Chapter 101: Abundant Harvest

Looking at his status window, Yan Jing was highly satisfied with his harvest from this Dungeon.

Not only had he gained over a million surface coins, he had also pushed his experience close to the Second Tier.

The rewards from this run also made it clear that after the Novice Dungeon, base payouts for subsequent Dungeons were extremely low.

Combined, the base rewards for Stage A and Stage B had provided only 8% experience.

This meant that without bonus rewards, relying solely on base payouts to reach the Second Tier would require a full thirteen Dungeons.

Assuming one run every month or two, that would take around two years.

That didn't even account for using a Dungeon Postponement Voucher to delay entry, or the reward penalties for failing tasks.

No wonder many Players remained stuck at the First Tier their entire lives.

After all, the difficulty of each Dungeon escalated compared to the last, and using a Dungeon Extension Scroll ramped up the danger even further. If a Player's personal strength failed to keep pace with the rising difficulty, their only choice was to endlessly burn extension scrolls to buy time, forever losing the chance to enter Dungeons.

However, at Yan Jing's current pace of progression, if he performed exceptionally well in Stage A of his next Dungeon, he should be able to step into the Second Tier right after Stage A of his third Dungeon.

Such a rapid increase in strength would be considered a miracle anywhere.

Next, Yan Jing looked at his Inventory. Aside from the newly obtained rewards, it currently held:

[Mysterious Skull, Mental Immunity Potion (Bound Item) 2, leftover sleeping powder, High-Nutrition Bread, Order Promissory Note, Item Quality Appraisal Ticket 1, Inner World Box Key *1 (Bound Item)]

The Mental Immunity Potions stacked in a single slot, so space wasn't a concern there.

The remaining Dungeon Postponement Voucher and Ritual Blessing Coupon were useless if left in the Inner World; he had to bring them out.

Yan Jing took out the sleeping powder and An Ranran's bread, swapping them with the Dungeon Postponement Voucher and the blessing coupon.

But there was still an Inner World Gold Box...

Yan Jing tried to open it with the key, but a prompt informed him it could only be unlocked after entering the Surface World.

Left with no choice, he took out the Item Quality Appraisal Ticket.

Even so, his Inventory was completely full.

And he still had an extra task reward waiting for him at the front desk.

He would just have to pick it up before making a decision.

If the bonus reward turned out to be more useful in the Surface World, he would take out the Order Promissory Note instead.

Unless he planned to use it for the Second Ritual's Calming Rite, the note was only useful in the Inner World. He could simply carry it on his person using his Cameraman identity the next time he entered a Dungeon.

Provided his next Dungeon was still in Old Sin City.

Then there was the book "History of Old Sin City". For the exact same reason, Yan Jing decided to leave it in the Inner World.

As he pondered, another prompt popped up before his eyes:

[Now issuing the Stage A task for the next Dungeon]

[Task Location: Bianliu County]

[Task 1: Be a Good Shop Assistant]

[Task Description:

Bianliu County is a remote corner within the vast Domain of Minhu. Its local factions are a complex, chaotic mix, and the region is in a perpetual state of disorder.

However, no matter what kind of trouble brews, there is a rule among the factions: in every trade, certain shop assistants serve as the pillars of their business, and these people are not to be killed indiscriminately.

Apothecaries, pawnshops, money houses, restaurants, and more. Please successfully secure a position as an assistant in one of these trades and earn the approval of the shopkeeper.]

[Task 2: Helping Others is a Shop Assistant's True Nature]

[Task Description:

Bianliu County is home to many Cultivators of different trades. However, the advancement conditions for each type of Cultivator are rather unusual. As a good resident of Bianliu County, helping others is only right.

Please select an individual who has not yet begun entering the ranks, and help them do so.]

[Note: For various reasons, the Inner World Residents in Minhu are generally prone to neurosis and speak bluntly. Please exercise caution.]

[The next Dungeon will officially begin in one month.]

[Countdown to exiting the Dungeon: 00:20:00]

Staring at his next Dungeon assignment, Yan Jing paused in surprise. He hadn't expected it to be outside Old Sin City.

This was an incredibly low-probability event. After all, Old Sin City hadn't started its migration yet. According to the principle of corresponding Domains, as long as he was in Ling'an, there should have been a high chance of him being locked to Old Sin City.

Still, it didn't really matter.

At worst, he could just spend a Dungeon Selection Voucher and change the location back.

"Better not waste this Item Quality Appraisal Ticket, either."

He pulled out the ticket.

An appraisal ticket cost around 500,000 surface coins. It wasn't too expensive, and he could always buy another one later.

However, system windows were only visible when in the state of a Player. Thus, his best option was to use it right now before leaving the Dungeon.

With a thought, he summoned the white Dice on the back of his hand.

He then crushed the appraisal ticket in his left hand.

A cluster of white light clung to his palm.

As the white light touched the white Dice...

...an item description materialized.

[Item Name: White Stone Cage]

[Quality: White]

[Tier Requirement: None]

[Effect: Can affix external powers to one of its faces, combining the Power of the White Stone with Weird Energy to provide corresponding buffs.]

[Description: As a rare material from the Inner World, White Stone contains a power diametrically opposed to Weird Energy, making it exceptionally valuable. A chunk of White Stone this large would trigger a frantic scramble in any Domain. Yet, its esteemed owner—who delighted in leisurely travel—paid it no mind and merely used it as a birdcage. Later, when the bird flew away, this cage was left idle.]

A birdcage?

Reading this description, doubt rippled through Yan Jing's mind.

This Dice belonged to Mr. San.

To think its true purpose was actually a birdcage.

Although the power within the Dice could freely transform—making it perfectly functional as a cage—the description claimed White Stone was extraordinarily valuable. What kind of bird would warrant being kept inside such a thing?

Unable to figure it out, Yan Jing dropped the matter entirely and walked out the door.

He arrived at the Tower's front desk and collected the extra reward.

It was a mask printed with a massive, jagged-toothed maw. The blood-red gums were so vivid and bright that it looked strikingly lifelike.

[Item Name: Gluttony Mask]

[Quality: Yellow-Purple]

[Tier Requirement: First Tier]

[Effect: The wearer's mouth will temporarily fuse with the mouth on the mask, greatly increasing appetite and granting the ability to devour some Weird Energy. However, donning the mask incurs the side effect of gluttony, and wearing it for prolonged periods will render it impossible to remove.]

[Description: An invention by Mr. Giant Mouth of the Sun-Swallowing Tower. In order to eat a bit more, Mr. Giant Mouth came up with a way to give himself a second mouth. However, once his own mouth grew noticeably larger than the one on the mask, he discarded the invention. If you walk the Pathway of Gluttony, this item is an excellent choice.]

Useless.

Yan Jing quickly concluded. Still, it could be sold for money.

The funds would allow him to soak in the Body-Forging Water a few more times and mix several doses of Weird Energy control potions.

Thus, he swapped out the Order Note and stowed the Gluttony Mask.

With everything settled, he headed to the seventh floor of the lobby.

The VIP breakfast dining floor.

If he remembered correctly, there was someone who liked to drink a cup of coffee here every morning.

He quickly spotted the figure.

It wasn't difficult, as no one else sat near her.

"Good morning, Officer Lu."

He walked over. Hearing his voice, Lu Miao looked up, momentarily stunned.

She then lowered her head again and continued sipping her coffee.

Her voice was as cold as ever.

"Good morning."

"Why haven't you left yet?"

"I'm about to."

Yan Jing smiled. "I believe I still owe you a goodbye from last time."

Lu Miao's hand paused over her coffee cup. She didn't look up.

"Mm. Go on."

"Then, goodbye, Officer Lu."

With a smile, Yan Jing's figure dissolved into specks of starlight and faded away.

Only then did Lu Miao lift her head. She stared at the spot where the starlight had vanished, her gaze lingering for a long time.

Finally, she spoke softly.

"Goodbye."