The maximum team size is 24—exactly matching the number of saints' spots... After listening to the task notification, Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the spiritual realm travelers gathering around him: Jiang Jingwei, Tianxia Guihuo, the one who can't sing, Bai Hu Wanai... a total of thirteen. It was clear that these individuals had stayed here, waiting to join his team. "What about the others?" Zhang Yuanqing asked casually. "They followed Zhao Chenghuang." Tianxia Guihuo chewed on a stalk of grass, leaning against the tree trunk, saying, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Once you join the team, you'll understand the importance of dispersion—by then, you'll see the side quests clearly." As he spoke, the task notification sounded again: 【Ping! Tianxia Guihuo invites you to join the team.】 【Ping! Your team has been formed—the side quest has been refreshed...】 【Side Quest Three: The Tragic Mountain God.】 【Task Description: Long ago, a powerful evil cultivator infiltrated a human city, bringing about a great disaster there.】 To contain the spread of the disaster and to imprison the powerful evil cultivator, the mountain deity sacrificed itself, gathering the essence of mountains, rivers, forests, and plants to form a dense forest that severed the city's connection to the outside world, thus trapping the evil cultivator and his lieutenants within the city. The spirit of the mountain deity transformed into a troop of monkeys, its flesh solidified into towering mountains, and its hair grew into lush, thriving forests. The monkeys, in honor of the mountain deity, built a temple atop the mountain to house his shrine and enshrined his staff within. It is said that whoever holds the mountain deity's staff shall inherit his authority. The forest spirits, descendants of the mountain deity's will, have quietly upheld his legacy. For countless years, the evil cultivator has sent out successive agents seeking the location of the mountain temple, aiming to seize the staff and reclaim the city that had been abandoned. Recently, a group of evil followers arrived in the forest, slaughtering the monkeys and tree spirits, and now serve as the cultivator's new lieutenants. Young heroes, please assist the forest spirits and protect the staff within the temple. 【Task Requirement: The Temple of the Mountain God opens periodically, each session lasting 60 minutes. Proceed along the mountain path to reach the Temple of the Mountain God and safeguard the Staff of Protection—ensure no one enters the temple during its opening.】 【Note: There are three paths leading to the summit. Over the years, the forces of the evil cultivators have seeped into the forest, clashing and opposing the divine power of the Mountain God. As a result, the forest has undergone transformations. Each path now carries its own unique dangers—be mindful of your safety.】 With this task description, Zhang Yuanqing now has a deeper understanding of the outer precautions. It makes sense now why the Tree Spirits actively bewilder those entering the forest, and why the Monkey Groups attack the spiritual travelers without distinction—their mission is to protect the forest, and to them, all outsiders are enemies. Moreover, the fruits that cannot be eaten, and the travelers who cannot converse or make eye contact, must be effects catalyzed by the infiltration of the evil cultivators' power into the forest. This explains the apparent contradictions in the precautions. At the same time, it makes sense why a more scattered team is better—having everyone concentrated along a single mountain path, even without considering manpower limits, would mean total annihilation, and then the lawful faction would be completely out of the running. "Whoa—" Zhang Yuanqing drew a deep breath, his face serious—"The second stage is very dangerous, extremely so." Tianxia Guihuo smiled and asked, "How so?" Zhang Yuanqing glanced around at the group and said: "The information provided is so detailed that the Journeyers hardly need to deduce or explore—it's all about the danger of ascending the mountain. Therefore, the difficulty of this stage is entirely concentrated on the mountain climb. "Everyone, there are Saint-level forces present throughout this quest. I must be honest—I'm not certain I can protect all of you." Tianxia Guihuo raised a slight smile and looked at the group: "Does anyone else share my sense that the main threats of this quest lie precisely along the mountain path?" The group's expressions grew a bit more serious. The White Tiger Immortal, among the crowd, smiled and said, "Master Yuanshi, you carry too much idol baggage. We're all seasoned travelers of the Spiritual Realm, well aware of the dangers within the dungeons—we never expect anyone to be responsible for our lives. 'Life and death are fated; wealth and fortune come from heaven.' Once we enter a combat-heavy dungeon, we simply prepare ourselves for sacrifice. That's why we join your team—mainly to reduce risk." The White Tiger Immortal was a lively young man with a balanced, neither unattractive nor particularly handsome face, his gaze sharp and keen, typical of a scout, giving him a polished, vigorous, battle-worn air—like a seasoned veteran. Most scouts share a military demeanor. Each profession has its own distinct aura: the fire mage's impatience and roughness, the night wanderer's otherworldly grace and dignity, the earth monster's straightforwardness and sincerity... The official Spiritual Realm traveler nodded slightly, agreeing with the White Tiger Immortal. Sure, here is the translated text following your requirements: Queen Yana need not be mentioned—she is too distant from the Mage King, and would not casually reveal his secrets. While this presents a minor concern, it is not a serious issue. The advantages brought by a high-level Sovereign are incalculable. For instance, the Fearful King, capable of conversing on equal terms with the Marshals, stands as a peak-tier Sovereign. Of course, ordinary peak-tier Sovereigns generally lack the stature to stand alongside the Marshals—King Fear is an anomaly, not to be measured by ordinary standards. Yet within this current Killing Instance, Fu Qingyang has the potential to become such an anomaly. Hence, the major figures pay close attention. Only when the Prime Sovereign officially calls for the gathering of the official agents—including the Female Marshal—do the leaders of the Order of Law and Chaos shift their focus to the Primordial Forest, paying close attention to the progress of these exceptional young talents. "Indeed, a clever young mind—he's just unfortunate that the Fallen Holy Cup ended up as a prize for the Songhai Division." A hoarse, low voice emanates from the disheveled hat of a council member in the Spirit Energy Council. Though he didn't name the individual, all the present leaders knew exactly whom he meant. "We simply don't yet know his combat strength." The southern sect's master, whose gender and form constantly shift, emits a voice that is hard to distinguish as male or female. Though a prodigy from the opposing camp, these elite spiritual travelers at the peak of their careers instinctively admire the younger ones who excel at strategy and diplomacy. Frowning slightly, the King of Fear glanced toward the president of the regional branch of the Spiritual Energy Council and said, "The Fallen Chalice shouldn't exist at all—it strips away a person's most fundamental freedom, making it a revolting, unnatural entity. I detest it." The female marshal stared into the vast, primeval forest, her gaze piercing through the layers of foliage as though gazing at something distant. Her long, straight brows furrowed slightly. She had seen that ring—on the魔君 himself. Kou Beiyue thought deeply and deduced that the fruit was most likely a message left by Yuanshǐ Tianzun for him. Yuanshǐ knew he had participated in the killing quest, though they couldn't openly acknowledge their connection—yet Yuanshǐ would certainly not overlook him and would surely leave clear clues. Before entering the killing quest, Xiao Yuan had repeatedly emphasized and instructed him to stay alert, especially regarding Yuanshǐ Tianzun, insisting that he would surely receive a clear signal. "There's no such fruit nearby—it must have something hidden!" Kou Beiyue said with an air of profound insight. The plump young man surveyed the surroundings, examined the environment carefully, then stared at the fruit for several seconds. He then removed a ring woven from fine black vines and placed it on his finger. Walking to a tree, he confirmed it was an ordinary tree, not a tree spirit, and pressed the ring to his lips, murmuring softly. A few seconds later, the young man said firmly, "It told me that the group who entered just now had eaten the fruit before entering." Kou Beiyue was overjoyed: "Just by eating the fruit, we can get inside? Then let's divide the fruit right away—this way, we won't have to risk battling the boss and can smoothly enter the second stage." The plump young man stared at him, his expression gradually growing strange. He had chosen this straightforward, somewhat dim-witted leader precisely because of his lack of intelligence and his strong sense of face—he had expected to succeed in winning over the man through persistent, face-to-face efforts. Yet, in truth, he had long suspected that this simple, unassuming leader would likely not survive the combat-heavy dungeon, possibly becoming the shortest-lived leader in his own history. Especially now, seeing the new leader simply abandoning thought, leaving the evil organization behind, and actively pursuing the lawful, orderly characters, he was certain of his prediction. How could a normal person dare to do such a thing—wouldn't they be repeatedly humiliated by the orderly warriors? Yet, unexpectedly, the lawful characters had just departed, and the fruit they had used was casually tossed aside beside them. It seemed impetuous and hasty, yet it had unexpectedly resolved the crisis for the new leader. Could it be that the leader he had accidentally discovered was someone blessed with rare fortune? Indeed, how could such a clumsy individual have survived this long if not for a strong streak of luck? The plump young man spoke solemnly: "Leader, you're absolutely right, but I don't recommend that course of action. Once you consume the fruit, you become part of the Order faction. The Order—those rigid, cold-hearted members—will kill you. With the two factions pressing in from all sides, we'd simply be unable to survive. The best course is to rejoin the main group and fight the boss together." Kou Beiyue listened intently, his brows furrowing. The Tree King was so powerful, and there was also the Monkey King—pushing the boss together would indeed be extremely risky. He understood the principle of seeking advantage and avoiding danger. Yet the young man's analysis was sound. Moreover, if he could operate within the Evil faction, he could gather more intelligence and provide crucial support at the right moment—under the guidance of Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn. Then, there was only Kou Beiyue listened attentively and said with determination, "Excellent! Then we'll go back and push the boss." As soon as the words fell, a spiritual realm notification echoed in their ears: 【Ping! The Tree King has fallen. Your faction has won. You receive 30 points of credit. Please assist the Mountain Spirit and eliminate the Monkey Clan.】 The Tree King has fallen—no need to push the boss anymore... The plump young man stared at Kou Beiyue, his mouth slowly opening in surprise. ... Led by Zhang Yuancheng, fifteen Order-aligned professionals moved steadily through the dense forest, heading deeper into the woods. Night had fallen, and the layered canopy of trees blocked out the moonlight, leaving the forest dark and still. They advanced slowly, guided by the only Night-Wanderer present. "The signpost in the forest's central area does not prohibit the use of fire. I believe we can carry torches to light our way," said Tianxia Guihuo. The group remained silent, awaiting the judgment of Yuanshishen. Zhang Yuancheng paused for a few seconds, then said, "Agreed." The outer layer has its own side quests, and the middle layer has its own side quests—currently, they are not interconnected. The core of the middle layer revolves around faction rivalries, so temporary shifts in allegiance would be impossible; otherwise, it would create a bug. "Hoo-hoo!" The firemasters eagerly raised their arms, sending streams of flame soaring upward, like torches lighting the sky and dispelling the darkness. The atmosphere gradually relaxed, and everyone felt a growing sense of security. After walking for approximately fifteen minutes, the group climbed over a hill and arrived at a broad valley—a flat area nestled between two mountains, with sparse vegetation. The view was open and expansive. The night sky was clear, and the moonlight poured down, casting an eerie stillness over the wild, remote landscape, evoking a sense of profound unease. Within the valley lay a narrow path leading into the dense forest of the opposite mountain range—this, without a doubt, is the trail mentioned in the side quests as the route to the summit. Zhang Yuanqing stopped and looked toward the mountain peak on the other side of the valley, saying, "That peak there should be where the mountain god temple stands. Let's all take a five-minute rest." At that moment, Guan Ya approached Zhang Yuanqing and smiled warmly, "When did you switch to the shade-bodied servant? She's quite beautiful—she's been standing out there for me to study, and I still can't find any flaw." "Well, she's a reconstructed face, so how can she possibly compare to a natural beauty like Guan Ya?" Zhang Yuanqing praised her first, then turned on Fu Qingyang with a sigh of regret, "This one was specially prepared by the centurion. I didn't expect him to present me with such a shade-bodied servant. And he even said he'd ask me to keep away from Guan Ya." Guan Ya, using the weak light of the fire, carefully examined Yuan Shǐ Tian Zūn and was astonished to find that he hadn't been lying at all. "I truly appreciate him," she said, her teeth clenched tightly. Then she turned her gaze to Shallowo, the young man constantly bowing and saying "Ooh, thanks!" in the "It was the Peony Fairy who found it—nothing to do with me," Zhang Yuanqing quickly clarified. As soon as he finished speaking, Shina Reo said, "Master Yuan Shi is my savior—his great kindness will always be remembered. I will do my best to contribute to the combat副本, and I hope everyone will give me their support!" Guan Ya smiled warmly, "Put on my defensive mask." "No way!" "Then do it!" "No way..." Five minutes passed swiftly, and the group began descending along the mountain slope, entering the valley and officially stepping onto the winding mountain path. As they entered the dense forest, a task notification sounded simultaneously: 【Ping! You have entered the maze forest. Please proceed with caution and be alert to potential dangers along the way.】 The official pilgrims couldn't help but take a deep breath and tense up. Behind them, a middle-aged man remarked, "Just keep going. When you reach the first fork in the path, take the left branch." The second fork has three paths—choose the middle one. Following the instructions, the team moved steadily through the maze-like forest. Zhang Yuanqing tried to float above, observing the forest from a high vantage point, but as soon as he reached the tree canopy, he was blocked by an invisible wall. Task prompt: [Flight prohibited!] The forest spirits in the team attempted to communicate with the trees, but received no response. The maze forest could only be exited—every opportunity for a glitch was effectively eliminated. With guidance from one colleague after another, the team advanced through the maze for half an hour, until a young girl reported her recorded route with delight, saying, "We've already covered half the distance." As she finished speaking, a thick mist surged from the dense woods, drifting like silk and dust, obscuring the view. The difficulty increased, Zhang Yuanqing announced. "Everyone, hold hands and move slowly..." Just as he finished speaking, a sharp cry erupted among the crowd and then abruptly stopped. "What's wrong? What's wrong?" The crowd was stunned, the scene instantly bustling with activity. Zhang Yuanqing smelled the blood and felt his heart sink. Tian Xia Gui, holding a torch, rushed toward the direction of the cries, using the flame to dispel the thick mist. Upon reaching the spot, he froze—his face pale. There, a body lay face down, its head separated from its torso, blood gushing from the severed wound—clearly the young girl who had just spoken. Her eyes were wide open, frozen in a state of shock, the expression of a scream still locked in place as though she didn't understand how she had died. This was a young wood spirit, who had died instantly, without even having the chance to activate her "Revival" skill. How had she died? The surrounding spiritual travelers had no idea, a strange chill rising in their hearts.