Chapter 42: The Golden Shrew and Lingering Shadows

Free from their previous worries, Wang Yu and her companions indulged in the pleasures of Hearth City. Yet, being a world reminiscent of ancient times, the entertainment options quickly lost their novelty for Wang Yu, a self-proclaimed internet addict—no, an internet-addicted girl.

Her profound love for gourmet food was also constrained by her small stomach. Wang Yu sprawled on A-Bao, a hollowness in her heart with nowhere to be vented.

Yue Feng and the young girl, however, were brimming with joy. Hailing from a small eastern kingdom, they had never witnessed a metropolis as grand as Hearth City.

Even though Yue Feng had learned much from Shi Yang, nothing compared to the shock of seeing it firsthand.

“Hmm?” Wang Yu suddenly noticed a large, table-like circular disc. Inside, a miniature maze was laid out, and several people were gathered around the table, controlling something.

It appeared a few blue dots were attempting to encircle a red dot within the disc.

“Oh, that.” Yue Feng, too, found himself intrigued. “I’ve heard of it; it’s a mini-game called ‘Encirclement Treasure.’ You need to channel a small portion of your spiritual sense through a device, controlling four blue dots to corner a red dot within this maze.”

“Four against one? Isn’t that simple? Why do those people look so vexed?” Wang Yu watched the players around the table scratch their heads, seemingly in great distress.

“It’s far from simple,” Yue Feng explained, gazing at the disc. “The time limit is strict, and the maze rearranges itself every round. To approach the red dot, you must first solve the maze. Moreover, the red dot isn’t static. Look.”

Yue Feng pointed to the rapidly moving red light. “The red dot’s position constantly shifts, and while its speed matches the blue dots, it holds a distinct advantage in its familiarity with the maze.”

Yue Feng paused. “Most critically, you must divide your spiritual sense into four parts, coordinate them, and seize opportunities. It’s like a low-tier version of ‘one mind, four uses,’ making it incredibly difficult.”

Wang Yu’s eyes widened. This was her first time hearing of such a game, and she was eager to try.

Yue Feng smiled. “If you want to play, go ahead and give it a shot.”

Wang Yu’s interest was piqued, and she decisively stepped up to try. As a student who always thought, ‘I can do it too,’ Wang Yu was, as expected, swiftly defeated. She couldn’t even solve the maze before time ran out, forcing her to slink off the stage.

Seeing Wang Yu’s crestfallen expression, Yue Feng offered comfort. “It’s alright, everyone’s like this their first time. Hmm? Cai’er, what are you looking at?”

The young girl wasn’t particularly interested in the game, but her eyes had been fixed on the prize cabinet beside the circular table. Upon hearing Yue Feng’s question, she replied, “That little digging shrew is so cute.”

Yue Feng followed her gaze and indeed, there was a small digging shrew confined in a cage. It appeared to be a mutated species; ordinary digging shrews were earthy brown, but this one was dazzling golden, exceptionally radiant and adorable.

However, this was likely why it had been caught. The earthy color of a digging shrew’s skin served as camouflage, making it easy to mistake for a small mound of dirt when it remained still.

By the time you noticed it, it would have already burrowed away, incredibly cunning. As for this golden-furred one, even when lying motionless on the ground, most people would mistake it for gold, let alone its chances of escaping.

Nevertheless, Yue Feng leaned close to the girl’s ear, exhaling a warm breath as he whispered, “Cai’er, I’ll win it for you, but you have to give me a kiss.”

The young girl’s face immediately flushed. Before she could respond, Yue Feng had already signed up to participate.

Joining him was a robust young man who exuded an extraordinary aura. Yue Feng paid him no mind, instead focusing intently on the operation.

To win that golden-furred shrew, Yue Feng needed to win five consecutive rounds, with each round increasing in difficulty.

Possessing the legacy of Zhao Ritian and the guidance of Shi Yang, his control over spiritual sense was naturally exceptional.

Initially, he was a little unfamiliar, but he grew faster and faster.

Although the game required dividing one’s spiritual sense into four to control four small orbs, the disc actually didn’t limit the number of spiritual senses one could deploy.

One could, in fact, send out several more spiritual senses to scout ahead. Moreover, the speed of one’s spiritual sense was self-controlled, far exceeding the speed of the light dots, though this demanded even greater skill from the operator.

This greatly surprised the man beside him. When the man won the first round, Yue Feng was still far behind in time. But by the third round, their progress was nearly identical, sparking a competitive spirit in the man.

He cast aside his dismissive attitude and began to take the game seriously.

As Yue Feng and his opponent secured victory after victory, the maze grew increasingly vast and complex, yet the time limit remained unchanged, only refreshing upon each successful clearance.

By the fifth round, Yue Feng had divided his spiritual sense nine ways. His advancement speed showed no signs of decreasing despite the increased difficulty.

However, Yue Feng inadvertently noticed that the man beside him was not much slower, also having divided his spiritual sense at least nine ways.

Ultimately, Yue Feng, having more experience in spiritual sense manipulation, proved superior, completing the objective a second faster.

Yue Feng felt he hadn’t reached his limit, but there was no longer any need. It was best to avoid unnecessary displays, especially during the Myriad Flames Banquet.

“What, are you not playing anymore? I feel this isn’t your limit,” the man beside him said with a hint of reluctance as he watched Yue Feng go to claim his prize. After all, he had lost, and he was eager to win it back.

Yue Feng shook the cage containing the golden-furred shrew. “No, no, I’ve got what I wanted.”

The man was about to say more when he saw Wang Yu and the young girl gather around Yue Feng. The girl, blushing deeply, even gave Yue Feng a quick kiss.

The man instantly fell silent, feeling a sudden pang of desolation. ‘Can’t they refrain from such public displays of affection? What did us single dogs ever do to deserve this?’ he thought.

Yue Feng waved to the man. “Perhaps we’ll battle again someday.”

The man gave an awkward laugh. “Haha, perhaps.” He silently added in his heart, ‘Only after I get a girlfriend, otherwise, even if I win, I’ll still be fed dog food.’

Watching Yue Feng depart, the man lost his own interest. He declined the offer of a prize and left, with several others immediately following suit.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen Senior Brother Chief lose,” one of the man’s peers remarked with a chuckle.

Another grumbled, “That’s only because Senior Brother didn’t try his best. Otherwise, how could he lose to that playboy?”

The Senior Brother Chief waved a hand. “A loss is a loss; there’s nothing to be ashamed of. We’ll win it back next time.

Is this Junior Brother Yan’s hometown? Although I’ve been here before, every time I visit, I feel its vibrant energy. Truly worthy of the Situ clan.”

One of them sneered, “It’s a pity that Senior Brother Yan forgot the Situ clan’s caution. He’s become overly arrogant, even coveting the position of Chief. He clearly hasn’t considered the gap between himself and Senior Brother Xie.”

Xie Lingyu, the Chief Disciple of the Qianyuan Sect, had also come to Hearth City for this trial.

Xie Lingyu smiled, his eyes holding a domineering aura that remained contained.

“Arrogance? It’s merely that when one lives, there are always things more important than personal prospects, even life itself. There are always things one must stake their life to fight for.”

Xie Lingyu, being the Chief Disciple, had access to far more information than his ordinary martial brothers.

He understood the predicament the Situ clan faced and held his Junior Brother Yan in high regard, even wanting to make him his right-hand man.

But it seemed they were now destined to be adversaries. “I, too, have a dream I’m willing to stake my life to pursue.”

“Since we are destined to be enemies, let me witness your capabilities, Junior Brother.”

Far away, in the Situ clan, Situ Yan seemed to sense something. He gazed out from a secret chamber, an ancient map clutched in his hand. “Success or failure hinges on this one move. Take this, Senior Brother.”

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