Spirit Realm Walker

In the spacious, luxurious office, Li Dongze lounged lazily on the sofa with his legs crossed, a wine glass in his left hand and a cigar in his right, completely at ease.

Just moments ago, he had reported the news that he had recruited a Nocturnal Specter to his direct superior.

Li Dongze knew that young centurion was eager to make his mark as a new appointee, and desperate to build his own faction. A Nocturnal Specter with a clean background was like rain from heaven for that centurion, who came from a distinguished family. It couldn’t have come at a better time.

As expected, his young superior offered him high praise and promised to record this as a major achievement for Li Dongze.

In the White Tiger Legion’s system, military achievements trumped everything else.

Bang!

The office’s glass door burst open violently and Guan Ya strode in, her heels clicking loudly against the floor.

Li Dongze frowned. 

”Guan Ya, that’s very inelegant of you,” he rebuked her as he took a leisurely sip of wine.

Guan Ya cut straight to the point. 

”Squad Leader, this kid’s trial Spirit Realm is Sheling Tunnel!”

”Pfft!” Li Dongze instantly transformed into a spitting fountain. 

Without bothering to wipe away the wine that had sprayed across his desk, he shot up from his chair and shrieked, ”Sheling Tunnel?! Oh God, you damned fool, look what you’ve done!”

He grabbed his walking stick and rushed out to the office area, where he saw the newly arrived Nocturnal Specter staring blankly at a laptop.

Sensing Li Dongze’s approach, Zhang Yuanqing looked up with an expression of despair.

”Squad Leader, do you think there’s any chance of saving me?” he asked forlornly.

He dreaded hearing the expected response: ”There’s no hope, just wait to die! Also, your contract is terminated!

Li Dongze stared at him silently, his expression that of someone who had finally won over his beloved, only to discover she was his long lost sister.

Faced with the new employee’s expectant gaze, Li Dongze took a deep breath and said in a heavy tone, ”Trial Spirit Realms are every Spirit Realm Walker’s initial solo instance. That’s what makes them so troublesome. In solo instances, no one can help you. This is the Spirit Realm’s test for you, the inevitable price you must pay for gaining supernatural power.”

Zhang Yuanqing nodded gravely.

Li Dongze continued, ”I’ll report this matter up the chain. Hopefully the higher level databases contain information and strategy guides for Sheling Tunnel. Otherwise, no one can save you. Go home and wait for news. I’ll notify you immediately if anything comes up.”

Though not a Nocturnal Specter himself, as a veteran Spirit Realm Walker, Li Dongze had heard of Sheling Tunnel’s fearsome reputation. To date, according to official organization records, no one had ever cleared Sheling Tunnel. This instance’s ”first clear” remained unachieved.

Zhang Yuanqing nodded stiffly. 

”Alright, he replied. ”Thank you Squad Leader.” 

”Before you go,” Li Dongze added, ”write down everything you experienced in Sheling Tunnel in detail.”

***

After arranging for a car to send Zhang Yuanqing away, Guan Ya returned to her desk and pulled out a pad of sticky notes with Aquarius watermarks from her drawer, then uncapped a pen decorated with Virgo patterns.

Everything on her desk—computer, notebooks, desktop, beverage cup—bore various zodiac signs and decorations. Clearly, she was a devoted astrology enthusiast.

On a sticky note, Guan Ya wrote: 

”Yuanshi Tianzun, Scorpio male. Zodiac traits: scheming, vindictive, high sex drive.”

”Note: Extremely high probability of being seduced by women from other organizations.”

After finishing, the mixed-heritage beauty sighed softly, tore off the note, and stuck it in Team Two’s personnel file.

She made notes and assessments for every squad member’s attributes, including those who had quit or died in Spirit Realms.

She looked up. ”Hey Wang Tai, does that kid have any chance of clearing it?” she called to her neighboring desk.

Wang Tai, with his disheveled hair, looked over at her. 

”The Taiyi Sect might have detailed information on Sheling Tunnel, but it probably won’t help much,” he replied. ”Otherwise, they would have already arranged for Nocturnal Specters to clear that Spirit Realm. An S-rank Spirit Realm should contain decent rewards.”

Guan Ya frowned.

Wang Tai continued, ”If we could find him some items, he might have a chance at clearing it, but you know how diverse items and their functions are. Our understanding of Sheling Tunnel is limited, so we can’t provide specific items targeted at overcoming the dungeon’s dangers. In the end, we would likely be losing both the person and the items.”

”No kidding!” Guan Ya retorted with a roll of her eyes.

Items themselves were incredibly precious and rare. Transcendent-tier Spirit Realm Walkers were lucky to have even one item with them.

Items not tied to a specific owner could only be obtained through two methods: entering Spirit Realms to find them, or killing Spirit Realm Walkers in the real world to steal their treasures. Furthermore, only items that were taken out from the Inventory could be seized.

Both options were obviously unrealistic.

Most crucially, it was impossible to say which type of item would help him to clear Sheling Tunnel without knowing the specific conditions required to clear it.

If anyone died in a Spirit Realm, their items would be automatically reclaimed by the Spirit Realm, which would be a massive loss.

Wang Tai clattered away at his keyboard, pulling up streams of data. After staring for a long time, he muttered to himself, ”Just after the Qingming Festival, which is exactly when Sheling Tunnel opens each year. Does this guy just have the worst luck?”

***

In his office, Li Dongze opened his chat application and typed a message:

”Centurion Fu, your subordinate is compelled to report something related to the newly-recruited Nocturnal Specter mentioned earlier. His trial Spirit Realm is Sheling Tunnel, the infamous and bugged novice Spirit Realm for Nocturnal Specters.

”The Sheling Tunnel Spirit Realm first appeared during the tunnel’s construction in the previous century, when a construction crew accidentally entered it and died within the Spirit Realm. Officials found only one survivor. That survivor was transported back into the Spirit Realm thirty-six hours later.

”It is confirmed that Sheling Tunnel’s trial mission has two stages, which is different from the one time trial missions of other classes and Spirit Realms.

”My apologies, your subordinate was carried away by excitement and misled by habitual thinking. When I learned he had returned from the trial Spirit Realm, I subconsciously assumed he had passed the trial.

”This subordinate knows that the Taiyi Sect’s database contains the most abundant and comprehensive database on Nocturnal Specters in the Spirit Realm, as their sect master is the world’s strongest Nocturnal Specter. Perhaps they have relevant information on Sheling Tunnel.

”If Centurion Fu were to personally approach them, the Taiyi Sect would surely show some face.

”Never abandoning or giving up on comrades is the core principle of the White Tiger Legion. Since he is already a part of us, your subordinate cannot easily abandon him. I hope for Centurion Fu’s assistance.”

After editing the message, Li Dongze read it several times to confirm the information contained was correct, then clicked send.

Gripping his wine glass, he stared at the screen and sighed.

***

With a heavy heart, Zhang Yuanqing returned home, entered the keycode to his front door, and opened it.

His grandmother was in the living room, mopping the spotless floor. At the dining table sat a middle-aged man with handsome features and black hair, wearing a black jacket. Deep lines carved furrows between his brows, which, together with the fine crow’s feet radiating from the corners of his eyes, painted a portrait of a man weathered by time.

Appearance-wise, he was undoubtedly considered a charming older gentleman who would be quite popular with mature women and some uncle-loving girls.

But this middle aged man wasn’t Zhang Yuanqing’s uncle—it was his cousin.

His cousin swallowed his freshly heated porridge and looked over at Zhang Yuanqing with a stern and serious expression, like a younger version of Grandfather. 

”Grandma said you were looking for me last night?” he asked.

Zhang Yuanqing opened his mouth, then shook his head. ”It’s nothing,” he replied.

That initial problem had already been solved, and his cousin couldn’t help with the new one, so it was better not to mention it.

Besides, he had signed a confidentiality agreement.

His cousin glanced at him as he slowly sipped at his porridge. ”It’s about Lei Yibing’s matter, isn’t it? I heard Li Dongze personally visited yesterday, which means his case is quite unusual. Even I won’t be able to help, let alone you.”

Zhang Yuanqing offered a grunt of acknowledgement. So his cousin had already investigated the matter beforehand! 

Sensing his low spirits, his cousin Chen Yuanjun said no more. He assumed Zhang Yuanqing was still worried about Lei Yibing.

Just then, Jiang Yu’er emerged from her room wearing a set of cute pajamas with bear prints and holding a stack of face masks. ”Here, anti-wrinkle and anti-aging ones. They should work pretty well. Use them in the morning and at night. Your grandma insisted I help buy them.”

His cousin’s face darkened, and the frown lines on his face deepened. ”Auntie, I don’t need these,” he protested.

Jiang Yu’er shrugged indifferently. ”Whatever you say.”

Grandmother, leaning on her mop nearby, glared at her grandson irritably. 

”You don’t need face masks?” she retorted angrily. ”Then do you need grandma to use an iron to smooth out all the wrinkles on your face?”

Because her son was unreliable, grandmother had long ago given up on her main account and switched to cultivating the two alternate accounts, which were the next generation.

One of her grandsons had gotten into Songhai University, and her other grandson worked at the Public Security Bureau—it seemed both had bright futures.

But grandmother had one persistent worry: that her grandson was too steady and mature, a thirty-year-old with a forty-year-old’s face.

Two years prior, when Grandfather’s old friend who had been away for many years came to visit Songhai City, he’d seen Chen Yuanjun and said in surprise to Grandfather, ”I didn’t know you had another son.”

Grandfather held it in for a long time before managing to mutter, ”This is my grandson.”

That old friend was a straightforward person and blurted out in amazement, ”Your grandson sure grows however he pleases…”

Decades of friendship had nearly ended right there.

Chen Yuanjun helplessly accepted the face masks and stuffed them in his pocket. ”Alright, grandma, stop nagging. I still have to work. I’ve got a missing persons case that’s keeping me busy.”

A missing persons case? Zhang Yuanqing immediately grew alert. ”What’s the situation?” he asked.

Chen Yuanjun picked up some pickled vegetables. ”Two people disappeared in Sheling Tunnel, and we still haven’t found them. We checked the surveillance footage, and while the cameras outside the tunnel show them entering, the cameras inside the tunnel show no footage of them entering at all…”

His cousin suddenly stopped and warned them, ”Don’t spread this information around.”

It seemed he had signed a confidentiality agreement as well.

Upon hearing this, grandmother immediately lit up at the possibility of gossip and said mysteriously, ”Is it haunted again? Hey, why hasn’t this place been cordoned off yet? People disappear in that tunnel every year.”

Jiang Yu’er also perked up her ears and adopted the same gossip-mongering expression as her mother.

”Grandma, stop asking about it.”

Could they have stumbled into that mountain goddess temple like I did? wondered Zhang Yuanqing. Damn, those two poor souls. I wonder if they can survive three hours… 

Zhang Yuanqing felt both sympathy and a sense of comfort that he wasn’t the only unlucky one.

He had gained a deeper understanding of Spirit Realms—Li Dongze had mentioned that Spirit Realms had always existed. Perhaps some of those missing persons from each year had vanished into Spirit Realms.

***

Beijing. Inside a courtyard.

In the center of the courtyard, a great scholar tree spread its lush branches like an open emerald umbrella.

Under that canopy, an elderly man with graying hair and dressed in a white undershirt and loose shorts lay in a rocking chair, having a leisurely nap.

The old man’s face was gaunt, with a mole between his brows. He had an indescribable air of nobility about him.

A gentle breeze stirred the leaves, scattering dappled light across the ground.

From somewhere in the scholar tree came the faint sound of children’s innocent laughter.

A black clothed middle aged man stepped over the threshold into the courtyard.

”Elder Sun, the Fu family’s boy sent you an email,” he said.

Whether in the Five Elements Alliance or Taiyi Sect, those who reached the rank of elders were all renowned Spirit Realm Walkers.

The old man chuckled without opening his eyes, fanning himself a few times. 

”Fu Qingyang?” he mused. ”What’s the matter?”

The middle aged man relayed the email’s contents.

”His subordinate in Songhai City recruited a Nocturnal Specter who had been given Sheling Tunnel as his trial Spirit Realm,” he reported. ”He has made a request for Sheling Tunnel-related materials from you. Also, he hopes you can offer some advice.”

The fan in the old man’s hand paused. After a few seconds, he said with a sudden burst of understanding, ”Look at the date! It’s just after the Qingming Festival, which is exactly when the Sheling Tunnel opens each year. Surely several people will be lucky enough to obtain Nocturnal Specter Character Cards during this time. Unfortunately, it’s impossible for anyone to clear Sheling Tunnel.”

He paused, then continued, ”The materials can be given to him. The sect has already abandoned plans for clearing Sheling Tunnel, so the confidentiality level has been lowered. Also, tell young Fu that something has gone awry partway through Sheling Tunnel, which is already an S-rank trial Spirit Realm, making it even more difficult. It has long since departed from the scope of trial Spirit Realms.

”My suggestion would be to abandon that Nocturnal Specter. There’s no point investing in someone who is destined to die.”

The middle aged man nodded lightly. As a steward within Taiyi Sect, he understood well the strangeness and ill omens surrounding Songhai’s Sheling Tunnel.

S-rank trial Spirit Realms were already the most difficult among novice Spirit Realms, and Sheling Tunnel was even more bizarre than ordinary S-rank Spirit Realms.

Every S-rank trial Spirit Realm inevitably contained something extraordinary, whether it be rare items or crucial information of immense value.

To crack Sheling Tunnel, Taiyi Sect had specifically stationed two Level 1 Nocturnal Specters in Songhai long-term, since S-rank novice trial Spirit Realms occasionally opened for Level 1 Spirit Realm Walkers of the same class.

After months of waiting, the two Level 1 Nocturnal Specters successfully received Sheling Tunnel missions.

Unfortunately, the results were devastating. One of the Nocturnal Specters that entered the Spirit Realm was never heard from again, while the other successfully completed the first quest, only to die during the second.

Both Nocturnal Specters had carried items with them.

After that debacle, Taiyi Sect’s council of elders reassessed Sheling Tunnel and completely abandoned all future plans for that Spirit Realm.

”If someone can actually clear Sheling Tunnel and obtain the information inside, it would resolve one of our Taiyi Sect’s lingering concerns,” the middle aged man said with a smile.

The old man offered no comment on that. Instead, he said slowly, ”In a few days, the sect master will summon all Nocturnal Specters to Beijing for a meeting. There’s an important matter to announce. Make the necessary preparations, and summon all the boys under your command back.”

The old man waved his fan in a gesture of dismissal, and the middle-aged man bowed and withdrew.