Ding-ding-ding… The short, urgent footsteps echo as Zhang Yuanqing bows low, his body trembling with the guilt of a father, bursting into a frantic run, slamming shoulder to steel chest of the humanoid vehicle. His powerful frame—capable of collapsing walls—is barely enough to make the robot stagger. “Ded-de-ded…” The saw glides past Xie Lingxi’s side and slices through the cement floor, carving a deep, fine line as it spins at high speed. At this point, Zhang Yuanqing realizes what's happening. His leg muscles surge with strength, propelling him forward at an unprecedented pace. He rushes to Xie Lingxi’s side, grabs her shoulders, pulls her back sharply and tosses her behind the seated Xi Shi, while simultaneously wrapping his arms around the one holding the saw, shouting: “Fight together! Seize his weapon!” His voice rings out like a bell, echoing through the panic of Fire Master and Qi Tian Dashi. Both instantly charge toward the robot—Fire Master lashes out angrily at its back, while Qi Tian Dashi joins Zhang Yuanqing in gripping the saw, attempting to wrestle it away. “Everyone dies! Everyone dies!” From the robot’s chest speaker, a loud declaration emerges, accompanied by crackling electrical sounds. The robotic arms “click-click” as they twist and then sweep powerfully, launching Zhang Yuanqing and Qi Tian Dashi both into the air. Zhang Yuanqing lands like a sack of sand—crushed, disoriented. Qi Tian Dashi adjusts mid-air with body twists, completing two backflips to absorb the force before settling gently on his feet. Wood Demon? Is this guy a Wood Demon? Zhang Yuanqing instantly deduces Qi Tian Dashi’s profession at this moment. In the Elevated Stage, 2nd-level Wood Demons are known as Wood Apes—naturally gifted climbers with exceptional agility. The graceful movement displayed in that moment—something no mere physical strength alone could achieve—is perfectly aligned only with a Wood Demon’s unique technique. “Clang-clang-clang…” Zhang Yuanqing's fists rain down upon the robot’s steel body as he continues to punch it. Yet the robot merely lifts an arm and sweeps him away, then grasps the saw, launching after him in relentless pursuit. In this critical situation, the composed middle-aged man—so plain and grounded in appearance—demonstrates a fighting spirit and agility that don’t match his demeanor. His eyes glow with fierce intensity; using parked cars as stepping stones or platforms, he darts, leaps, rolls, dodging one swift saw cut after another. The situation becomes perilous. “Damn it!” Fire Master yells, striding in a sprint and leaping high—his legs drawn tightly together, driving a powerful kick into the robot’s back. Yet the robot's braking system beneath its feet causes it to shudder slightly; its base remains immobile as it swiftly turns around, sweeping its saw-arm backward. Fire Master instinctively reaches out to block. “Pff!” His right hand is instantly severed, landing “thud” on the ground. Then he crashes down, gasping with a cry of agony. Now, Zhang Yuanqing and Qi Tian Dashi both rejoin the battle—one engages the robot directly while the other drags the injured Fire Master backward to retreat. “Clang-clang…” Zhang Yuanqing’s fists strike against the steel chest; each impact feels as though his bones are about to splinter. His powerful, well-trained punches—capable of felling an octogenarian—are now mere small blows. The target has shifted from one person to two. Relentless in evasion and steadily thinking ahead, Zhang Yuanqing relies on the strength granted by Night Wandering Deity’s physique. He knows clearly: defeat and escape are impossible—the very idea of being eliminated is now a certainty—especially with all his skills sealed. How could an S-Rank Spirit Realm be assigned such a mission that demands certain death? It must have a solution! Only I haven’t discovered it yet… What if there were a sanctuary, like the Mountain Temple? A sudden insight strikes Zhang Yuanqing’s mind, and he shouts aloud: “Enter the vehicle—enter the car!” Everyone is momentarily startled, then realizes. Qi Tian Dashi, as though clutching at a lifeline in the water, rushes to retrieve his keys, pressing the unlock button. Just beyond fifteen meters, the car that was recently opened emits two brief “beeps.” Qi Tian Dashi instinctively charges forward, then turns back upon realizing Fire Master is still behind—reaching out to assist him and guiding him toward the vehicle. Xie Lingxi, pale-faced, pulls her keys from her pocket and presses the unlock button—just beyond several meters, a sleek black SUV emits two “beeps,” its tail lights flickering. “Ah! Over here!” Xie Lingxi exclaims with excitement. Xi Shi dashes off toward the vehicle while Xie Lingxi steadies herself against her side, calling back: “This way—this way…” “You go first.” The middle-aged man bows low to avoid the saw’s cutting motion, his voice steady and calm. Seeing Zhang Yuanqing hesitate, he frowns: “You’re too inexperienced—not like a seasoned Realm Walker. Should I leave, you’ll certainly die.” Isn’t it odd—can’t this be a combat-inexperienced profession? Zhang Yuanqing silently objects to himself, then turns and sprints off without further protest. He runs toward the SUV, pulls open the rear door, and peers out, shouting: “Come on!” Zhang Yuanqing’s fatherly pride is now fully engaged—he detaches from the robot and rushes toward them. “Hoo-hoo…” The robot emits a high-pitched engine sound as it pushes forward with its wheels rolling. Its body strained, Zhang Yuanqing's face taut, veins bulging under his forehead, runs in fierce determination—yet still falls short of matching the robot’s speed. Zhang Yuanqing shouts: “Switch sides!” He swiftly closes the rear door and opens the side one. The middle-aged man darts to the left, evades the sweeping saw, rolls through, and rushes around to enter from the other side. Thump! The door seals shut. From the robot’s ankle vents, a stream of gas escapes—dissipating momentum—and it halts beside the vehicle. For this moment, all four inside hold their breath. Half a minute passes in silence. Zhang Yuanqing feels utterly relieved, looking at the robot standing outside, now idly surveying its surroundings with cautious eyes. “Clearly, my instinct was right,” he smiles. Xi Shi immediately beams with admiration: “You’re truly amazing—what a seasoned Realm Walker!” Zhang Yuanqing glances at him one more time. Does he see me as a novice? I only observe carefully. He smiles gently. “I’m merely good at observing.” Xie Lingxi tilts her bright, water-clear eyes: “Are you a scout?” Of course not—I wouldn’t be worth just 75 gold coins’ worth of eyes! Zhang Yuanqing chuckles quietly. Xie Lingxi doesn't press further. Instead, she smiles softly: “Thank you, Uncle! Thank you, Wang Tai, for saving me.” The middle-aged man nods slightly. “We are companions—we must support one another to overcome this challenge,” Zhang Yuanqing concludes, earning the girl’s gratitude and admiration. Outside, the robot remains still—the group hesitates before leaving the vehicle. As Zhang Yuanqing takes a moment to close his eyes and mentally review what unfolded since entering the parking garage: “Xie Lingxi doesn’t seem like someone skilled in close combat—Xi Shi appears cautious, her role unclear at present—Fire Master is likely, given her fiery temperament; though she may have some subtle flaws that reveal her. And Wang Tai—the feeling I get is… oh, very much like Ou Xiangrong.” Initially, Zhang Yuanqing hadn’t sensed the middle-aged man’s profession—but during this battle, he senses a deep undercurrent of intensity and skill in close combat fighting. It immediately reminds him of Ou Xiangrong—both possess such a similar presence. “If Wang Tai is a Wood Demon—wouldn’t that be too gentle? Indeed, at that moment, Ou Xiangrong had already begun to show signs of mental deterioration—so perhaps he wasn't a reliable benchmark. If Wang Tai is indeed a Wood Demon, considering the opposing alliance dynamics, wouldn’t it make sense for him to be an Evil Outcast? Should I consider cutting him down once the mission concludes?” “Given that we need manpower to search for keys and cooperate against the robot in this situation—wouldn't the likelihood of someone being eliminated significantly decrease?” Just as he’s pondering, Xie Lingxi joyfully announces: “Oh! I’ve found another card!” … 【Chime! Your condition has been met. Would you like to eliminate one team member? If no decision is made within thirty seconds, the opportunity will be forfeited.】 【Chime! You have chosen to forgo this opportunity.] … Inside the vehicle, everyone’s attention shifts toward Xie Lingxi as she extracts a metallic card from beneath the sun visor of the passenger seat. The surface, adorned with golden paint, bears one sentence: 【You now gain one use of a Prop.] A Prop? Zhang Yuanqing sees both Xi Shi and Xie Lingxi—and the middle-aged man—eyes light up. Compared to Life Concentrate Liquid, which can merely save lives, this opportunity to use a Prop feels far more significant. When properly utilized, a Prop can resolve a pressing issue—while Life Concentrate Liquid may extend life but cannot prevent crisis. At that moment, the robot continues shouting “Everyone dies!” while slowly gliding away. Meanwhile, the countdown reappears—but this time, it reads two minutes and forty seconds. Twenty seconds shorter. “What’s going on? We’ve lost twenty seconds?” Xi Shi widens her eyes in surprise. “Every time the robot appears, does it reduce our time by twenty seconds?” “Another possibility,” Xie Lingxi suggests: “Each time a vehicle is opened, we lose ten seconds.” Everyone falls silent. Either way—this isn’t good news. Xi Shi looks pale: “An S-Rank instance is too difficult—I don’t want to endure another one in my lifetime.” Is there really any instance beyond S-Rank? Zhang Yuanqing mutters with a sigh of resignation. As the group opens their doors, they just happen to witness Qi Tian Dashi gently assisting Fire Master—who has wrapped his short sleeve around the wound on his wrist—but this simple bandage fails to stop bleeding effectively. During the few minutes inside the vehicle, blood has already stained the trousers of Fire Master—he now appears ashen and pale. “He’s not doing well,” Qi Tian Dashi says, approaching them and indicating the injury with a gesture. Seeing that Fire Master refuses to speak clearly, he weakly adds: “Little girl—where’s your card? Hand it over to me!” Xie Lingxi frowns: “I’m keeping it for my own safety—I can’t just give it away.” Fire Master is furious: “You always act so stiff—you’re nothing but heartless!” Xie Lingxi pouts, gently protesting: “How could you say such a thing to someone who hasn’t even reached adulthood yet?” What’s going on—does she intend to reduce staff now? Zhang Yuanqing glances between her and Fire Master. The underground parking task isn’t complete—the search for keys requires manpower, and without saving Fire Master, he will surely perish. This would not only delay progress but also weaken the team. After a brief pause, Zhang Yuanqing suggests: “How about we vote?” The outcome? All votes except Xie Lingxi’s are in favor. “Hmph!” Xie Lingxi reluctantly hands over her Life Concentrate Liquid card to Fire Master. 【Chime! Detected injury—would you like to use ‘Life Concentrate Liquid’ now?】 “Yes.” The metallic card flows with ethereal water, covering the severed wrist—within a few seconds, tissue regenerates and new flesh begins to grow from the wound. The pale-faced Fire Master looks refreshed and revitalized. With his injury resolved, Qi Tian Dashi immediately states: “I’ve noticed that the time needed to find the keys has shortened—what’s causing this?” Xi Shi explains the car-based theory. Qi Tian Dashi frowns deeply while Fire Master complains: “Damn it! If this keeps happening, won’t the robot just keep coming back until we’re all wiped out?” That’s precisely how an S-Rank instance usually ends—this is quite likely. Zhang Yuanqing sighs. The team now recalls the robot’s combat prowess, and a wave of nervousness spreads through them. Xi Shi swallows hard, urging: “Don’t waste time—we must locate the control panel before the worst happens, and shut down the robot’s power.” Xie Lingxi looks at all the vehicles—those near, those far off, those beyond view—and her brows tighten in concentration: “How can we possibly find them all?” Anxiety and despair rise within each of them. First search for keys, then locate the control panel—the repeated interval between these tasks consumes three minutes. Ah! Zhang Yuanqing sighs, stepping forward: “I have a method—something that should work—and if successful, it could lead us to victory in this parking garage.” What?! This statement resonates like a revelation within each team member—they all turn sharply toward Wang Tai, amazed and thrilled.