In the pitch-dark and gloomy environment, a few newly appeared figures glanced at each other without speaking. Before the ghost rule was released, they would not make any rash moves.
This wasn't just an experience exclusive to veteran players, but a necessary habit for any player who had passed the adaptation period.
Tan Shuchang was also among these people.
However, as a player in the bizarre game without an adaptation period, he naturally did not possess this habit. His inaction at the moment was due to the Impermanence Order reacting as soon as he entered.
Seal the King's Achievements—Mission Content: Please ensure the normal operation of this instance; do not allow the ghost to vanish within the instance.
Tan Shuchang: "..."
For some reason, he always felt this mission was somehow targeted at him.
Although it only stated that he should not let the ghost disappear within the instance, and there seemed to be loopholes to exploit, wouldn't he also have to leave once the instance ended?
At that moment, blood-colored script started spreading across the ground, appearing gradually.
[Darkness spreads, death materializes.]
[Is life worth clinging to? And is death the true liberation?]
[These lines, resembling a will, were carved on this wall by the living as well as the ghost. Among you, a ghost is lurking. However, please do not fear; until you touch that carving knife, there will be no difference between the ghost and the living, and it will provide you with substantial assistance.]
[But, the presence of the ghost will inevitably unsettle you. You now have ten minutes of free time, during which you can do anything you desire, even if it's the joy before death. During these ten minutes, the ghost will also reveal some flaws.]
[If you can find the ghost, all players present will obtain an item from the ghost. These ghostly items will lead you to the final ghost and block a fatal strike for you.]
[Hint: Sensitive topics in reality can help you locate the ghost.]
The bloodstained words abruptly stopped here, yet the players present continued to remain silent.
Although finding the ghost could bring benefits, the person who identified the ghost would undeniably be targeted by it. Moreover, there wasn't just one ghost here!
Perhaps the ghost hidden among the players had an "associate" not mentioned by the bloodstained words?
However, at that moment, someone moved.
It was naturally Tan Shuchang.
He walked up to a thirty-something-year-old man wearing black mink, and asked with a smile, "Single?"
The young man in black mink, upon hearing this, immediately changed his expression and hurriedly stepped back two steps, saying, "I'm straight."
Tan Shuchang: "..."
He retracted his smile and stared intently at the young man: "I'm straight too. I just wanted to ask you, you're thirty and still single, so have you saved quite a bit of money?"
When the young man in black mink didn't respond, a gust of dark blue aura started to rise, instantly covering the young man's face with deathly pallor. Then, with green light flashing in his eyes and an eerie gaze fixed on Tan Shuchang for a while, he quickly retreated into the darkness.
This touched the ghost's repulsion mechanism.
Like the killing patterns of ghosts, all ghosts posses a repulsion mechanism. Once it's found, a ghost can be directly driven away.
However, after being repelled once, the ghost's repulsion mechanism might change.
Undoubtedly, the repulsed ghost would have its mechanism altered the next time it appeared.
"Bro, that was impressive!"
"Thanks to this young man!"
Other players, seeing this scene, quickly thanked Tan Shuchang.
Tan Shuchang simply clasped his fists as a response to the other players, then he examined the spectral item that had appeared out of nowhere in front of him.
It was a palm-sized little skirt, probably a prop worn by some doll.
It was very clean, with no bloodstains.
It even lacked that ominous aura.
Tan Shuchang couldn't help but look at the items in the hands of other players, and then he realized that, apart from his, all the spectral items held by the players were emitting a layer of green-black aura.
This was a manifestation of the ominous energy.
To the naked eye of an ordinary person, it was invisible, but to someone like Tan Shuchang, who had cultivated, it was exceptionally clear.
"So, is this a hidden trap? Although they are all spectral items, could it be that the spectral item found by the player who encounters the ghost is actually ineffective?"
Tan Shuchang quickly realized this.
But this was no issue for him. He had intended to attract the ghost's attention and draw it out.
However, Tan Shuchang was also just trying to see if it would work; just because the ghost was targeting him didn't mean the ghost would be able to find him.
In this regard, he couldn't help the ghost. He could only pray internally that besides being fiercely malicious, this ghost also had enough "connections" in the eerie world of the game.
It would be best if it could track him from the eerie game, all the way to the Jiawu Realm!
"Brother, my name is Xu Qing, I'm a prospective member of the Yujing Association. What do you think we should do next?" At this moment, a young man approached Tan Shuchang and asked somewhat ingratiatingly.
"Yujing Association?"
Hearing this organization's name again, Tan Shuchang glanced at the man but didn't particularly care, as after all, his people were in the Jiawu Realm.
How incredible could the Yujing Association be to reach the Jiawu Realm?
However, Tan Shuchang didn't vent his frustration over the past incident on this "intern," so he said, "Just walk straight ahead."
Others' instance time wasn't limited, but his was!
Initially, Tan Shuchang had thought about seizing the opportunity to capture one or two ghosts, but given the Impermanence Order mission that had popped up as soon as he entered, he might as well forget that idea early.
He should focus on healing; once he was healed, he planned to visit the Ghost City of Langshou during his next mission.
Thus, with no mood to play games, Tan Shuchang, having said this, walked into the darkness ahead. This not only left the other players dumbfounded but even Xu Qing, who had approached him, looked utterly bewildered.
Shouldn't they discuss a plan?
This was a ghost instance; how could they act rashly!
And at that moment, blood-red text suddenly spread rapidly across the darkness.
[Game Over.]
[The final ghost has been defeated, the instance ends prematurely. Players, please note, expect adverse reactions upon exit. Drinking more hot water may help recovery.]
"What the fuck?"
"What the fuck!!!"
This was the unanimous reaction of the players present, regardless of gender or education level, at that moment.