Zhang Yuanqing didn’t immediately respond to the Lingjing realm. Instead, he walked over to the Yin Shi named “Blood Peony,” placed his hand on her shoulder, and then softly murmured: “I’m in!” At the very moment he uttered those two words, Zhang, who had sat at the desk for two hours remaining perfectly calm, suddenly heard his own rapid heartbeat and felt a surge of nervousness rising within him. It was just like parents sending their children off to a college entrance exam—this sense of anticipation and tension, now spreading through Zhang Yuanqing’s heart. Clearing the Killing Trial quest would elevate him to the rank of Saint. Saints were the backbone of the Lingjing realm—representing both a level of transcendence and a rise in status. While the Transcendent had opened the door to a new world, the Saint was the crucial step toward reaching the pinnacle of that world. He would now experience a completely different life— A position of high status and influence! Moreover, once he became a Saint, he would finally have the opportunity to seek out Bing Bo, to investigate the past between him and the Magistrate. In this transcendent realm killing instance, I'm aiming to break the records of the Mage King and the Female Marshal. Fu Qingyang, you must absolutely survive—don't let the Silver Moon General take you down. We'll meet at the peak again... As Zhang Yuanqing silently prayed, a voice echoed in his ears: 【Ping! The spiritual realm map is loading. In 30 seconds, you will enter the spiritual realm. This is your current spiritual realm: "The City Lost to the Forest," designated as 0000.】 【Difficulty Level: Unknown】 【Type: Multiplayer (Death-based)】 【Main Objective: Survive for 72 hours.】 【Note: Non-spiritual realm items cannot be brought in.】 【Introduction to Realm 0000: One day, the city was completely surrounded by an endless forest, roads were severed, communication systems failed, and the survivors began exploring the forest in search of a way out. Yet, what awaited them was a terrifying crisis...】 The scene is a city surrounded by forest—how peculiar is the designation and the difficulty level? The large-scale slaughter raid dungeons are different from regular ones… Zhang Yuanqing was savoring the dungeon information when the scene suddenly rippled like ripples on water, blurring everything. … When his vision cleared, Zhang Yuanqing saw thick trunks of trees, with the sky partially obscured by a complex network of branches. He found himself deep within a lush, primeval forest, the ground beneath him covered with dry twigs and decaying leaves. The humid, warm air carried a distinct scent of rotting wood. Based on the humidity, temperature, and the density of the trees, he instinctively judged that this was a tropical rainforest. "Forest? According to the spiritual realm description, I thought our landing point would be a city—so the objective would be to explore the forest…" "No one nearby. It seems that after entering the dungeon, everyone is randomly transported to different locations. That means gathering companions will be an immense challenge. So now, we’ll have to hunt each other in the jungle?" He was murmuring when the task notification arrived: 【Ping! Number of participants in this killing quest: 183】 【Average initial points per participant: 3】 【Earn the opponent's full points by eliminating a spiritual traveler from their camp; earn half points by eliminating one from your own camp.】 【Participants with zero points will be eliminated!】 【The points leaderboard has been activated—please check it yourself.】 【Side quest one: Reach the central region of the Forbidden Forest within five hours, passing through its outer layers as indicated by signage at each level.】 【Side quest two: Traverse the vast Forbidden Forest to locate the lost city.】 Among the 183 Wayfarers of the Spiritual Realm, the Lawful faction comprises official bodies, noble families of the Spiritual Realm, and civilian organizations (independent practitioners); the Chaotic faction includes three major organizations and civilian organizations (independent practitioners). In addition to these factions, there is one more: Wayfarers from neighboring countries. Although, due to their smaller numbers, Wayfarers from these neighboring nations are often overlooked by the mainstream Spiritual Realm powers, their scarcity is considered relative to the entire Spiritual Realm. Large-scale combat instances are designed for Wayfarers across the entire region, and Zhang Yuanqing believes that, when aggregating the populations of numerous smaller states, there will always be at least twenty or thirty foreign Wayfarers participating in such instances. The spiritual realm should have translation capabilities. Otherwise, with my rather limited foreign language skills, I'd only be able to say things like "ya mei di," "obaa," and "sala huya"... or perhaps, dear wife, you don't really want to return to the spiritual realm, do you? Zhang Yuanqing then reviewed the subsequent task information: "Total of 183 people, averaging 3 points each—only 549 points in total. It seems the primary source of points comes from dungeons, meaning dungeons will account for a significant portion of the tasks." "When a spiritual realm traveler from the same faction is defeated, only half the points are inherited. The number of lawful faction members far exceeds that of the chaotic faction, so chaotic-class professions are more likely to accumulate points." "Points reset to zero will result in elimination. Based on current information, if the side quests aren't completed, points will likely be deducted." Zhang Yuanqing then had an idea, and unfolded the points leaderboard. Just like opening an attribute panel. Hou Chenghuang ranked first, A-I second, and Kenzō Kōga third—Kōga ending with Japanese characters. This clearly indicates that the third-place finisher is Japanese. While marveling at the high intelligence of the spiritual realm, Zhang Yuanqing scanned the leaderboard panel and finally spotted his spiritual realm ID at position 73. "Thus, when points are equal, ranking is determined by experience level." Closing the leaderboard, Zhang Yuanqing retrieved his Blood-Drinking Blade, took the Yin Shi with him, and headed deeper into the primeval forest. His immediate objective now is to cross the outer region, reach the forest's central zone, and then seek out colleagues from the Five Elements Alliance, hoping to avoid any infiltrators planted by the Night Rose. He is especially eager to find Guan Ya. Though the veteran commander, Lady Guan, possesses the financial strength of a noble heiress (in terms of equipment) and exceptional close-combat skills, her experience level remains relatively low, and her scouts lack strong offensive capabilities. Zhang Yuanqing is deeply concerned about her safety. "Sshh... " He stepped on the soft ground, leaving shallow footprints behind. The Blood Rose led ahead, wielding her blood-sucking blade to cut through undergrowth and vines hanging from the trees, clearing a path for the master. The vegetation in the primeval forest was exceptionally dense, making it difficult to navigate through. Fortunately, he had not encountered any wild beasts during his journey, nor had he met any spiritual realm travelers—this clearly indicated that the forest was vast and expansive. After about fifteen minutes of walking through the dense woods, he suddenly spotted a signpost standing ahead. 【Four: If you see others in the forest, do not make eye contact with them.】 【Five: If someone calls your name, do not respond.】 ... High above, in a hazy, ethereal realm, countless luminous stars drift, forming a magnificent and vast celestial river. Each of these stars is a miniature world. Some are eerie, decaying villages; others are abandoned campuses resting in darkness; some are volcanoes poised for eruption; others are battlefields where two armies face off; there are endless grasslands, shimmering lakes, and more. Landscapes found in reality—from ancient times to the present, from cities to mountains—can all be found here. Even those landscapes that do not exist in reality are present. Seven meteors approach from afar, piercing the deep "universe," and come to rest outside two parallel stars. The meteors dim their light, revealing their true forms. At the forefront stands a tall woman dressed in black trousers and women's high-calf boots, wearing a white shirt. The simple, classic black-and-white palette highlights her flawless body proportions. Her appearance is veiled and ethereal, as if veiled in mist—faint, indistinct—her hair flowing like a waterfall, yet not a cascade of dark hair, but pure white. Unlike the silver hair of the elders, hers is a pure, bright white. She carries an air of dignified authority, like a commander leading an army or a sovereign surveying the realm from on high. Behind her are six figures dressed in diverse styles—some clad in armor with green swords, others draped in black robes with hoods, some in white training attire with red hair, and even one accompanied by a curly-haired Teddy dog. The armored general gazes at two stars moving in parallel, and speaks solemnly: "Our sages have had a tough run—our journey has led us into a war-themed quest!" Within one of the stars, a scene of two armies locked in battle unfolds. Majestic city walls rise, banners fluttering in the wind. Soldiers clad in armor, armed with sharp weapons—some drawing bows and nocks, others pushing down logs and oil barrels—defend against the dense ranks of enemy troops pressing against the city gates. In the distance, a winding river stretches hundreds of feet wide. Grand warships cut through the waves, sails billowing, cannons roaring. Several vessels, stretching over a hundred meters in length, are half-submerged in the river, their upper sections billowing with thick smoke. This is an epic war. On the city walls, a tall figure stands upright, armored, bearing five banners—red, white, blue, black, and yellow—and wielding a Han Eight-Directions ancient sword. His gaze sweeps over his comrades who charge alone into the enemy lines, ghostly and resolute, over his fellow warriors who have transformed into fire deities, burning everything in their path, and finally settles on the enemy's rear. There stands a eight-armed giant, six meters tall, his body muscles forged like steel, etched with twisted, strange runes. Behind him, a thick mist rises in cascading waves. The young man with red hair in his full head shines with eager anticipation, exclaiming, "War instances are rare—I never encountered anything like this during my early days in the slaughter instances. It's a pity, a real pity!" Fighting in such a battlefield, even dying on the field would be a noble achievement. War instances are the most brutal—intense combat begins immediately and continues until the battlefield is littered with corpses, lasting all the way until the instance concludes. Even the peak Saint-level warriors often succumb from exhaustion. Moreover, war instances are widely recognized as the most challenging, requiring strategic planning, resource allocation, command coordination, and more. Nothing is more demanding than winning a war. At this moment, the leading woman gently turns her head, gazing into the deep cosmos. A few breaths later, a dozen streaks of meteor light rushed in, halting at the two adjacent stars as well. These unexpected guests were led by three individuals: a young man in a sleek black suit, handsome and refined, with two silver studs embedded in each ear; a mysterious figure draped in a tattered black robe, whose movements remained concealed, his face hidden beneath the brim of his hood, resembling the Greek god of death; and a figure who constantly shifted between forms and genders. The Fearful Sovereign of the Military Bishopric; one of the co-presidents of the Spiritual Energy Association; and the Southern Master of the Void Sect. The Fearful Sovereign gazed steadily at the woman with silver hair, offering a polished bow and smiling, "General, it's been years since we last met. Are you still free?" "Stubborn!" the red-haired young man interjected, speaking simply and bluntly on behalf of the woman. The silver-haired woman lifted her gaze to the Fearful Sovereign, then turned her attention back to the battlefield, where the battle was unfolding with intensity. "Have you heard that you've allied with the Night Rose, aiming to eliminate Fu Qingyang and the Prime Imm The King of Fear smiled, saying, "I hope we succeed." The woman with white hair nodded, "Yin Moon indeed has the opportunity to defeat Fu Qingyang. As for the young talents at the transcendental stage, you've certainly nurtured many outstanding ones." A sturdy, broad-shouldered man behind the King of Fear grumbled, "So, defeating one Primordial Sovereign is more than ample." His eyes were like copper bells, his brows thick and his face square—immediately one sensed his impatience, as if he'd strike someone at any moment. The King of Fear turned and smiled, "Anger, though everyone has the right to speak freely, you, as a divine general, shouldn't address the Marshal in such a manner." The angered general drew in his breath, suppressed his ire, and lowered his head. The president of the Ling Neng Association, the head of the Xuzhui Sect, and their respective sovereigns paid no attention to the elders from the Wu-Xing Alliance and immediately focused on the match. The two long-rival factions, usually at odds, now stood in rare harmony, completely uninvolved with one another. Here, it lies between the spiritual realm and the real world, an area of emptiness. Only peak sovereigns or alliance leaders can bring others into it, and even then, they do not enter as their physical bodies, but as manifestations of their spiritual essence. These manifestations are ethereal and inherently projected—thus, their struggles lose meaning. High-ranking spiritual realm travelers can actively journey through the spiritual realm world, but this world is not a副本 they enter—it is a voyage through this very void. Unless through special abilities of certain professions, even alliance leaders cannot bypass the spiritual realm to enter the副本. Each time a battle instance begins, these high-ranking travelers journey through the void to observe. They have seen each other many times and now treat one another as if they were invisible, each focusing on their own affairs. At this moment, the white-haired woman, gazing at the battlefield, withdraws her gaze and turns toward another star. She studies it carefully before asking, "Which one is the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign?" The curly-haired Teddy drifted to the side of the white-haired woman, searched the stars for a moment, then pointed to a spot and said, "That young man is the Prime Heavenly Sovereign." The white-haired woman nodded slightly, her gaze focused on the primordial forest. Originally, no one had paid much attention to the evil faction in the transcendent realm's slaughter quest, but the various Sovereigns纷纷 turned to look. The Sovereign of Fear smiled and said, "General, just watching isn't very exciting—why don't we make a bet?" The white-haired woman stood with her hands behind her back, "Speak!" The Sovereign of Fear said, "The Magician's Eye was imprisoned because of the Prime Heavenly Sovereign. So we'll wager on him: if he dies in the slaughter quest, you release the Magician's Eye and restore his freedom. If the Prime Heavenly Sovereign finishes first on the leaderboard, I'll lose to you one rule-type artifact of Sovereign quality." The red-haired young man furrowed his brow, "That's unfair—why isn't it him who survives?" "The King of Fear smiled and said, 'First, even if you don't release the magical eyes, once he enters the spiritual realm and dies there, he will still be reborn within the Mother Goddess's womb. Second, the killing quest operates on a point system—should the Primordial Sovereign keep hiding and wait until the end of the three days, he will still survive.' 'So, it's quite fair!' The young man with red hair thought for a moment and found himself unable to object, then turned to the female marshal. The woman with white hair nodded, 'Agreed!' ... 'Ah, I hadn't reached the outer region yet earlier. This is actually what the notice board says—this represents the danger of the outer region, doesn't it?' Zhang Yuanqing read through the notice board's instructions, frowning. This meant that crossing the outer layer of the Prohibited Forest would likely be quite dangerous, and the instructions on the notice board could help those entering avoid that danger. 'But isn't it rather straightforward to simply state these precautions so clearly? What happens if someone fails to follow them?' Unfortunately, there's no room for trial and error—we can't risk taking the blood-bodied corpses... Zhang Yuanqing withdrew the Blood-Drinking Blade from Xue Qiangwei's hands and closed his inventory. According to the posted notice, neither fire nor cutting tools could be used. He didn't proceed further; instead, he placed his hand on the notice board, and after a few seconds, the item information appeared: 【A notice erected by the people of the Lost City, intended to warn travelers who accidentally enter the Forbidden Forest.】 It was indeed erected by the people of that city. As described in the spiritual realm's introduction, they encountered a major crisis upon entering the forest. I thought no one would survive, yet it turns out they've already reached the outer layers. Zhang Yuanqing guided the blood-bodied corpses ahead, stepping over the notice board and entering the outer region. Walking on soft, decaying mud, Zhang Yuanqing and Xue Qiangwei moved steadily, one behind the other, carefully navigating through the primeval forest. The more they progressed inward, the denser the foliage became, almost completely blocking out the sky. Fortunately, it was daytime, so even without direct sunlight, visibility within the forest remained excellent. If we can't start a fire, everything will be dark by nightfall in the forest... But I am the night wanderer, and I'm not afraid of darkness—night is my stage. He thought reflectively as he walked forward. After about thirty minutes, a cool mountain breeze blew through the dense forest from somewhere unseen, carrying with it a sharp, delicate sound.