Although this group of players were all inside the illusion of reality and fantasy, the illusions were not connected. They were not on the same channel, so naturally they couldn't encounter each other. Some players were still trying hard to reach the kasaya below, while others were attempting to attack the Golden Buddha.
Shangguan Cuihua tried for a while, but because her points were limited and the items were too expensive, she snapped out of her greedy emotions. She carefully observed the magic tools and the kasaya for a moment, then finally set her gaze on the Golden Buddha. After watching for a while, she suddenly discovered that within the clouds and mist, golden light would flash from time to time. It was just that the light on the ground was too close to the Buddha, and the duration was extremely short, so she hadn't noticed it at first!
This is… the path leading to the kasaya?
Shangguan Cuihua stared fixedly at the clouds where the light flashed repeatedly. After watching three or four times, she finally decided to give it a try. After all, no one knew how long this state would last, and if they could only enter it after falling asleep at night, the players wouldn't have many opportunities.
The moment the golden light appeared, Shangguan Cuihua immediately stepped onto it. She had memorized the pattern in which the light flickered and had a rough idea of where her next step should be, so when another spot lit up, she quickly stepped on it.
One step, then another. She was no longer blocked by the invisible barrier—she was getting closer to the Golden Buddha! But for some reason, the closer she got, the larger the Buddha became. When she finally reached the kasaya, she saw a giant golden lock appear on it, sealing it shut. And from the kasaya extended six golden chains, stretching in all directions, disappearing into the distance.
It seemed that only by reaching this spot could one see the chains and their directions.
Shangguan Cuihua hesitated as she reached out to touch the kasaya. Before her fingertips even touched it, the golden lock suddenly flashed, and a sharp burning pain shot through her fingers! Even though there was no visible wound, that sudden pain was enough to make her question life for a moment.
Six chains, six magic tools? She raised her head and strained to look at the six magic tools in the Buddha's hands, finally understanding how to obtain the magic tools from this illusion.
First, they needed to find the six magic tools indicated by the kasaya. Only then would the kasaya unlock. But since that was the case, wouldn't the kasaya's defensive power be extremely strong? It might very well be the strongest of the seven tools, which was why it could only be obtained last.
Most of the six magic tools were small accessories. Shangguan Cuihua thought for a moment, memorized the location of the Zen staff, followed the flickering golden lights back the way she came, and then headed straight for the Zen staff.
—Getting the magic tools wasn't that hard after all.
Aside from Shangguan Cuihua, another player was also heading straight for a magic tool. But it wasn't because he saw golden light—he had used a skill.
Wang Erma—of course, that wasn't his real name, but he had no choice but to accept this lame name in the game. He had a limited-use skill that could only be used three times in a single game. The skill was called [See Through], and as the name suggested, he could directly see through the secrets within the game.
He used the skill on the kasaya, so even without stepping on the golden lights to reach it, he saw the same scene Shangguan Cuihua did. But because this was a limited-use skill, he had spent quite some time drawing a simple map on his clothes with a pen he carried, marking directions before running toward the Zen staff.
After all, most of the magic tools were bracelets, with only the Zen staff being unique. And since the kasaya was locked, players naturally developed the impression that "the Zen staff must be second only to the kasaya in value."
Mu Anqi watched the remaining time of the illusion while observing the players show off their abilities. She couldn't help but shake her head in amazement. "Sigh, these players have finally calmed down."
"They've already provided plenty of emotional value," General Ji comforted her.
"That's true. And once this ends, they'll probably provide another wave." Mu Anqi looked at the two players already on the move, then at the remaining five still circling the Golden Buddha, unable to figure out the mechanism. She couldn't help but laugh. "This setup really isn't that hard."
"When a magic tool is right before their eyes, it's hard for players to stay completely calm." With the golden light in the mist flickering like that—if you don't observe carefully, how could you see it, notice it, and discover the pattern? Players with a decoding skill like Wang Erma were still the minority.
But… Wang Erma wasted far too much time drawing the map, so although neither he nor Shangguan Cuihua knew it, in Mu Anqi's eyes, Shangguan Cuihua was far, far ahead.
Sure enough, Shangguan Cuihua was the first to reach her destination!
She saw a chest glowing with golden light resting on the mist, and instantly understood that this must be the magic tool. But getting the magic tool just like that—so simple? Impossible, of course.
Just as Shangguan Cuihua was about to touch the treasure chest, a flash of white light swept across, and a lazy fox beauty—resting against nine enormous, ultra-white, ultra-fluffy tails—appeared out of thin air. Bai Yulai lifted her fingers lightly, the crimson polish dazzlingly seductive against her snow-white skin. "May I ask—did you drop this gold Zen staff, or this silver Zen staff… or perhaps this coral Zen staff?"
Shangguan Cuihua took a step back and stared for a long time at the two characters "Blue Name" floating above the nine-tailed fox's head. Although the name really was written in blue, wasn't this a bit too perfunctory compared to the village's "Ms. Xia" and such?
"It's the silver Zen staff," she said respectfully.
"Congratulations, you're correct. Then, next—watch this video." Bai Yulai waved her hand, and within the illusion, the swirling mist wove itself into a giant screen. In the next moment, a dance began playing—the very one the Peony Beauty was forced to perform during the Feast of Bliss back then. "Learn it. Once you've learned it, perform it for me, and the silver Zen staff will be yours."
Shangguan Cuihua: "..."
Her pupils quaked.
Shangguan Cuihua had never imagined even in her dreams that this blue-name NPC would have such a hobby. Dancing—dancing to please her? Was this perhaps the taste of a fox spirit? She weighed her own strength against that of the nine-tailed fox, then stared at the words "Blue Name" for a moment longer before gritting her teeth. In the end, she fixed her eyes on the screen. Fine—she'd learn it! For the sake of clearing the game, shame didn't matter.
Wang Erma, arriving a little later, reached out to touch the treasure chest—when little Xia Fenghua suddenly appeared, hugging a doll. Smiling sweetly, she asked with innocent cheer, "May I ask—did you drop this gold Zen staff, or this silver Zen staff, or perhaps this beeswax Zen staff?"
Wang Erma froze for a moment. Fortunately, the materials of the staffs were quite obvious, so he answered correctly. But seeing the "Blue Name" above this NPC's head left him uncertain. This was an illusion, after all! Why were there NPCs here—blue-name ones at that? Was this the treasure-guarding boss?
Just as he wondered whether he'd have to fight, the little girl waved her hand, forming a screen from the mist, and said with a smile: "Learn it. Once you learn this, you'll receive the Zen staff~"
"Oh right—just a reminder, another player is already taking on this challenge."
Wang Erma hadn't even processed the fact that he had to dance—dance, and copy the moves of the beauty on the screen—before hearing he even had a competitor?! Absolutely not!
On the other side, Shangguan Cuihua also received Bai Yulai's reminder. She instantly focused with everything she had, completely forgetting about embarrassment, and began seriously practicing each move shown on the screen.
While the two players competed fiercely through dance, Mu Anqi outside the illusion watched the emotional energy values rising from them and could only laugh. And Wang Erma's movements—weren't they way too uncoordinated? Stiff like a wooden doll. Was he even dancing the same dance?!
While those two players were busy learning the dance, Nangong Meili and Yuchi Goudan also finally discovered the secret of the mist. They began memorizing the sequence of the golden lights and worked hard to walk toward the kasaya.
And at that moment, less than five minutes remained in the illusion.
Shangguan Cuihua began her challenge!
Facing the dance on the screen, she began to perform!
"Where's the smile? You expect to earn the Zen staff showing me that kind of performance?" Bai Yulai lazily stroked one of her fox tails. "Without even the minimum sincerity, you'd better leave quickly."
"I'll do it again!" Shangguan Cuihua reacted extremely fast. She took a deep breath, and the moment the music started again, a bright, enthusiastic smile bloomed on her face. Her eyes locked directly onto Bai Yulai's, and after each movement, she followed with another smile. Perhaps she had danced before in life, or perhaps she simply had talent—this time, when she finished the dance, even if Bai Yulai wanted to nitpick on purpose, there really wasn't much to criticize. Besides, only one minute remained.
"Fine, then it's yours."
The treasure chest slowly opened. The silver Zen staff rose into the air, gradually shrinking as a ball of golden bubbles wrapped around it and then shot straight into Shangguan Cuihua's body!
At the same moment, Wang Erma—utterly exhausted from forcing smiles, moving all four limbs, and still not knowing what exactly he was dancing—had used every last ounce of his strength. When the music ended, he looked pitifully at the adorable little girl who was playing with her doll and asked in a hopeful tone even he didn't notice himself using: "This… is okay, right?"
"You call that dancing?" Xia Fenghua said with a cold face. "Look at the video, then look at yourself. Do you really think they're the same thing?"
Wang Erma: "..."
"Sigh, well, I am kind-hearted." Xia Fenghua sighed dramatically. Just as Wang Erma's eyes lit up, she smiled and said, "That other player succeeded in their challenge. So, the silver Zen staff is gone~"
Wang Erma: ?
Fuck?! Then what did he go through all of this for?!
Just as Wang Erma's eyes filled with fury and he looked ready to roll up his sleeves and fight Xia Fenghua, a sudden weightless emptiness swallowed him. He kept falling, falling—then suddenly bounced upward. In the pitch-black, empty room, he woke up.
The illusion… ended just like that?
He angrily slammed the bedboard, but before he could vent even half of the rage in his chest, a thunderous voice from the next room scared him stiff: "You little brat! What are you doing up so late instead of sleeping?!"
"…I—I'm asleep, I just accidentally fell off the bed…"
What else could he do? He could only endure it.
As for poor Nangong Meili and Yuchi Goudan—they had only just finished memorizing the directions and hadn't even begun moving when they were ejected back into reality. Each woke up in their own bed, dazed, unable to tell if they'd gained anything significant tonight. And as for the remaining players who didn't even notice the golden lights…
Well, best not to mention them.