Qing Yue was startled, her eyes instinctively avoiding contact, and she no longer dared to look at this NPC, hurrying back to the team.
Xing Yuan watched Qing Yue's retreating back with a smile, a hint of smugness appearing in her eyes. She liked her sister like this, making her the protector.
Even though Qing Yue refused, on the rest of their journey, Qing Yue couldn't help but ponder Xing Yuan's words. They made sense. If she could conquer her, the NPC with the highest combat power in the game would surely not rebel, and perhaps the game would continue to run normally.
Besides, this NPC was so beautiful; she wouldn't lose out.
No, absolutely not! Qing Yue shook her head. How could she have such thoughts?
No matter how much this NPC resembled a real person, she was just a string of data. To have a relationship with a piece of data, Qing Yue wouldn't be able to get past herself.
Moreover, what if she met someone she liked in reality later? Would she have to juggle two relationships?
Qing Yue's strong sense of life and morality was constantly challenged, causing her to feel a sense of helplessness deep within.
Xing Yuan didn't stay too close, giving her ample time for self-reflection. She would occasionally go over to hold her hand, increasing her affection, but after the affection reached fifty-nine percent, Xing Yuan stopped increasing it.
"This level is much easier than the previous two," one player complained.
Her complaint was met with unanimous agreement from the others, while Qing Yue merely glanced at Xing Yuan silently, offering no opinion.
In reality, this level was the most difficult, but for some unknown reason, the Boss was holding back. After all, this was the final level that only players who reached level one hundred could challenge.
Upon reaching the gate of the tower, the dark iron door refused to open no matter what.
Several players fell into contemplation. Some tried to use items to blast the door open, while others attempted to pass through directly with items, but without exception, everyone failed.
Xing Yuan watched all of this, a subtle smile playing on her lips. She hadn't brought these players to entertain her for no reason; she had her own purpose, and the realization of this purpose required the players' help.
She spoke softly, "I heard that to get out, you must activate the magic arrays on both sides."
Magic arrays? The players then noticed the dusty magic arrays in the corners, looking dilapidated and dim.
"My second profession is an array master, let me take a look," Player Watch Me Show Operation stepped forward.
She hadn't had a chance to use her skills along the way, and now it was finally her time to shine.
Using an item, she observed closely for a while, then stomped on the array and cursed, "This damn game only knows how to make us players spend money."
"What's wrong?" Player Following The Wind asked curiously.
"This array requires us to throw in items, or some alchemical stones for weapons. Once the value of the items in the array reaches a certain level, the array will automatically activate," Player Watch Me Show Operation was about to curse. This dungeon was as exploitative as ever!
"Simply put, it's pay-to-win."
Everyone looked at each other. There was nothing they could do. They had come this far, and they were unwilling to give up now. So, each person took out some items from their backpacks and placed them in.
However, the array remained silent. There were six corners to the array, and only one of them began to emit a faint glow.
"Damn it! Can I quit this game? Let me try."
[System Prompt: You cannot exit the current dungeon. Forcibly exiting will clear your level, inventory, and reset your account to zero. Please choose wisely.]
All five of them heard the system prompt clearly. What else could they do? They could only resign themselves to paying and throwing items in.
After an unknown amount of time throwing items, in the end, they looked at each other with tears in their eyes, crying and gritting their teeth as they emptied their backpacks.
No one was an exception. After the array, like a bottomless pit, swallowed everything from their backpacks, it finally, mercifully, activated.
With a flash of light, the five of them reappeared in Tomorrow's Capital.
They tearfully embraced each other.
They had never encountered such a perverse dungeon; it was simply life-threatening.
The Spirit Monk suddenly appeared, kneeling excitedly before the goddess he worshipped, "Please, Goddess, bestow your divine revelation."
Xing Yuan looked at Qing Yue beside her with a joyful expression, and whispered into her ear, "Sister, what kind of divine revelation do you think I should bestow?"
Qing Yue's expression sharpened, and she instinctively covered Xing Yuan's mouth.
Xing Yuan chuckled lightly. A wicked smile appeared on her pure, innocent face. She licked Qing Yue's palm. Qing Yue recoiled as if shocked, pulling her hand back and lowering her head, her ear tips turning red.
[Server-wide Announcement: Players Qing Qing Ru Yue, Watch Me Show Operation, Following The Wind, Love Rain Smoke, and Don't Be Afraid To Fight, a team of five players, have successfully passed the final trial of the NPC Goddess. All players will advance five levels, all NPCs will increase their favorability towards you by 30%, you will receive residency rights in all cities, and your team will be awarded the title of Savior in Tomorrow's Capital.]
Before Qing Yue could regain her senses, another message appeared before her: [Player has gained 66% favorability from the Goddess. You will be bound as a couple. Wishing you a happy life.]
[You have obtained the Goddess's ability: Command Beasts]
[Note: You can only control beasts below level six.]
"I didn't agree to this! This game is definitely flawed," Qing Yue frowned, complaining instinctively.
Soon, she remembered her purpose for coming here. Wasn't it a bug?
Qing Yue looked at Xing Yuan, confused, "Why did this happen?"
Even as a game Boss, this authority was too great!
"Sister, don't you know? Have you ever seen a goddess's marriage proposal that requires asking the consent of the one being proposed to?" Xing Yuan whispered to Qing Yue.
Then she stood up straight, her goddess-like aura fully displayed, "Go back! Await my summons."
The Spirit Monk was clearly the type to blindly worship the goddess. Upon hearing Xing Yuan's words, he nodded without question and left decisively.
"Why is this NPC still here?" Following The Wind blinked, her expression puzzled.
Qing Yue didn't know how to answer, but Xing Yuan smiled, somewhat playfully, "Guess!"
Player Following The Wind shook her head. She couldn't be bothered to guess.
"We've all agreed to form a small team. Qing Qing Ru Yue, do you want to join?"
"Okay," Qing Yue nodded. As a player, of course, she wanted to.
Player Don't Be Afraid To Fight cheered happily, "Since everyone agrees, let's go to the guild to establish a team!"
A line of text appeared before the five of them simultaneously: [You have received a message, do you wish to view it.]
Upon clicking to view, they were presented with something that challenged their worldview: [The Goddess herself wishes to join your team, do you agree?]