Chapter 240: Slaughter Dungeon Mechanism

Chapter 240: The Killing Dungeon Mechanism

The elder presiding over the meeting had yet to come online, and the thirty-odd people in the conference room began chattering away in the comment section.

The top eight contestants seemed to hold themselves in high regard, perhaps burdened by their idol personas; they all kept a cool distance, refusing to partake in the trivial small talk.

Zhang Yuanqing was different. He excelled at socializing. Since these people were potential allies, he naturally had to build rapport and farm some goodwill.

Don't be fooled by the multitude fawning over him; in truth, those able to participate in the Killing Dungeon were the elite of their respective branches.

Among this batch, a portion would ascend to Sainthood, and once they accumulated sufficient merit, their promotion to Deacons would be a matter of course. In other words, the Extraordinary Ones in this classroom right now were the future backbone, the Deacon reserves.

【Yuanshi Tianzun: To me, you are all seniors. The Killing Dungeon is fraught with peril; individual strength is insufficient. Once inside, I will do my utmost to assist everyone, and I ask that you lend me a hand should I run into trouble. Only by working together, helping one another, can we clear the dungeon and ascend to Sainthood.】

【Little Match Boy: Well said. I'm rolling with Tianzun from now on.】

【Rain Girl No Melon: Count me in.】

【Long Live White Tiger: Heard the dungeon uses a random teleportation mechanism. Hope I get teleported alongside Tianzun.】

Yuanshi Tianzun's "humility and gentleness" drew a wave of admiration from his colleagues, and the conversation grew casual, shedding its formal stiffness.

This guy, Yuanshi Tianzun, is really smooth. He's more fit to be the alpha wolf than Zhao Chenghuang. Once inside the dungeon, I can choose to ally with him; the old fogeys' opinions be damned... Sun Miaomiao watched the rapidly refreshing, lively comment section, calculating silently.

The guidance from the Door's elders was clear: once inside the Killing Dungeon, the Night Wanderers must unite, forming a small group centered on Zhao Chenghuang, and on that basis, ally with the members of the Five Elements Alliance.

But Sun Miaomiao believed that if conditions permitted, directly joining Yuanshi Tianzun's faction might be more reliable. Because the Five Elements Alliance had more varied classes and greater numbers; their combined strength would undoubtedly be top-tier.

Of course, there were hidden dangers. Yuanshi Tianzun's reputation was too great; he would undoubtedly be the primary target for the evil organizations to hunt.

As Sun Miaomiao's thoughts raced, a 2D handsome guy avatar holding a green-edged sword suddenly appeared on the "podium," accompanied by the Spirit Realm ID:

Ten Steps Kill One Man!

From the computer speakers came a rich, mellow voice:

"Everyone, count off in the comment section, starting with Yuanshi Tianzun, one to thirty-eight. Begin now!"

The voice was rich and clear; he sounded young, certainly not middle-aged or elderly.

【Yuanshi Tianzun: 1】

【Zhao Chenghuang: 2】

…

Once the count-off finished, confirming everyone was at their computer and no members had left, "Ten Steps Kill One Man" spoke:

"I am an elder of the White Tiger Soldiers, Spirit Realm ID: Ten Steps Kill One Man. You may call me Elder 'Ten Steps'."

Comment section:

【Yuanshi Tianzun: "Elder Ten Steps" sounds awkward. Can I call you "Elder One Man"? "One Man" sounds like "Beloved," much nicer.】

【Guan Ya: Shut it. Elder Ten Steps has a bad temper. Don't run your mouth.】

【Yuanshi Tianzun: Sister Guan Ya, you know him?】

#Yuanshi Tianzun Has Been Muted by the Administrator#

#Guan Ya Has Been Muted by the Administrator#

Ten Steps Kill One Man: "This meeting is serious and solemn; I ask the students in the class not to clamor, not to spout nonsense, and not to disrupt my rhythm."

Pausing for a few seconds, this elder of the White Tiger Soldiery spoke:

"First, I will explain to you what a Large-Scale Slaughter Instance is. I believe many members know that the Slaughter Instance opens twice a year, mid-year and year-end. Clearing the Slaughter Instance is a necessary process for Class Advancement, and the only way."

Seeing this, Zhang Yuanqing subconsciously began typing on the keyboard:

"Is it really the only way, Elder Ten Steps? I know an exception..."

Halfway through writing, he remembered he had been muted.

He could only wait helplessly for the mute to be lifted, listening to Elder Ten Steps continue:

"The mode of the Large-Scale Slaughter Instance changes every year, but there is one setting and one core that remain unchanged. The unchanging setting is time: the Large-Scale Slaughter Instance lasts three days, and the main mission is to survive 72 hours."

"The unchanging core is the point system. There are three ways to earn points: one from the instance itself; two from hunting Evil Professionals; three from hunting Spirit Realm Walkers of the same faction."

"The first two yield the most points; the last yields very few... speaking of which, you should understand: the Large-Scale Slaughter Instance is essentially an enhanced version of a Faction War Instance, except teammates can hunt each other, adding freedom and maneuvering room."

"After the instance ends, the person with the highest score will gain the most experience points and the highest-grade items."

"Therefore, all major organizations pay attention to the leaderboard; the one ranked first is publicly acknowledged as having the greatest potential and the best talent."

Finished speaking, Elder Ten Steps paused for a dozen seconds, giving the "trainees" time to digest the information.

Spirit Realm Walkers of the same faction can hunt each other; in that case, the reliability and trustworthiness of independent civilian cultivators plummet... Zhang Yuanqing's subconscious thought was:

If evil organizations bribe independent cultivators of the Lawful faction, their situation would be dire.

At this moment, he saw Zhao Chenghuang ask in the comment section:

[Zhao Chenghuang: Regarding wild independent cultivators, what countermeasures does the official side have?]

Elder Ten Steps saw the comment and replied:

"All registered wild walkers have been given a heads-up by the officials. Of course, this cannot completely eliminate hidden dangers, so when you are in the instance, do not easily trust independent cultivators. If you discover a civilian independent cultivator hunting our official members, note their Spirit Realm ID. Once the Slaughter Instance ends, we will naturally settle accounts."

After answering a few more questions, Elder Ten Steps continued the lecture:

"Next is the leaderboard. The leaderboard has twenty-four spots, and these twenty-four spots are the list for promotion to Saint. Those not on the list, who luckily survive, are considered eliminated and can wait for the year-end Slaughter Instance.

"Of course, we usually only look at the top ten rankings; beyond the top ten are Saints of average potential. The Elder has listed the leaderboards from the past ten years for you to reference."

As his voice fell, the interface on everyone's computer screens changed, revealing two leaderboards:

#2012 Mid-Year Transcendent Stage, Large-Scale Slaughter Instance Leaderboard#

#2012 Year-End Transcendent Stage, Large-Scale Slaughter Instance Leaderboard#

The mid-year number one scored 700 points.

The year-end number one scored 730 points.

Zhang Yuanqing watched the leaderboard changes intently; from '12 to '15, the top scores mostly fluctuated between 700 and 800, and he basically recognized none of the Spirit Realm IDs on the list.

In the year '16, he spotted a familiar Lingjing ID—Black Impermanence.

Ranked seventh, he was considered a highly promising Wu Gu Master; later, he indeed became a Spiritualist, a minor boss of the Eastern Branch, a Level 6 Saint.

When the '17 leaderboard dropped, the comment section exploded instantly.

2017, Mid-Year Rank One, @#￥: 980 points.

2017, Year-End Rank One, Fengdu Ghost King: 850 points.

The Mid-Year Rank One's ID was mosaicked.

Comment Section:

【White Tiger Long Live: Holy sh*t, what's the background of that Mid-Year Rank One in '17? A whole 130 points higher than Fengdu Ghost King, and, and closing in on a thousand.】

【Niulanshan Little Fairy: That's absurd, right? For so many years prior, Rank One scores were all within 800. Fengdu Ghost King, hailed as the former Fu Qingyang, breaking 800 is understandable, but this '17 guy, straight up 980?】

【Peony Fairy: Why the mosaic on the name? Must be some big shot.】

【Jiang Jingwei: Oh, I know. The '17 one is the Marshal of the White Tiger Legion.】

#Jiang Jingwei has been muted by admin#

Elder Shibu said coolly:

"Enough discussion. Focus on the leaderboard!"

The subtext being: do not discuss that Lady Marshal. As a subordinate, one must not, and is not permitted, to critique a superior online.

The Lady Marshal of the White Tiger Legion, merely Transcendent five years ago? She shouldn't be that old, right... Zhang Yuanqing was startled. Though he knew the Lady Marshal wasn't among the first batch of Lingjing Walkers.

He never imagined she would be this young.

No, perhaps she just acquired her Character Card late; being forty or fifty in actual age is possible... but 980 points, isn't that too monstrous? It directly suppressed all previous Rank Ones. Is this the talent of an Alliance Leader...?

Zhang Yuanqing clicked his tongue inwardly.

Next, Zhang Yuanqing saw many familiar Lingjing IDs. In '18, he saw Auntie Xiaoyuan, saw You Feng Lai Yi, Xiao Naofu, and others.

And that year's Rank One was "Lord of the Killing Cessation Palace," with 890 points.

Right, Lord of the Killing Cessation Palace—that maniac's Lingjing ID. Zhang Yuanqing always thought it was an external honorific, like the Taiyi Sect Master.

In '19, he saw Yin Ji, Fu Qingyang, Ling Jun... worth noting, the Mid-Year Rank One was Yin Ji, Year-End was Yi Chuanmei, Fu Qingyang relegated beneath Yi Chuanmei.

"The Centurion back then hadn't yet broken into the top-tier powerhouse ranks. Hmph, fits the rise of a grind-emperor with poor talent..."

He had just thought this when the leaderboard began to alternate, the 2020 list manifesting:

Mid-Year Rank One, Night Endless: 720 points.

Year-End Rank One, Demon Lord: 940 points.

The comment section blew up again.

【Little Match Boy: Demon Lord?! Actually seeing Demon Lord. His score is sick, second only to the Marshal.】

【World Returns to Fire: The scariest part isn't the score, it's the year. F*ck, Demon Lord ascended to Saint in early 2020, perished in early 2022, yet by then he was already a figure even the Taiyi Elders feared...】

【Pawn Across the River: Does this mean that from the moment the Demon Lord obtained his Character Card to his demise, only two or three short years had passed?】

【Tone-Deaf: Monster! This guy is a monster.】

【Kongming Loves Imperial Uncle: I suddenly understand the Taiyi Sect Master's evaluation; in fifty years, the most gifted Night Wanderer, bar none.】

As the comment section flared with heated atmosphere, Zhang Yuanqing's gaze remained fixed on the second place of that year-end list—Boy Soldier King: 860 points.

Brother Bing was two years his senior; two years ago, Brother Bing was but a freshman, and having participated in the Slaughter Dungeon during his first year, the time he became a Spirit Realm Walker would have been the summer after his senior year, before university—a detail that aligned perfectly with his own prior analysis with the Squad Leader.

—It was during that summer after senior year that Brother Bing underwent a drastic change in temperament.

As for the Demon Lord's youth, upon seeing the Mysterious Man's appearance and combining it with the audio from the Cat King Speaker, Zhang Yuanqing knew the Demon Lord was not old in years.

Then again, for all the Demon Lord's youth, the women he bedded were predominantly in their thirties.

The Yin Concubine was in her early thirties, Zhu Rong thirty-two or three; the women of the Lust Profession were unknown, but from their voices they were no young girls—the youngest was likely the Wood Demon Girl with the Steward Mother, yet she didn't seem a maiden either.

One could hardly say he lacked certain particular proclivities.

Soon, the ranking list concluded.

The Ten-Step Elder spoke:

"Zhao Chenghuang, Yuan Shi Tianzun, you both stand a chance at breaking 900 points; Headquarters anticipates your performance. Next, let us speak of the Evil Organizations' deployments over the past several sessions.

"Setting traps with curses and toxins, bewildering with illusions, lying in wait—these are their habitual tactics. And because Evil Professionals number far fewer than Order Professionals, in the Slaughter Dungeon they display astonishing unity.

"Ah, and a supplementary note: the item restrictions on the Arena are a replication of the Slaughter Dungeon's settings. Within the Slaughter Dungeon lies a crisis of the Saint Realm; we have collected and analyzed data from past sessions, estimating the upper limit to be roughly Level 4.

"Therefore, items exceeding the dungeon's limit are prohibited from use by the Spirit Realm. But here is a bug: Set Equipment is exempt from this restriction. Several pieces of Level 4 quality Set Equipment, combined, yield power far surpassing Level 4, yet are not ruled a violation.

"In the year '17, the Evil Organizations rallied under the slogan of 'Must Kill the Marshal,' and indeed deployed a Set; alas, they failed. That Set—part became the Marshal's spoils of war, part returned to the Spirit Realm.

"Since then, the exploit of Set Equipment has never recurred—not that the Evil Organizations lack the desire, but Sets are far too scarce; assembling a complete Set is harder than acquiring a Rule-type Artifact, so you needn't worry of a repeat.

"This year, we have received reliable intelligence: the Evil Organizations have declared that 'Yuan Shi Tianzun' and 'Fu Qingyang'—one must die. As a precaution, Headquarters has decided to grant Yuan Shi Tianzun a Set Equipment to contend with the unforeseen."

"Once the Slaughter Dungeon opens, you must remember to find Yuan Shi Tianzun with all haste, taking him as your core, advancing and retreating together. You are fortunate, for you have not endured the Great Debacle of 2020..."

At this, the Ten-Step Elder abruptly fell silent, saying no more.

Comment Section:

【Peony Fairy: 2020 Great Debacle? What happened.】

【Ge Ge: Same question!】

【Yuan Ting: I know, I know. In 2020, the mid-year Slaughter Dungeon, didn't the Demon Lord participate? He was the Ghost-Eye Judge's servant; upon entering the dungeon he went on a killing spree. Of the thirty official Order Professionals, only six survived; the Taiyi Sect was wiped out entirely. The incident caused massive upheaval, its influence vile. The Taiyi Sect and Five Elements Alliance have always treated it as taboo, forbidding mention in public; speak of it, and you are guaranteed a mute or a ban!】

#Yuan Ting has been muted by the administrator#

【Little Match Boy: Aha, he really got muted.】

【Sun Miaomiao: This idiot, terminal stage, beyond saving.】

The Ten-Step Elder ignored the chatter in the comment section and continued:

"Time is short; we enter the final phase. I will give you a list of the Evil Organization's top ten in the Transcendent Stage, a list of the top ten Civilian Order Independent Cultivators, and the top ten Civilian Evil Independent Cultivators.

“The list has been sent to your inboxes. Do remember to check it.

“That concludes today’s meeting. Dismissed!”

…