Lively

Zhu Yan really could not hold it back anymore; beneath his hood, his face bloomed into a massive smile.

What a massive haul, folks!

There was an exhilarating thrill in having money only come in and never go out!

The money on these two cards combined actually amounted to a thousand Bone Gold Coins.

A thousand Bone Gold Coins, calculated at the current exchange rate, was a hundred thousand.

A hundred thousand...!

Zhu Yan was still not used to the measurement system of Bone Gold Coins. Only after doing the conversion did he truly feel like he had struck it rich.

It was not until the Monster Tram broadcasted its arrival at the Hall of Mourning that Zhu Yan pulled his mind out of his extreme euphoria.

He adjusted his hood, climbed down from the tram's gaping giant mouth, and looked up at the Hall of Mourning ahead.

This place still belonged to the territory of the Carnival Paradise; the tram had not taken him to the Myriad Forms Square or anywhere else.

Before him was a grand square paved with obsidian bricks, where thriller creatures walking across it looked like tiny ants.

In the center of the square sat that melting, wide-mouthed, weeping head. The upper half of the head stretched straight into a dense patch of gray clouds.

Just looking at its exterior, its sheer size was awe-inspiring.

Zhu Yan thought silently.

He looked down at the time, quickly stepped onto the stone surface so smooth it reflected his silhouette, and jogged all the way toward the giant mouth.

The last time he came, the Hall of Mourning still had protections in place for players, preventing thriller creatures from harming them.

According to the doppelgangers inside, such protection would last for several months.

If he took off his cloak and wandered around after finishing his trade with the doppelganger, he shouldn't get hurt, right?

This should still be within Bailu's territory. Were the Hall of Mourning in Bailu City and the Hall of Mourning in Anwu City connected?

"Oh, little demon!"

A familiar voice rang out from not far away.

Zhu Yan looked over and found his trading partner—that doppelganger.

It was waving at Zhu Yan from a short distance away, and seeing Zhu Yan stop, it quickly hurried over.

"Punctual little demon!" the doppelganger praised. "Let's go, I hope there aren't too many people in the Hall of Mourning today."

"People?" Zhu Yan asked immediately.

Thriller creatures were thriller creatures, not people.

When thriller creatures mentioned people, they usually meant humans.

"Yes," the doppelganger said in distress. "They have been coming to the Hall of Mourning in droves these past two days to open accounts, smelling so delicious. I am starving to death."

Huh?

Zhu Yan immediately asked alertly, "Are they wearing uniforms?"

His first reaction was that the Human Alliance might have recruited new members again, and that batch of official players had been brought down collectively to open accounts.

He needed to watch out for the police department!

"Some are," the doppelganger curled its lips. "The Bailu Hall and Anwu Hall have the most people right now, Anwu Hall especially. Ugh, I don't get it either."

Zhu Yan felt his earlier question had just been answered.

Bailu Hall and Anwu Hall must be the two halls connecting Bailu City and Anwu City.

So the Halls of Mourning were merged together?

Did that icon on the Thriller Map just represent the degree of fusion between the different halls?

"We can only go to the halls that haven't opened yet."

The doppelganger pouted: "There are no humans there, which just means it lacks the player account transfer function, and it doesn't—"

"Do you want to hear some human gossip?"

Zhu Yan instantly interrupted the doppelganger without a moment's hesitation.

How could there not be a player account transfer function?

How was he supposed to collect his money then?

The doppelganger stepped forward onto the ancient yet majestic smooth floor tiles of the Hall of Mourning.

They were located at the head of a tall, long arcade, with blood-red crystal chandeliers hanging from the vaulted ceiling, extending all the way into the depths.

"Huh?" The doppelganger turned its head curiously. "Can you understand all their twists and turns?"

"I participated in an instance once, so I know a little," Zhu Yan casually fabricated.

He grabbed a doppelganger wearing a uniform and asked, "Where is the Anwu Hall?"

"Go straight, turn right when you see the fork, and take the first path on the right," the doppelganger replied politely.

Zhu Yan strode inward without hesitation, while his doppelganger followed behind, still chattering away.

"There are also people not wearing uniforms. Some look very noble, while others look quite ordinary."

"I have been drooling over them for days, you know? These two types of people usually don't even appear at the same time; their schedules are staggered..."

Zhu Yan was also very curious.

They walked for a good two hundred meters, maybe three hundred, before reaching the hall Zhu Yan was familiar with.

The hall did not seem to have changed much.

An elevator platform was currently carrying some humans down from above.

Zhu Yan narrowed his eyes and saw a group of people in black uniforms surrounding an ordinarily dressed young man in the center.

This person looked to be only in his twenties, yet carried himself with a rather arrogant air.

"Just like that, sometimes they come several times a day," the doppelganger watched with great interest.

Zhu Yan dragged it over: "Come on, let's get closer."

The doppelganger was more than eager to watch the spectacle.

They approached a spot not far from the elevator platform and curiously watched it come to a steady halt.

A uniformed player jumped down and said respectfully, "Take your time, sir."

His gaze swept past Zhu Yan, paying absolutely no mind to this dusty-looking thriller creature.

"Since it's your first time here, don't be afraid, and don't look around recklessly."

The player considerately advised, actually lowering his voice.

Zhu Yan could not hear it anymore, but the doppelganger was listening with great relish.

"Can you hear what he is saying?" Zhu Yan asked.

"I can," the doppelganger said. "It's nothing more than stuff like, our people have very formidable abilities, so don't worry. After this trip back, we will arrange two more instances to raise your rank a bit."

"I don't know why we had to come to Anwu City," the young man suddenly said.

This sentence was spoken at a normal volume, so Zhu Yan could hear it very clearly.

"Bailu City also has a Hall of Mourning, and my family is all in Bailu."

"The instances in Bailu City are generally of higher difficulty, and there are many formidable players there," the uniformed player explained patiently. "Some are beyond our control, making it not very easy to clear."

Zhu Yan understood.

This person was highly likely a second-generation elite. His parents and uncles had power and connections, so they were using this method to pad the kid's resume.

"It's much more convenient for you to come to Anwu City. Captain Jin Rongxu is also here; he just arrived a couple of days ago, and Director Jin was absolutely thrilled."

Who was Jin Rongxu?

Some official's kid?

Did he have a lot of resources on him?

Could he rob him?

And this guy too, could he rob him?

"He's here too?" The young man's tone instantly grew excited, a trace of slightly uncontrolled cruelty appearing in his expression.

"Great, great, why didn't you say so earlier?"

"More people will be coming over one after another these next couple of days."

The uniformed player said.

The group gradually walked further away, their voices becoming increasingly muffled.

"We have a player whose ability is Prophecy. They foresaw that there will soon be a massive instance in Anwu City where abilities and resources can be contested."

"Therefore, players like Director Jin and your father will bring..."

Damn.

What incredibly precious information.

Zhu Yan immediately turned his head and asked the doppelganger, "What are they babbling about?"