Chapter 105: Abstract Sense of Ritual

But this is still just Lin Yifan's personal idea; since it has been confirmed that we need to form a team with Hong Shaoqiang and the others, a team that can shoulder the burden.

The respect and rights that should be given, of course, must also be granted.

Moreover, Lin Yifan is not a dictatorial person; he would not blindly think his decisions are absolutely correct.

Thus he explained his thoughts to the two of them, and then seriously said:

"We are now partners, and we are together here running an Instance; the loot should originally be split evenly."

"So if you cannot accept this proposal, you may voice your thoughts; as a team, many matters require equal communication—don't be embarrassed, just say whatever you want."

Of course, although Lin Yifan's words sounded quite polite, he actually had his own yardstick in mind.

If Ruan Qingtan and Hong Shaoqiang make unreasonable demands, he obviously could not agree.

Some business sense, all communication, at least must stay within reasonable bounds.

Fortunately, Hong Shaoqiang and Ruan Qingtan clearly aren't the kind who overstep or act mindlessly.

The two were fully aware of their current situation and their own positions, and they both said seriously:

"Captain, actually you don't need to consider so much for us; you are the core of this small team, and we are able to gather here for the Instance today because of you."

"And we haven't done anything, just came to run the Instance, yet we get so many benefits; it's already like a pie falling from the sky, so these Treasure Chests should be handled by you."

"That's not what I meant," Lin Yifan shook his head and said cautiously:

"We've formed a team, so naturally the tasks and rewards must be clear; I'm not being self‑deprecating—today's Instance, I indeed contribute a bit more, so if I take the larger share, I won't feel embarrassed."

"But since you have contributed labor, what you deserve should be yours; let's settle it like this: in this Instance, when we open Treasure Chests, if we obtain the desired materials, I won't hold back; I need to gather enough material to upgrade my Shelter."

"However, similarly, the materials for your level‑3 Shelter upgrade will be prepared by me; you only need to prepare the Blueprint for a level‑3 Shelter, and as for those other supplies I don't really need, you two will split them."

Ruan Qingtan and Hong Shaoqiang exchanged glances and nodded, saying:

"No problem!"

Ruan Qingtan immediately began opening Treasure Chests, and Lin Yifan was seeing for the first time how others use talent abilities.

He originally thought Ruan Qingtan's Opening Box Talent, like when he drew the Opening Box Buff, would just require silently reciting with his mind.

To his surprise, Ruan Qingtan knelt before the chest, gave it three heavy knocks, then clasped both hands, muttered words toward the lucky Divine Being, and earnestly prayed for four or five minutes before opening the Treasure Chest.

Lin Yifan stared dumbfounded at her whole opening procedure, making Ruan Qingtan feel a bit embarrassed.

After the chest opened, she awkwardly touched her hair and laughed apologetically:

"Sorry to make you laugh! My talent is pretty good, but the process is rather abstract; the first time I performed the Opening Box Prayer according to the procedure, I was speechless!"

"Abstract is fine, as long as it works!" Lin Yifan twitched his mouth and gave a dry consolation.

Meanwhile, Hong Shaoqiang looked uneasy, as if something unspeakable weighed on him.

As Lin Yifan was about to ask, Xiao Hudie cheerfully said:

"Dad, dad, Sister Qingtan also has to kneel and pray! Turns out prayer is so effective! Looks like I should pray properly too, so we can live in a big house and eat delicious feasts."

Hearing this, Lin Yifan instinctively glanced at Hong Shaoqiang's expression and realized that his talent also requires some special ritual when used.

So he deliberately asked Xiao Hudie, "Xiao Hudie, does your dad also pray often?"

"That's right!" Xiao Hudie immediately nodded, saying in a babyish voice:

"I remember dad, every morning when he goes out hunting, kneels at the door, then lies flat on the ground to pray to the hunting Divine Being, and finally throws a small stone to ask for the way."

"Xiao Hudie, you little girl, stop talking!" Hong Shaoqiang's face flushed red, he quickly patted Xiao Hudie's head, then gave the two an awkward smile and said:

"These matters are irrelevant; let's not bring them up! No need to mention them!"

Lin Yifan originally was about to burst into laughter, but after thinking carefully, he couldn't help but say:

"Does this sense of ritual when you use your talents really work? Have you ever tried without the ritual?"

"No, the ritual must be complete for my talent to take effect," Ruan Qingtan said with a wry smile.

"Actually I had thought before that my Opening Box Prayer is a bit embarrassing, but I tried skipping the ritual and my talent didn't work."

"I've also privately asked others; everyone's talents vary, many require a ritual to work, some even more abstract than mine."

"For example, I know a Survivor who often fishes; his talent is related to fishing. He says that before each fishing session, he spends half an hour reciting a prayer text, and the text is not even Chinese characters but a special script we've never seen, yet he can recite it."

"However, when he recites the prayer, he must be flawless; a single wrong character forces him to start over. Yet his talent is strong—if he completes the prayer, his catch that day will be abundant, even allowing him to fish up Treasure Chests."

"But if luck is bad, he might spend an entire day reciting without getting a single correct version, and then he gets nothing all day."

"What a talent!" Lin Yifan exclaimed, having previously investigated everyone's talents.

However, most people clearly treat their talents as trump cards and rarely share them, so the variety Lin Yifan could learn about is quite limited.

As for the rituals, he had a few guesses.

So far it seems that whether Ruan Qingtan or Hong Shaoqiang, their talents require praying to a Divine Being before they can be used.

In that case, does the Survival Realm actually have Divine Beings existing within it!

It's not a fanciful god people imagine to pin hopes on, but a truly existing Divine Being!