I created the myth of the Great Old Ones.

[Tonight, atop the tower]

[Mage towers are the most common type of architecture in the Night Kingdom. These tall towers typically stand in the wilderness, among the forests, or on the sea.]

Those mages who are engrossed in experimentation and research will build their own towers, spending decades there researching methods to directly attain the truth.

However, some mages have violated taboos on their path, attracting the attention of certain great beings. When they see you, hey, run, child!

You arrive at a mage tower. It was last visited thirty years ago. Villagers near the tower say strange things are happening here, so you must visit the tower's owner to inquire. Don't worry, he's just a mage engrossed in research, nothing more.

"If I can touch the truth, I am willing to exchange my blood, my soul, everything I have. Come!"

Chapter 390 [The Glass Flower]

"The Night Kingdom, the tower, the mage—perhaps we can glimpse some of the Night Kingdom's secrets?"

Lu Ban was somewhat tempted.

I wonder which era of the Night Kingdom this is, and whether I'll be able to meet Sia.

Without companions, Lu Ban felt he might not be able to deal with the old mage who possessed various spells, not to mention the monster on the trophy; perhaps the old mage had created some kind of monster to raise.

He decided to look at the third one first.

The third trophy looks like a soda can, except that there are many bullet holes in the can. Two new leaves are growing from the opening of the can, as if the can is being used as a flower pot.

【Glass Flower】

The air in the abandoned city's slums is toxic.

In this city of hope, people die every day. Industrial fumes permeate the slums, and plagues spread silently among the people. No one can guarantee tomorrow's sun will shine.

The wealthy live respectable lives, but they are not without their flaws. A doctor dies a gruesome death, a gang member is found dead in his own home, and a singer's body is left exposed in the street. Beneath the grand banquet, dark shadows slither.

You arrive in the ruined city to investigate the doctor's death, but be warned, some darkness is best avoided.

"He was a good person, I know that. He's always been a good person. How could he have suffered like this?"

"The ruined capital, what a nice place."

Lu Ban now feels that the abandoned capital is actually a very welcoming and pleasant place.

The main advantage is that there are acquaintances around, and the missions are usually in the city, where there is food and a bed to sleep in, and the danger level is not high.

Moreover, Lu Ban's [Last Words] essence requires another material, [The Legend of Crane's Ascension] from the ruined capital.

Lu Ban could go to the ruined capital and ask Trist to help him find it; it might come to him effortlessly.

After a moment's thought, he directly redeemed ten [Madman's Knowledge] from the shop, preparing to search for information on the Abandoned Capital mission.

In Lu Ban's hand, a human skull appeared, glowing with some green flames.

Just by holding it in his hand, Lu Ban heard layers upon layers of illusory murmurs echoing in his ears.

He focused his attention on gathering information about the mission.

"...Dr. House was a conscientious and responsible doctor. People in the neighborhood had a very good impression of him, and even the gangsters respected him greatly. I never expected him to be murdered..."

"...That kid was lazy and good-for-nothing, not even good enough to be a gangster. Good riddance to him, good riddance to him. I just wonder when he'll pay me back the thirty dollars he owes me..."

"...I told you, I didn't do anything that day. I went to sleep after that bitch left. Who the hell stays up in the middle of the night to follow a bitch..."

"...Hey, buddy, wake up. This is a slum. Dozens of people die every day. Don't make a fuss. Maybe the water you just drank came from a corpse..."

"...The Crane Cry School was wiped out decades ago for violating a taboo, but its disciples did not disappear. Instead, they integrated into society. Perhaps there are even members of their kind in the underworld. On the path of pursuing immortality, there will always be someone who needs them..."

"...Never walk alone on the streets of the slums of the ruined capital at night. If you see a woman, you'd better be careful and quickly think of a way to die that won't attract attention if her body is discovered..."

These words penetrated Lu Ban's mind, spreading across his cerebral cortex. The signals of his neural synapses were distorted and altered, and the knowledge became solidified, permanently residing in Lu Ban's consciousness.

Lu Ban bled a little from his nose. After the trip to the island, this level of mental pollution seemed to have less of an effect on him. Grass quickly filled Lu Ban's nose.

Lu Ban couldn't breathe.

He opened his mouth wide and took two breaths.

"The Crane Cry School. It seems that in this mission, we might encounter people related to Daoist Crane Cry, and perhaps we can obtain the [Crane Cry Ascension Chronicle]."

Lu Ban muttered to himself.

Crane Cry Daoist is clearly an important figure in the Abandoned Capital. Perhaps investigating his affairs will reveal the source of the pollution in the Abandoned Capital. For Lu Ban, he is a person who needs to be closely monitored.

Lu Ban looked at the three trophies again and found that, as he acquired new knowledge, the text on the third trophy changed, with more small characters appearing.

[Cooperative Task]

The quest begins when more than one chosen one you know has joined your party, or when you have accepted an invitation from a chosen one.

If no one accepts the invitation, you will be randomly matched with a companion.

Number of companions: 0/1

"It's still a collaborative mission, so at least I can find Xia to be my bodyguard."

Lu Ban clapped his hands, feeling confident that this round was won.

As for Tristana, being a resident of the ruined city, he should also be able to get involved, after all, he's a detective, and having connections in both the legitimate and criminal worlds shouldn't be a problem.

Lu Ban promptly extended an invitation.

He noticed something was off as soon as he sent it out.

In previous collaborative tasks, the details were provided before the task was selected.

Now, however, after acquiring the [Madman's Knowledge], he has gained a certain understanding of this mission in the ruined capital.

"So, the more I understand this task, the more difficult it might become?"

That's normal. In a foreign land, knowledge is synonymous with pollution, which proves the danger of this mission. It may seem like an ordinary investigation of a murder case, but once you get to the truth, you'll understand the darkness at the heart of the ruined city.

As Lu Ban was thinking, he noticed that the key he had placed on the table had suddenly moved.

It's like there's an unseen cat playing with keys on the table with its paws.

Lu Ban looked over there, and the key moved again, getting close to the edge of the table, almost falling off.

He reached out and pushed the key back.

A moment later, the key was pushed to the edge of the table again.

Lu Ban looked over, and then the key was pushed to the ground with a clattering sound.

He picked up the keys and put them on the table.

"Amber, don't touch the things on the table."

Lu Ban spoke to the air.

A while later, Lu Ban received a message from a fellow traveler who had joined the group.

I don't know if it's Sia or Trist.

At that moment, the water glass on Lu Ban's table was pushed again.

"...Don't overthink it, he's just a partner on a mission."

Lu Ban offered an explanation.

He saw the water glass being moved back to its original position.

As evening fell, just as Lu Ban was wondering if Trist had died in the ruined city because of some womanizing, the system's indifferent and cold words appeared.

Number of companions: 2/1

The conditions for starting the mission have been met.

After selecting a task, the difficulty level will be immediately confirmed, and the task will begin.

Lu Ban walked to the cabinet and picked up the trophy, which looked like a soda can.

Chapter 391 Rising from the Coffin

【Glass Flower】

The slums of the ruined capital, a place brimming with both death and opportunity.

[Besides hideous monsters, the sewers may also hold wealth and extraordinary abilities. If one spends one's entire life in the slums, then naturally there is no such thing as hope or despair.]

Those who live in the gap between slums and affluent areas struggle the most; their lives are filled with both the stench of toxic fumes and the sweet aroma of pastries.

You've accepted a commission to investigate the death of a doctor. This won't be a simple one. The darkness beneath the brightest stages and the kindness lurking in the darkest sewers may influence your judgment, but the truth is more complex. Go and explore.

[Mission Difficulty: Alienation]

[Mission Objective: Find the killer of Dr. House]

[Mission Requirement: Survive until the event ends]

"He was a good person, I know that. He's always been a good person. How could he have suffered like this?"

"It involves slums and wealthy areas, spanning a wide range, and may even involve class differences. Industrial waste gas—did this abandoned capital already have such advanced productivity?"

"And the reason I can't choose the difficulty level is because the Silent Land assumes I'll definitely choose [Alienation]? While I will indeed choose that, isn't it a bit unreasonable for Him to do this?"

Lu Ban pondered.

It is clear that at least three people died in this mission: the doctor who was the main subject of the investigation, a prostitute, and a gang member. It is currently unclear whether there is any connection between the deaths of these three people.

The connection between them may be the key to finding the killer.

Lu Ban wasn't very good at tasks that required thinking, so he decided to wait until they arrived in the ruined capital and have Trist do the work.

Shea is in charge of dealing with the monsters that she can't defeat.

Lu Ban was in charge of shouting "666".

That makes perfect sense.

As for the [Alienation] difficulty, Lu Ban didn't know what in the ruined city could cause such severe pollution, but he had already done so many [Alienation] difficulty missions, so one more wouldn't make a difference.

He packed his things and declined further interviews from television stations, websites, and variety shows.

Pick up the trophy.

[Enter the Silent Land?]