[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-paradise-of-reincarnation":3,"chapter-paradise-of-reincarnation-paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-76":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Paradise of Reincarnation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273934,4446,"Chapter 76: First Signs","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-76",76,"\u003Cp>Su Xiao stepped into the dark entrance, a swift, fishy-smelling wind brushing past his cheeks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entrance sloped downward, gradually leading underground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After advancing a distance, the tunnel narrowed slightly, yet remained at least five meters high and seven or eight meters wide—no one knew how long the ghouls had labored to carve out such a space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once inside, he realized that though it was underground, it was not pitch-black.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Along the tunnel’s ceiling grew plants with gray stems, their roots dense and bearing peculiar flowers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The flowers hung from the ceiling, emitting a faint white glow that kept the tunnel from feeling dark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Drip… drip…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Water droplets fell from the ceiling; Ma Gui and Yuna immediately retreated far away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t touch that liquid—it’s the secretion from the ‘Light Flowers,’ highly toxic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna promptly warned Su Xiao, who nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t let your guard down—over fifty investigators have died from the toxin of the Light Flowers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Su Xiao wasn’t paying attention, Yuna warned him again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Yuna was somewhat neurotic, she was a solid teammate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After advancing several hundred meters underground, the three faced a metal door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui reached into his collar and pulled out a necklace with a golden key hanging from it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He inserted the key into the metal door—it swung open with a thunderous clang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Every time I go through this damn door, I feel like I’ll never get out—who the hell designed this thing? Damn it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna muttered under her breath, then fell silent again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This checkpoint was built long ago by the CCG to prevent ghouls in District 24 from escaping; only two keys existed—one held by Ma Gui, the other by Hoshimiya Jishi (CCG Director).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the metal door opened, a foul, stinking odor surged out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the metal barrier lay two branching paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside and inside the metal door were entirely different worlds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The walls inside the door were no longer earth—they were dark red, fleshy membranes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao drew Zhan Long Shan and stabbed its tip into the flesh-wall; the material was hard and highly resilient.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pthss.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the blade sank in a short distance, the flesh-wall began to tighten, attempting to clamp down on Zhan Long Shan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ma Gui, which way do we take?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna and Ma Gui were well-acquainted, longtime partners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You decide.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui held two Quink weapons—one in each hand: ‘Ming Shen’ and ‘IXA.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna pulled out a coin and flipped it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heads—then right it is.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao watched, puzzled—was there no fixed route?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Strange, isn’t it? Choosing paths like this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna smiled at Su Xiao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No fixed route?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“None—and there never can be.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna’s words deepened Su Xiao’s confusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These flesh-walls aren’t static—they shift constantly. The branching paths ahead? Sometimes two, sometimes three, even five.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why District 24 has never been fully explored—it’s all alive.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Yuna’s explanation, Su Xiao frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do we get out after going deeper? With this, getting trapped to death isn’t impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course there’s a way—this makes leaving no problem.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna tossed a compass in her hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui spoke beside her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This exploration is limited to two days. If we find nothing by then, return to the surface and regroup at the temporary branch.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui paused, then continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“White Night, what are you best at?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui wanted to assess Su Xiao’s capabilities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Frontal assault, perception, breaching.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui adjusted his glasses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll lead, Yuna in the center, White Night at the rear.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao had no objection to this formation—but Yuna pouted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m not a rookie—why am I stuck in the middle? Annoying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna sized up Su Xiao, realized she wasn’t his match, and reluctantly accepted the center position.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trio began advancing into the depths of District 24.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Roar!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before they’d gone far, a roar echoed ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it, are we really this unlucky?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna cursed, spun on her heel, and ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui reacted the same—without hesitation, he bolted backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fall back! Something’s coming!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even without Ma Gui’s shout, Su Xiao turned and ran the moment he saw them flee—his position subtly overtaking Yuna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What was that?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While running, Su Xiao asked Yuna.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a ‘monster.’ District 24 isn’t like District 14—there’s more here than just ghouls.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the three reached the fork again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though District 24’s terrain shifts, the changes follow cycles—major alterations occur roughly every seven or eight days; otherwise, only minor adjustments happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The right path is blocked—the Blood Eye is on the right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna panted heavily, glancing fearfully at the right tunnel entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao frowned—what kind of monster made Ma Gui flee?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ma Gui. The Blood Eye is active—should we retreat?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna was beginning to consider withdrawal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. The Blood Eye’s range is limited—explore the left passage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui led, and the three entered the left tunnel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before even encountering a ghoul, District 24 had already delivered two warnings to Su Xiao:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Constantly dripping poison, and a monster powerful enough to force Ma Gui to run.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The trio advanced deep into District 24 smoothly—hours passed without incident, not a single ghoul appeared. Su Xiao grew puzzled—weren’t there supposed to be many ghouls here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Boom.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A thunderous crash echoed through the tunnel, shaking it, dust raining down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Blood Eye’s gone berserk again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna’s face darkened—she clearly feared the creature known as the Blood Eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s entering its molting phase. I fought it last week.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui’s words stunned them—he’d actually clashed with the unknown monster.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After another hour of advancing deeper into District 24, Su Xiao was thoroughly lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>District 24 deserved its name as a labyrinth—along the way, they’d passed at least dozens of branching paths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead, another corner appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao suddenly spoke; Yuna and Ma Gui turned to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna tensed her whole body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There’s fresh blood—right around the corner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yuna eyed Su Xiao skeptically, then crept quietly toward the corner, peering around it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned back and nodded to the two.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ma Gui glanced at Su Xiao, then both moved forward with silent, careful steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Su Xiao neared the corner, he saw two ghouls devouring a corpse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the red eyes on the corpse, he was also a Ghoul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao had never seen a Ghoul from District 24 before; the Ghouls here were vastly different from those outside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t their appearance that differed, but their clothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These two Ghouls from District 24 were wearing grass skirts; one even had a necklace made of bone teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao stood frozen—had he encountered primitive Ghouls?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: (As usual, requesting recommendation votes)\u003C\u002Fp>",1099,"2026-06-19T23:49:42.795Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ff8cb16c1ecbf9dd79a9b4b6d8ceda64cd13f58a4ff1009b03c42d8d1ca5f505","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-77","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-75",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fparadise-of-reincarnation-cover.jpg"]