Chapter 375: Welcome to Nightmare Island

"No one can actually empathize with these big shots, right? They usually run amok in their region, and now it's their turn to provide benefits for the region, and they just cower like turtles? When is there ever something that good?!!"

"Run amok?? I think you're the crazy one. Which big shot has been running amok? I really, really hope these big shots speak up more! They know way more than we do, and any bit they share is profit for us!"

"Stop the noise, stop! What's there to argue about?! The Instance details haven't been announced yet, and you're already making a fuss! When it does get released, are we supposed to blow up this regional channel?!"

"No matter what you say, I'm backing Wuya Dalao. As long as Wuya Dalao is willing to join!"

"Wuya Dalao not joining? What a joke! She's the Number One of the whole server!! The server's, not just our region's! If she doesn't join, won't our server be doomed?"

"Whether Wuya Dalao joins or not, think twice before acting!!"

Cheng Shuili shut down the regional channel; the clamor was giving her a headache.

As for whether to join, she had already decided. More challenges mean better rewards, right? Cheng Shuili never misses a better reward.

This broken system has been teasing us for so long; it's about time it announced the details of this Instance, right?

After a long while, when the regional channel's uproar peaked, the Weaver Girl's teasing voice sounded again.

【It seems everyone wants to win! So now, we'll announce the details of the first full‑server Instance! Of course, players who choose not to join the full‑server Instance must still enter this Instance in their respective regions!】

【Instance Details: Welcome to Nightmare Island】

【Description: Welcome to Nightmare Island!! Welcome to Nightmare Island!! A gray‑purple sky, impenetrable mist, swaying dances and bright red blood! Welcome, guests! All guests, note: here you have three chances to err. First mistake, we will forgive your offense; second mistake, we will take what you cherish; third mistake!! You will become the island's eternal dancer, adorning this never‑ending feast with your flesh and blood!!】

【This Instance is a team Instance; the way players join the regional Instance is the same as last time. Players opting for the full‑server Instance should check the Trade Channel for their invitation; the top 500 on the server leaderboard receive it free, others must pay 1,000 Game Coins to purchase! Note: the full‑server Instance is guaranteed to be Hell‑level, and difficulty is further divided according to server leaderboard rank! Please act within your limits!】

【Special Notice: This Instance is a faction‑versus mode. All participants will be randomly assigned to either the "Feast Attendants" or the "Sacrificial Guests" faction. Attendants aim to maintain the feast's order, while Guests aim to escape Nightmare Island, or overturn the feast!】

When the Weaver Girl's mischievous words fell, the entire regional channel seemed hit by a deep‑water bomb; after a brief dead silence came an even more violent eruption.

"Hell‑level?! What a joke! I was actually planning to join; if that's the case, I can only bet on Wuya!"

"I still think the 1,000 Game Coin threshold is just a money grab! Who would actually spend money to join this Instance?!"

"Faction‑versus? So does that mean we might have to fight our own teammates?"

"It's over, it's over, this looks like the Sacrificial Guest faction is at a disadvantage no matter how you look at it!"

Cheng Shuili ignored the near‑overflowing panic and complaints in the channel and immediately opened the Trade Channel.

Sure enough, a virtual envelope icon, crimson with twisted golden patterns along the edge, lay quietly in the most prominent spot.

【Nightmare Island Invitation】 (Full‑server Instance Ticket)

Price: 1,000 Game Coins (free for the top 500 on the leaderboard)

Status: Claimable (you are ranked #1 on the server leaderboard, free)

Cheng Shuili clicked "Claim" without hesitation.

【You have obtained the "Nightmare Island Invitation".】

【The Instance will officially open in one hour; please be prepared. You will be forcibly teleported at that time.】

【Note: This Instance requires 2‑10 players! Confirm your team within one hour!】

Team…

Cheng Shuili was unusually silent.

If it were a regional Instance, she would have taken those few people in together.

They are strong within the region, but only within the region.

Now they face completely unknown circumstances and outright hostile players from other servers; for each server's interests, they are essentially natural enemies.

Before Wan Yi's wings are fully grown, Cheng Shuili won't take them on an adventure.

Then…

She needs to find a new teammate.

Cheng Shuili furrowed her brows and reopened the server leaderboard for a look.

Across the twelve regions, aside from Cheng Shuili, only one other person remained on the server leaderboard.

That person is neither Qianxun nor the current third‑place Shi Zhi, but the fourth‑place Haohao.

The regional leaderboard's ranking method differs from the server's, so this situation is reasonable.

Just as she was thinking, 001 suddenly reminded her of a message needing a reply.

Cheng Shuili opened the private chat and saw that the sender was Haohao.

【Haohao】: Wuya Dalao, I finally gathered the courage to message you! I finally have a legitimate reason to contact you!!!

【Haohao】: Boss!! Need a teammate? Someone who can fight, tank, and obey— you make them go east and never west, you make "Mogou" never cheat!

【Haohao】: Wuya Dalao, I really have no teammates left, please take me in, I beg you! Taking me in won't hurt you at all!

Cheng Shuili blinked, shaken by the rapid barrage of messages.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: You...

She managed to type one character before the other side bombarded her with more messages.

【Haohao】: Ahhh, boss, you replied!

【Haohao】: Great! I know I might be a bit noisy, but I guarantee I won't drop the ball at crucial moments! I also received the invitation, I didn't spend Game Coins on a ticket!

【Haohao】: I really can't find a teammate, Wuya Lao Da! Just team up with me! Qianxun and the others aren't joining; besides you, I have no one else to team with!

【Haohao】: If it really doesn't work out, we can discuss; I'll give you supplies, Game Coins—anything I have, we can negotiate!

Cheng Shuili massaged her temples; this guy…

Is a bit noisy!

Really!

Although she's also looking for teammates, this person is just too noisy!

When she encountered the Moyu Miji, Cheng Shuili had wondered how they became friends; after meeting Haohao today, she understood why.

Noisy! They're all talk‑ative! Even if it's awkward at first, they'll probably force a conversation eventually, right?

Putting those minor flaws aside, Cheng Shuili does need a teammate, so she simply replied.

Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji: Stop. Okay, but the party would just be the two of us; can you accept that?

Haohao: Two people?! The two of us? But the Instance says 2 to 10 players...

Cheng Shuili had just finished reading that message when the next one arrived.

Haohao: But two people is fine! That way we don't have to worry about a teammate betraying us! Boss, will you sign a trade contract with me? I know the rules, I'll never say what I shouldn't, and I'll never do what I shouldn't!

Haohao: Boss, did you already think of this? No wonder Number One is different! So what should we prepare? Anything we need to bring? I have...

Cheng Shuili decisively cut her off.

Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji: The trade contract still needs to be signed; rest assured, we're teammates, and these terms are good for both of us.

Haohao: Clear, clear! I have no problem!

Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji: After one hour there will be a forced teleport; now, accept my party invitation.

Haohao: Got it, boss! No problem, boss! (Cute. jpg) I'll go prepare right now! I promise I won't bother you!

Cheng Shuili looked at the now‑quiet chat window and breathed a sigh of relief.

This teammate… hopefully they'll be this obedient in the Instance as well.

Cheng Shuili shook her head, opened a five‑person group chat she hadn't used in ages, and explained the party arrangement.

Xin Xue Chuji: Great! I was still worried the boss would force me to join; I know exactly what a little trash I am!

Liang Shan Bo Yu Zhu Ying Lai: Same here!

Ai Mi Li: Boss, are you really not taking anyone? I also want to go with you. Boss, you know me; my gun skill is excellent!

Wan Yi: Perfect! @Ai Mi Li, join our party, okay? The boss isn't here; if you're not either, those two girls probably won't feel safe at all.

Xin Xue Chuji: I'm not scared! But Ailin sister, still come with us; bullets don't do much to top‑ranked players, but if you get hit, you'll really die.

Liang Shan Bo Yu Zhu Ying Lai: Exactly! Ailin sister, what would I do without you?! The boss went to a high‑end match to farm fish, leaving the three of us noobs floundering in the pond; can you bear that? Without you and the boss, Xinxue and I are just two unwanted bitter melons! Little cabbage~ the field is yellow~

Cheng Shuili silently closed the group chat.

Let them discuss among themselves; this kind of discussion seems fine.

The faction group chat was lively too; everyone knows the best is to team up with players from the same faction, gaining the Cohesion Aura bonus, naturally giving them an edge over unaffiliated players!

Moreover, because everyone is familiar with each other, coordination is seamless, and trust runs deep; many posted in the chat:

"Left Black Feather, where can you find such good teammates?!"

But Black Feather's member count isn't an integer; if the party fills completely, some members will inevitably be left alone.

The members faced only two options: either not fill the party, or recruit in the regional channel.

Though they're elite players, strength often hinges on each side's party size. Thus choosing the former is almost like conceding, while the latter risks betrayal.

Yet this issue is purely idealistic; in reality, members pick teammates based on personal preference and familiarity.

Some parties happen to have nine members; a tenth applicant is turned away with the excuse "don't know them."

Such occurrences are understandable, but that doesn't mean they should happen.

Cheng Shuili scrolled through dozens more messages; while there are rational members, they're few. Some socially anxious members never dare to look for teammates in chat, so they just join random parties in the regional channel.

Cheng Shuili frowned slightly.

She created Black Feather to consolidate power, not to watch members waste each other or fall into danger because of it.

After a brief pause, she posted an announcement in the faction group chat:

Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji: @AllMembers, all under‑filled parties should, according to the principle of complementary strength, prioritize internal coordination. If coordination fails, Xinxue and Guanghui will assign members. Refusing internal grouping or contacting outsiders on one's own will be treated as automatic departure from Black Feather.

The announcement went out, and the channel fell silent for a heartbeat before more discussion erupted.

"The boss spoke up!"

"Internal coordination? That's great! I was just worried I couldn't find reliable teammates!"

"Designated? Fine, saves us the hassle!"

"The boss is wise! Now we won't fear being left alone!"

Cheng Shuili stopped looking further and directly handed the allocation authority to Xinxue.

She trusted Xinxue could handle these trivial matters.

With the remaining time, Cheng Shuili did a quick activity and tidied up the Abyssal Ring.

She even packed a few rocket‑launcher shells just in case. With those, regardless of the opponent, Cheng Shuili can just blast them to death!

All set, Cheng Shuili gave Su Rui a heads‑up, then lay on the sofa, quietly waiting for the countdown to end.

The Weaver Girl didn't mention the Instance's start time, so Wan Yi still prepared food just in case.

At the moment the countdown ended, the familiar teleport sensation struck.

Cheng Shuili's vision was instantly swallowed by white light; when it cleared, she found herself in a gray‑purple oppressive realm.

Moist, sweet‑scented fog drifted, twisted dead trees loomed like specters, and distant eerie music intertwined with muffled voices.

Cheng Shuili quickly steadied herself, her gaze sweeping the surroundings.

Beside her stood a tall, slender woman—Haohao.

She wore a sleek dark‑gray combat suit, her chestnut short hair casually pulled into a few messy arcs, looking competent yet lively.

Her features were bright and striking, with a resolute spirit evident in her brows.

At that moment, her bright amber eyes scanned the area warily, her right hand instinctively resting on a pair of oddly shaped short blades hanging at her waist.

Unlike the boisterous persona in the channel, now she pressed her lips together, her expression focused and tense, exuding a calm forged by combat.

Seeing this, Cheng Shuili knew she'd found a reliable teammate.

"Wu—Wu Ya Dalao!" Haohao's voice trembled with the tension of a newcomer to danger, yet remained calm, "We've arrived? This place… feels ominous."