"I don't even have internet access over there anymore. I can't look up the walkthrough," Fenric said helplessly.
Aurora chimed in, "Shura, if I remember correctly, there are two dungeons on the eighth floor. The standard one is Blade Runner, and the difficult one is [A Bride Ghost Story], right?"
She glanced at him and added with a knowing smile, "Judging by your personality, I bet you're planning to challenge the hard-mode dungeon?"
Hearing the names of those two worlds, Fenric paused to think. After a moment, he nodded. "Yeah, I'm probably going with [A Bride Ghost Story]."
"Thought so." Aurora's tone grew more serious. "I have a few special beads on me. They don't have any offensive capabilities, but they can protect your soul."
"In the dungeon world of [A Bride Ghost Story], there's a particularly powerful tree demon that can harm people's souls. Want me to give you a string for protection?"
Fenric's eyes lit up. "Then I won't be shy!"
He remembered clearly—[A Bride Ghost Story] wasn't just about the tree demon. The old Black Mountain Demon in the underworld was even more terrifying, capable of sucking away souls directly.
If he was really going to dive into that dungeon, then those Buddhist prayer beads Aurora mentioned were exactly what he needed.
"Alright then, I'll head to the trading center and give them to you later," she said. "But keep in mind, the prayer beads are disposable. They only work once."
"That's fine. Thanks, Aurora!"
"What are you thanking me for?" she laughed. "Didn't you say before there's no need to be polite between us?"
"Fair enough. I'll take you up on that," Fenric chuckled.
"Good." Aurora smiled. "Let's go to the trading center. I'll give you the beads there. I have a meeting to attend afterwards. I've forgotten most of the dungeon's strategy guide—have Belle go back and copy it for you."
"Got it!"
With that, the group split up.
Aurora and Fenric headed to the trading center, while Belle logged off to hand-copy the official [A Bride Ghost Story] walkthrough.
Trading Center
A string of prayer beads dropped into Fenric's hand.
[Special Item: Bodhi Prayer Beads (One-time use)]
"These prayer beads have been enchanted by a Bodhisattva. When worn, they protect the wearer's soul from external evils."
Note:This is a one-time-use item. The effect expires within 24 hours after activation.
Once the transaction was complete, Aurora said, "Shura, I have to return to reality for that meeting."
"Alright, go handle your business."
Aurora logged out and disappeared from the Samsara Space.
Shortly afterward, Belle reappeared at the trading center entrance and handed Fenric a neatly handwritten page.
"Shura, I copied the official walkthrough for [A Bride Ghost Story] word for word. Here, take a look."
In the Samsara Space, real-world objects weren't allowed to be brought in. Any unprocessed item from reality would be confiscated after three hours. Luckily, three hours was more than enough for Fenric to finish reading the guide.
Looking at the page filled with elegant, flowing handwriting, Fenric couldn't help but smile. "Thanks."
"It's no trouble. Go ahead and study the guide. I won't bother you anymore," Belle said, then quietly stepped away.
Left alone, Fenric focused on the strategy guide.
Belle's handwriting was not only beautiful and precise, it also made the dense information easier to absorb.
He'd heard rumors that Belle was considered a "goddess" at one of the elite middle schools—not just because of her looks, but because she was also a top student.
The guide she copied was an unabridged, official walkthrough:
Walkthrough: [A Bride Ghost Story]
Before attempting this dungeon, we recommend learning basic Taoist techniques or equipping yourself with special items that can counter supernatural beings. This is a world ruled by monsters and ghosts—brute force alone won't help you.
The main mission is to collect Yin Qi(*ghostly aura) by hunting monsters.
Base requirement: 1500 Yin Qi
Lowest-level mummy: ~100 Yin Qi
Average ghost girl: ~300 Yin Qi
Millennial Tree Demon (Boss): ~15,000 Yin Qi
If you defeat smaller monsters along the way, a total S-rank score is possible.
After entering the dungeon, you'll appear in a forest. Head south to find the ruined Orchid Temple, where a strange Taoist priest named Yan Chixia resides.
Don't underestimate him. He may look disheveled, but he's a powerful demon-slaying expert who wields high-level Daoist techniques.
If you're not confident in soloing the boss, it's wise to gain Chixia's trust. With his help, taking down the Millennial Tree Demon becomes significantly easier.
However—be careful. If he lands the killing blow, he gets all the Yin Qi. Even if you do most of the damage, the system only rewards whoever gets the final strike.
His giant sword is a rare anti-demon item. Unless you're strong enough, don't even think about trying to take it from him.
On the second day, a timid scholar named Naichen will arrive at the temple while traveling to take the imperial exam.
Avoid him. He's not helpful and easily becomes a liability.
Warning: Don't bring too many people into this dungeon. The Orchid Temple is under the domain of the Millennial Tree Demon, so other monsters stay away. Too many players means too few monsters to go around—fail to meet the Yin Qi quota, and you'll be erased.
The dungeon duration is seven days. Make every hour count.
Final note: This dungeon is extremely difficult. Be prepared to attempt it more than once.
After reading the strategy, Fenric almost laughed aloud.
There was one glaring omission—Nie Lillian, the most important plot character, wasn't even mentioned.
Lillian held the key to entering the underworld.
In the underworld, the opportunities for monster hunting were practically endless.
But of course, no one else knew the full story like he did. And with only seven days granted by the system, it was unlikely other Samsaras could trigger the crucial events involving Lillian and the Black Mountain Demon in time.
So their ignorance was understandable.
But Fenric was different.
He knew the plot.
And now, a rough plan was already taking shape in his mind.