chapter 8

“It’s still moving!” Luo Jia Bai finally believed it. He managed to pull his leg out, his voice trembling. “What’s underneath?”

Lu Li pulled out the stick and tossed it aside.

“I don’t know.”

The sand blocked everything tightly, making it impossible to see what was below-whether it was dead or alive.

Although there had been no sound or image in Lu Li’s Live Stream Room all night, its popularity and the number of Bullet Comments kept steadily rising:

[The Streamer is pretty smart. Is he really a new Player?]

[I watched for a while, following the Streamer’s moves, and it feels strange. I need to use my brain. The other D Grade Instances I watched before were all pretty simple, but this Instance is weird… Not sure yet, let’s keep watching.]

[Looks are justice. I only trust the Streamer’s face.]

[Spirit Money *100, supporting the Streamer to level up quickly and unlock Bullet Comments. I just want to know what happened last night! This Streamer’s level is too low. Fellow Ghosts, if you have gifts and Spirit Money, come and tip!]

Qi Mingda finally realized something was wrong. “We’ve been walking for so long, but we’re still at the Elevator entrance.”

The Player who had been running the hardest was drenched in sweat. “The sand is over my waist now. How do we get out of here!”

“Look at this guy! The sand is only up to his knees-he’s buried the shallowest.” Qiao Ren pointed at Lu Li, waving his fist as if to threaten him, but his body was stuck in the sand and he could only wriggle back and forth like a worm. “Why are you different from the rest of us? What did you do? Do you know how to escape!”

Luo Jia Bai’s lips moved, but he didn’t say a word for Lu Li. He even edged away, as if to distance himself from Lu Li.

Since Lu Li didn’t want to team up with him, he certainly wouldn’t step forward to take the heat when Lu Li was being targeted by others.

Compared to other Players, the more you know, the higher your chances of clearing the Instance.

Although Lu Li had just told him there was something under the sand, if Lu Li were set up and killed by other Players, Luo Jia Bai would absolutely not help.

Because in the Necromancer Game, only selfishness keeps you alive.

Lu Li didn’t care about the open or hidden malice around him, his expression calm.

“You want to know how to get out? Isn’t it simple?”

At those words, all the Players’ eyes fell on Lu Li, who had just made such a bold claim.

Lin Bo probed, “Simple? Did you find a Key Item?”

“Just ask her.” Lu Li looked at Nuo Nuo and waved his hand.

“This floor’s game doesn’t even have an explanation. I’m a newbie-do I get a hint?”

Qi Mingda thought Lu Li really had a way, but it turned out he was just stupidly repeating what everyone had already tried. He sneered, “Other than being a bit lucky, you’re completely useless. Your brain’s just for show.”

He opened his Wristband to check the Shop, hoping to find an Item to clear the Instance.

Seeing his pitifully low balance, his fists clenched. Qi Mingda glanced at Lu Li with undisguised hatred.

The other Players were also disappointed, treating Lu Li’s words as nonsense.

Just as they stubbornly continued to “walk” forward, Nuo Nuo’s head tilted, and her fingers stopped moving.

“Pretty guest, do you want Nuo Nuo’s help?”

Luo Jia Bai couldn’t believe it. “Why is she answering your question in particular?”

He was clearly the veteran Player who had experienced multiple Instances, but following Lu Li always brought one shock after another.

Lu Li touched his own face. “Because I’m handsome, I guess.”

Luo Jia Bai: “…”

The other Players were stunned as well.

“We asked just now too, but the Boss didn’t react!”

“Did this guy get some ability in exchange from the Evil God he drew?”

Lin Bo was grinding his teeth. “Is it Newbie Protection from the game? If I’d known, I would have asked too!”

Not only were the Players shocked, but the Live Stream Room exploded:

[Having a Key Item can trigger a key conversation with the Instance Boss. He just happened to stumble into it!]
[After visiting all the Live Stream Rooms of Players who entered this Instance, aside from the shared Key Clues, no Player on the Fifth Floor except the Streamer found the Key Item.]

[Just entered the Live Stream Room, question: What clue did the Streamer find? How did he find it?]

[A deeply hidden Family Portrait on the Fifth Floor.]

[He found it after just a few seconds of looking.]

–

Lu Li said to Nuo Nuo, “I want to help.”

“Alright.” Nuo Nuo smiled sweetly, “But first, you all have to answer a question: How many Family Members does Nuo Nuo have?”

“Before the sand runs out, Nuo Nuo wants to hear a satisfactory answer.”

“The first guest to answer will receive an extra Special Privilege from Nuo Nuo.”

The Players fell into deep thought. In the silent space, only the soft sound of sand flowing could be heard.

“I know!”

“Lu Li, even though you don’t have the Key Item, I do!” Lin Bo was extremely excited. “I found it before any of you!”

“You found the Key Item!”

“Why didn’t you show it earlier! With your IQ, how did you even find the Key Item?”

“How did you find it? Let me see!”

Everyone found a breakthrough and grew excited.

Lin Bo took out the Item, holding it like a treasure, afraid someone would snatch it away. “Stay away! I paid a huge price to find this!”

Lu Li looked over and saw that what Lin Bo was holding was the Photo Frame he had collected yesterday-the Family Portrait.

If what Luo Jia Bai said earlier was correct,

Lin Bo obtained the Key Item during Game Night through Soul Exchange.

So the man who was timid yesterday had a complete change in personality today, looking down on everyone.

As a newcomer, being blindly arrogant before fully understanding the game

will get you killed quickly.

“Nuo Nuo said she has a happy family.” Lin Bo, completely unaware of the danger, wiped the glass of the Photo Frame clean and counted each Family Member in the Family Portrait with his finger. “Nuo Nuo, Mom, Dad, and the dog.”

He looked at Nuo Nuo, eager to show off and be the first to clear the stage and win the Special Privilege.

“There are four Family Members in total!”

Something in his words seemed to trigger Nuo Nuo. Her face suddenly showed a sad expression, moving closer and even deeply embedding into the ceiling.

The flesh on her face squirmed, trying to squeeze further in.

“This is Nuo Nuo’s Family Portrait.” Nuo Nuo leaned in, shaking her head with longing,

“Wrong answer, it’s not four.”

After she pronounced the verdict, the sand around Lin Bo began to move.

A violent force grabbed Lin Bo’s legs and pulled him down hard.

“Wrong?” Lin Bo screamed and struggled. “How could it be wrong? The photo clearly shows four! Ahhh-”

The smug smile on Lin Bo’s face hadn’t even faded when immense pain swept over him, twisting his features completely.

The sand he was standing on turned into a bottomless pit. Lin Bo’s legs were torn apart, bright red blood gushing out from the cracks, his whole body uncontrollably sinking down.

“Gurgle-gurgle-”

Blood flowed down with the sand, and at the bottom of the dried sand, a faint, greedy swallowing sound could be heard.

But Lin Bo’s screams were too loud.

“Give me another chance! Let me out!”

In an instant, only Lin Bo’s chest and two Arms remained above the sand as he tried to crawl out. “Let me think again! I’ll answer again! Mmm!”

In just a few seconds, he was completely swallowed by the sand.

The blood dried up and disappeared.

On the smooth sand, only the Item Lin Bo had fiercely protected remained.

Qi Mingda, who was closest, quickly picked up the Item and breathed a sigh of relief.

Nuo Nuo said softly, “Hurry up, the sand is already a third full.”