgettable. I wonder if you’d be willing to team up with me in this Instance?”

Mirella faced forward, waiting for the Instance to begin.

The Black Bird on her shoulder was using its claws to fiddle with her hanging white ribbon.

Upon hearing the voice,

The Black Bird stopped its movements.

It turned its head, fixing one eye on Feng Shan.

Feng Shan moved closer and closer to Mirella, still enthusiastically listing the benefits of joining him:

“Points, resources-everything you need is in my team. I even have shortcuts to clear the Instance. My Master is a Heavenly Ranking Player, I can contact him during the Instance… Ah, you damned thing!”

The Black Bird raised its left foot and suddenly kicked Feng Shan hard.

Its eyes seemed to freeze over, quickly covered by a thin layer of frost.

Feng Shan cried out, half his shoulder frozen into an ice sculpture, his body swaying as he fell backward.

Song Changrong rushed over in time to catch him, hurriedly exchanging for an Item to melt the ice.

Feng Shan pointed at the Black Bird, “Why did it suddenly attack me?!”

The usually silent Mirella finally responded. She reached out to shield the Black Bird and said coldly, “You made it angry.”

Feng Shan was indignant. He had come to ask for help, only to be treated like this. Staggering to his feet, he was about to say something.

“Boom-”

A loud noise rang out as the light screen in front of them split open to both sides.

When the smoke cleared,

Behind the light screen was a narrow, dark lake.

A thick, fleshy Tentacle reached in through the crack of the door, covered in countless faces.

Nearly a hundred faces stared at the Players below from all angles and directions, their expressions full of terror.

The Face Tentacle reveled in the fear of humans, each face taking a deep breath.

The largest face in the center kept its eyes tightly shut, facing the Players:
“The rating for this Game Instance is C. There are 9 official Players. I am the Guide for this round. Do you see the lake behind me? Out of the hundred people present, only nine are qualified to jump in.”

“Now is the selection phase. Our principle is: violence above all.”

The Face Tentacle kept spinning its body, making sure each of its faces could watch the show. “Begin the mutual slaughter. The last nine survivors will be the winners.”

“Eh, you are…”

The spinning suddenly stopped. The Tentacles shot forward, the largest face almost pressing up against Lu Li.

Foul, sticky slime splattered all over the ground.

Lu Li stood still, not even blinking.

The Face Tentacle looked Lu Li up and down, each face trying to turn for a better look, surprised and impressed.

“He’s the one mentioned on the Forum, the only newcomer so far to have cleared the Bug Instance.”

“I read the trending post too. I heard that not only was that Instance cleared for the first time, but it was also permanently closed. And now he’s here.”

“My god, he’s really strange. Why does he have Instance Aura on him? I sniffed carefully-he’s not an Evil Spirit, he’s definitely human.”

“His eyes are beautiful. Closer, closer, let me see him.”

“On him, this is…”

“Looks like that Instance really likes him.”

“That’s the D Grade Instance Blessing.”

The largest face in the center suddenly opened its eyes and asked Lu Li, “Can you take out the thing that’s heating up in your Evil Spirit Bracelet?”

Lu Li took out a Doll taller than two people. The Doll’s stitching was crooked, its legs splayed apart, head bowed as it sat on the ground, shrouded in a strange, viscous red glow.

The surrounding Players recoiled in fear.

Luo Jia Bai looked up at the Doll, nearly falling backward. “W-what’s going on? You can actually bring something out from the last Instance!?”

Lu Li nodded. “Nuo Nuo said she was giving it to me. Later, it just appeared in my Wristband.”

“I’ve taken it out.” He straightened the Doll’s face and asked the Face Tentacle, “Is this the one you’re talking about?”

A terrifying smile appeared on the face. “That’s right, it’s the one.”

“You have received the D Grade Instance Blessing and protection. You are exempt from this selection and advance directly as an official Player in the Instance.”

It corrected its own game rules.

“Now, begin the mutual slaughter. The last eight survivors will be the winners.”

As the Face Tentacle announced Lu Li’s advancement, the red glow enveloping the Doll vanished.

With a “whoosh,” it shrank.

It landed softly and bounced on the ground.

It became the size of a normal Doll, about as long as an Arm.

Lu Li picked up the Doll, looking gratefully at the Face Tentacle. “You actually shrank it. It’s much more convenient to carry now. I can put it on my bed.”

Together with his favorite Pillow.

“What the hell!!?” Luo Jia Bai was stunned for a full minute. “What kind of operation is this?”

“Are we even playing the same game?”

Lu Li pointed behind him, kindly reminding, “I’ve advanced early, but you haven’t yet. Be careful.”