Chapter 86

Wen Xishu discovered that his luck was indeed very strong; it was rare for irregular numbers to appear. Basically, they were all straights, and the choices this time were far fewer than before.

There were only four options.

【Please choose one of the following effects:】

【1: Quality Upgrade: Triggered when the three dice contain two prime numbers. Effect: When settling completion rewards, if there are items, sequences, or facilities, one of them will trigger a quality upgrade, increasing its quality grade.】

【2: Balanced Leap: Triggered only when the points are one-three-five or two-four-six. Effect: After this option is triggered, it will stably add +2 based on the previous level. Lasts for five times. It will become invalid if the current level exceeds 90. However, it can be exchanged for any other effect.】

【3: Peerless Under Heaven: Triggered when the points of the three dice are only odd numbers and are all different. Effect: After clearing the level, significantly increase the unique items or unique sequences obtained this time, or facilities with a maximum bunker existence quantity of one. If a certain type of technology is obtained, that technology will no longer be obtainable by other tower climbers.】

【4: Three Begets All Things. (Triggered when at least one of the three dice has a three, and the sum is a multiple of three. Effect: When the number of items you have equipped is three or a multiple of three, their effects will be amplified. Includes special items, invalid items; item quantity is determined only by the number of items used in the item slots.)】

Wen Xishu had unlocked two new dice options: Balanced Leap and Peerless Under Heaven.

Three Begets All Things and Balanced Leap were both used to increase the number of levels, which actually surprised Wen Xishu. Would anyone really choose these two options?

But it seemed that the number one of the Slaughter Tower, Xun Hui, appeared to be stuck at over 50 levels. If he himself were to get stuck at this level, could he use the dice to force a breakthrough?

But then again, the price of a forced breakthrough might not be bearable.

Three Begets All Things was quite good. If he didn't bring Tang Rui's letter, Wen Xishu would have exactly three items right now. One was the Scorpio's Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Blade, one was Wen Renjing's Gradual Indifference, and the third was the 'Forgot to Bring the Key'.

After thinking about it, Wen Xishu felt that he didn't seem to need Three Begets All Things; after all, it wasn't a permanent amplification.

He stopped dwelling on this question; he was now very interested in the Peerless Under Heaven option.

"Since I'm climbing the tower, I naturally assume I can clear it. It's really hard to say which is better, Quality Upgrade or Peerless Under Heaven."

Wen Xishu didn't agonize over it; when both were equally attractive to him... then choose the new over the old.

He chose Peerless Under Heaven.

After making his choice, Wen Xishu entered the rest area.

"Anyone from the Xishu Divine Sect!"

"I'm on the fifth floor, doing that Southeast Asian small fishing village curse mission. Looking for a team from the Xishu Divine Sect. I am proficient in washing, cutting, and blowing. Welcome to find me on the first floor of the bunker. Washing and cutting is 10 yuan, blowing is 300. Free for the Xishu Divine Sect!"

"I am a newly promoted member of the Xishu Divine Sect! Begging the elders to team up with me!"

"Big shots, the Mysterious Tower's stimulus policy has been around for a while now. Can anyone teach me how to survive the Squid Game on the third floor?"

"Don't believe that guy on the second floor, he's not from the Xishu Divine Sect, I am!"

Unlike last time, this time Wen Xishu discovered that there were actually quite a few shouts.

The number of people exploring the Mysterious Tower was increasing.

No matter how dangerous the Mysterious Tower was, under the stimulus of the policy, there would always be brave souls. And this time, in many people's shouts, the Xishu Divine Sect was actually mentioned.

Wen Xishu appeared in the central area this time, at the 10-10 Tianyuan position of the rest area. His mission this time was to head to the eighth floor.

This level was actually not very high, but Wen Xishu still hadn't expected that good luck would favor him once.

It didn't jump directly to the maximum value of 14 levels.

This also led to Wen Xishu meeting an acquaintance this time.

"Brother Wen!"

The voice came through the iron mask, sounding a bit muffled. Wen Xishu looked in the direction of the voice and was shocked.

"Zheng Zai, it's you."

"It's me, it's me! What a coincidence! Brother Wen, I didn't expect you to be here! I... wait, we aren't on the same mission, are we?"

Being able to meet Zheng Zai here really surprised Wen Xishu.

What Wen Xishu was more curious about was why Zheng Zai was able to challenge the eighth floor.

Since Zheng Zai was born in the same rest area as him, it meant Zheng Zai was also on the eighth floor, just perhaps with a different mission.

He was just about to speak when someone suddenly said:

"This friend wearing an iron mouth mask, you called him Brother Wen, did I hear that right?"

The man speaking was a one-eyed man, but he was quite particular; a monocle covered his single eye, but the scar on his left eye was too obvious and too long, and the lens didn't cover it.

Beside the man, there was also a woman holding a dagger, which looked like some kind of item. Anything that could be brought into the rest area must be an item from one's own item slot.

The woman said:

"There are many who pronounce it that way. Is it the 'Wen' of culture, or the 'Wen' of Wen Renjing?"

The woman's appearance actually really struck Wen Xishu; she was a solid 9.5 out of 10, like Quiet from Metal Gear Solid. She was wearing brown silk stockings and was dressed quite lightly. However, she had the look of a Russian girl.

Of course, this was absolutely not reasonable attire. In reality, there was no such thing as 'the less you wear, the higher the critical hit rate'.

Both the man and the woman seemed very concerned about Zheng Zai's 'Brother Wen'.

Wen Xishu said:

"Why don't you guys start by talking about your mission?"

There were actually about twenty other people around. These people also turned their gazes over one after another.

However, they were not standing together with Zheng Zai and this couple; they were just watching Wen Xishu from not far away.

Wondering if this person was related to that Wen Xiange of the Xishu Divine Sect.

Wen Xishu also discovered clues through the positioning of these people.

Zheng Zai and this couple should all be on the same mission.

They were standing very close, while the people around them were on other different missions; some were alone, and some were gathered together but separated from other groups.

Wen Xishu said:

"My surname is indeed Wen, my ID is Wen Xishu."

Some people around even rolled their eyes. Only Zheng Zai had a natural expression, feeling secretly pleased inside.

After being arranged by the academy, Zheng Zai already knew that Brother Wen was the famous Wen Xishu.

Exploding that he was Wen Xishu, yet almost no one around believed it, which actually made Wen Xishu very satisfied.

It's like walking down the street and saying your name; if the name happens to be the same as a name that everyone hasn't seen but was a sensation for a while, people are more willing to think it's a coincidence.

"Zheng Zai, what is your mission this time?"

Zheng Zai still hadn't taken off his iron mask, but it looked like he wasn't as ridiculously craving meat as last time.

He seemed to be gradually able to control this sequence.

"I'm on the eighth floor, the mission keywords are Great Inventor, Wonder Museum. This couple is too. The three of us are planning to team up," Zheng Zai said with a smile.

Wen Xishu was shocked; it really was such a coincidence...

Zheng Zai was actually on the same mission as him for the second time. He originally thought they were just on the same level, but now it seemed his fate with Zheng Zai was not shallow.

Regarding Wen Xishu's mission description this time, it was as follows.

【Some works in this world are always only cared about after death. He used to promote his works everywhere, saying they would come in handy during the apocalypse; he even made them into small gifts to give away for free. It's just that people were all laughing at him.】

【His heart was very strong, but he was always misunderstood because of the various strange items he made and the various bizarre remarks he told. Geniuses are always lonely, and so are madmen.】

【He eventually moved into a mental hospital. After the apocalypse arrived, the mental hospital where he was located became a place that everyone was crazily trying to flood into. As if it were the only paradise in the world.】

【People didn't care that he died, nor did they care about his final words—remember to give me a five-star review.】

【Please head to the Wonder Item Museum decorated inside the mental hospital. After identifying at least twelve items, if you can leave alive, it will be considered a successful clearance.】

【This round of missions will temporarily increase the magic resistance requirement for notes, but will decrease the magic resistance requirement for rule tolerance. And if this mission is successfully cleared, the memory of some exhibits will be erased.】

【We look forward to you identifying the most valuable items and, furthermore, fulfilling his true wish.】

This was the mission this time. Wen Xishu's habit was to interpret the mission, and he first felt a sense of awe toward the scene of this mission.

Mental hospital...

Museum.

That these two words could be combined to form an area made him feel it was crazy in itself. And the content of exploring this level was to identify items.

Identifying items, and it even involved survival; one would think this identification process was also very twisted.

The more teammates, the lower the mission difficulty naturally; after all... assuming there were twelve teammates, then on average, each person only needed to identify one to clear the level.

So Wen Xishu was also very glad that this mission could be participated in as a team.

Wen Xishu said:

"Then now, our team has four people. You two shouldn't mind, right?"

The man's expression softened quite a bit:

"Don't mind. My ID is Wang Ying, nickname One-Eyed Eagle. Are you really called Wen Xishu?"

Wen Xishu said:

"Yes, I have the same name as that very famous guy in the bunker. You can also go in and check; my name doesn't have any symbols, you could say my name is exactly the same as his."

Wang Ying was a bit disappointed. According to the naming rules, the name naturally couldn't be exactly the same; at most, it was a high-quality imitation:

"That's true, how could that legend be so young. You being able to reach the eighth floor means this isn't your first time exploring the Mysterious Tower. We welcome you very much."

"This is my junior sister, called Aspasia."

Wen Xishu said:

"Are you two from any organization?"

"Hmm, we are from the Gambling Stone Society," Wang Ying said quite proudly, mentioning the Gambling Stone Society.

Wen Xishu looked at Zheng Zai, and Zheng Zai understood in a second:

"Oh, the Gambling Stone Society is a very powerful organization. It is said that only those who have successfully survived three times in the Slaughter Tower or the Mysterious Tower are qualified to enter the Gambling Stone Society. Members of the Gambling Stone Society sometimes even take on missions from the Anquan Bureau. The leader is a super expert ranked sixth on the Slaughter Tower leaderboard."

A civilian mercenary organization, Wen Xishu understood:

"Admirable, admirable. Why did you two come to the Mysterious Tower? Is your organization opening up new territories?"

Wang Ying nodded:

"You could say it's responding to the policy. Originally, my slaughter value cap had reached 200. Let me say first, since it's a team, there must naturally be a captain."

"My luck is slightly better than Aspasia's; this is already my fifth time ascending the Mysterious Tower."

As Wang Ying spoke, he showed his wristwatch. The number on it was four. If you counted this time, that would be the fifth time.

"My magic resistance is 9 points. In the previous four tower ascensions, I had an average gain of two points each time. I consider myself the highest in our team."

Zheng Zai was actually also 9 points, but he didn't compete:

"Brother Wen... what do you think?"

Wen Xishu's magic resistance was 19 points, a gap so large that he could interpret more than twice as many notes as these people, and he could also withstand stronger rule tolerance.

But he didn't compete either:

"I've only ascended the tower three times, and the levels were all quite low. The total mission completion doesn't even add up to the level of my first tower ascension. It is naturally most appropriate for you to be the captain."

"I have no objections."

When Aspasia and Wang Ying heard that this person's magic resistance wasn't even as high as the level of his first tower ascension, they knew this person had at most seven points of magic resistance.

They didn't look down on him in their hearts, but they completely dispelled their doubts about whether this person was Wen Xishu.

Zheng Zai had a mindless admiration for Wen Xishu: Brother Wen is truly humble and low-key.

"It looks like it's just the four of us, right? Shall we start?" Wen Xishu suggested.

Regarding the Three Towers, just do it. He never liked to dilly-dally.

But Wang Ying still said:

"We just arrived, let's wait a bit longer. You just arrived too; we can stay here for at least forty minutes. If you can't sit still, go walk around and gather some intelligence about the rest area."

"If we can get one or two more teammates in these few dozen minutes, our chances of winning will be greater."

Wang Ying's suggestion was correct. Wen Xishu felt it made sense, so he didn't say much more:

"Then I'll go walk around, I hope we have new teammates."

He actually didn't have expectations for teammates.

As of now, Wen Xishu's definition of teammates was—shields, straw dolls. They were just items used to test various rules.

He himself didn't admit to seeing some teammates as friends. But whether he really thought so in his heart, Wen Xishu wasn't sure.

Seeing Wen Xishu really walking toward the surroundings, Zheng Zai followed.

They hadn't finished talking yet.

"Brother... Wen, I'm calling you that, it's not offensive, right?"

Zheng Zai was still very happy. His appearance had attracted a lot of attention, but he was already quite accustomed to other people's gazes.

Wen Xishu said:

"You are older than me, so calling me that is fine. You should know my true identity, right?"

Zheng Zai nodded:

"After I went out, I was actually caught by the bunker's Anquan Bureau not long after... I even went through an interrogation. But Brother Wen, don't worry, I didn't confess anything. I hate those guys."

"I originally thought they would take my merit points and then lock me up, but a teacher from the Three Towers Academy actually stepped forward. That teacher said I was a specially hired teacher for the Three Towers Academy..."

"I was very surprised at the time. Later, I asked that teacher, and he said his name was Jia Baer, and he also said I was indeed a teacher at the Three Towers Academy, it's just that the new campus was still under construction."

"Brother, isn't that amazing! I'm wondering, was this you stepping in?"

Albert let Jia Baer hire Zheng Zai as an academy teacher? New campus... not yet built?

Combined with Albert urging him to solve the mystery of the academy's treasure not long ago, Wen Xishu guessed in his heart, could it be that he intended to invite Zheng Zai to serve as a teacher at the Mysterious Tower Academy?

This... didn't seem impossible.

Wen Xishu was already somewhat accustomed to and synchronized with the old madman's unconventional ways.

"It wasn't me stepping in. I said, you have to persist in living. If you live, luck will always have a time when it gets better. Look, life isn't always unlucky."

Zheng Zai nodded very vigorously:

"I like this era!"

Indeed, Wen Xishu also liked this era; the path to rising is just a matter of being willing to work.

Then Zheng Zai recounted his tower climbing experience over the past few days. He went to a place called Taigu in Southeast Asia, where there were some strange folk customs.

He followed the rules, respected the folk customs, thinking of what Wen Xishu had said—listen carefully to the rules, interpret the rules... and he actually survived.

The mission there was to help a family complete their grandfather's funeral. There, the grandfather would return to his soul, the corpse would wake up, and it required a robust young man to sleep with the grandfather for three days.

Many strange things would happen during these three days.

Zheng Zai's ending was also very strange.

"I just listened to you, carefully interpreted the rules, and did whatever the rules told me to do. I was actually very scared; this mission required me to sleep with a corpse."

"But I thought, the more scared I am, the more I should follow the rules. Don't violate the rules because of fear."

"Then... I seemed to be hungry, and then, I woke up, and the mission prompted me that I had completed a level three completion... I felt very full."

"The grandfather was also gone. I seemed to have completed the mission, but in the mission, the way that family looked at me was strange."

Wen Xishu looked at Zheng Zai, and Zheng Zai looked puzzled:

"What's wrong, brother, why are you looking at me like that."

Wen Xishu shook his head:

"I have a friend named Wen Xiange. If your appetite is too strong, perhaps you can find him; he has unique experiences that can allow you to control your appetite."

Zheng Zai still didn't understand.

Wen Xishu was also impressed; does this guy have absolutely no idea what he did?

This method of clearing the level was indeed... also quite unique. This mission actually sounded very scary.

Wen Xishu pondered that even if he slept with a dead person for three days, he might not necessarily not be afraid.

But Zheng Zai, in all likelihood, had eaten the grandfather in the mission.

One would think that if the game really had people who designed missions, they would never have thought that someone would do this in this level. What to do if the corpse in the coffin comes back to life? Eat it!

Zheng Zai being able to eat the old man, eat the source of the strangeness in the mission, must be related to Zheng Zai's sequence ability.

That which Zheng Zai thought was a disease was actually the ability of the sequence.

It's also strange, did Zheng Zai's guide not point it out?

But perhaps, Zheng Zai, who possesses this ability, will really open up a set of independent ways to clear the level.

"Zheng Zai, keep this style, I'm starting to look forward to your future growth, but this style of yours is indeed not suitable for teaching... I'll arrange another position for you when I see the principal later."

"Ah! Brother, it really was you stepping in!" Zheng Zai obviously ignored the main point.

Wen Xishu held his forehead, feeling that Zheng Zai also had some nerves in his body.

As the two were talking, they suddenly stopped in their tracks. Wen Xishu didn't expect... to meet a second acquaintance here.

Xie Changfeng.

That was the person from the bunker's Anquan Bureau who interrogated Wen Xishu. He had subjected Wen Xishu to inhumane torture, but ultimately failed to get any information out of Wen Xishu's mouth.

The rhythm was taken away by Wen Xishu, who kept dragging it out until Albert arrived.

It could be said that in terms of digging out Wen Xishu's secrets, the Anquan Bureau had a chance.

But Xie Changfeng missed this opportunity.

"You! You! It's you! It's you!" Xie Changfeng pointed at Wen Xishu angrily.

Wen Xishu made a gesture of digging his ears:

"How come we haven't seen each other for a few days and you've started stuttering. By the way, how did you end up mixing in the Mysterious Tower? Oh, have you become ambitious?"

Xie Changfeng's expression changed several times in his eyes, and finally he said viciously:

"Wen Xishu! You naturally evil little brat of the Wen family, I was harmed by you!"

Wen Xishu said:

"I gave you a chance, let Liu Jinsen interrogate me, but you didn't listen!"

The three words 'Liu Jinsen' clearly poked Xie Changfeng's pain point, and he said angrily:

"Don't be smug with me, you scum of the Wen family, I know your true identity. Do you believe that I will say who you are right now?"

Wen Xishu nodded:

"Say it, do you think the people around will believe it?"

Xie Changfeng paused, but immediately said angrily again:

"I can let everyone in the bunker know your true identity! I'll let the people at the Three Towers Academy know who you are!"

Wen Xishu smiled:

"You can make threats here, but the premise of these threats is that you can go back alive."

"Your current area is the sixth floor area, I suppose you must be very confident in surviving?"

Xie Changfeng's body trembled because of fear. He couldn't even understand this mission description, let alone clear it.

Wen Xishu wasn't worried about Xie Changfeng going back alive and spilling his identity.

The Anquan Bureau didn't do that, which meant everyone didn't dare to offend Albert.

Xie Changfeng remembered that Wen Xishu was also considered a legend of exploring the Mysterious Tower, because Wen Xishu might have mastered some secret of Wen Zhaohua.

He immediately said:

"You... you help me, otherwise I'll tell your identity! You've explored the Mysterious Tower so many times! You have to help me! I'm like this now because of you."

Wen Xishu was very satisfied with this change in Xie Changfeng's attitude:

"Alright, I'll help you. I've also explored the sixth floor, maybe the mission you explored is also one I've been to?"

Xie Changfeng seemed to have grabbed a straw:

"This mission is called... called the Play of the Parrot Cage. In Jiangcheng, you have to find contaminated items!"

Xie Changfeng looked at Wen Xishu and also looked at Zheng Zai beside him.

Wen Xishu and Zheng Zai looked at each other, both of them somewhat surprised. Today is truly a coincidence opening the door for a coincidence, it's a coincidence to the extreme.

Wen Xishu discovered that the mission name 'Sorrow of the Parrot' had changed to 'Play of the Parrot Cage'.

This might mean that the mission was still in that form, that process, but Tang Rui had already walked out of the past pain.

And this mission was destined to have no one achieve a level six completion.

"You! Your expression, you really have been there! Really have been there! Great, you really have been there!"

Wen Xishu was happy:

"Indeed, both I and this brother beside me have been there. There are three items in total, purify one of them and you can leave. I happen to have the complete purification intelligence for all three."

"But you have beaten me up, why should I help you?"

(End of chapter)