The team size is capped at 24, which is exactly the number of Saints available.

After hearing the mission prompt, Zhang Yuanqing glanced at the Spirit Attendants gathered around him: Jiang Jingwei, Tianxia Guihuo, Yinchi, Baihu Wansui… thirteen in total.

Clearly, these people were waiting here to team up with him.

"Where are the others?" Zhang Yuanqing asked casually.

"They followed Zhao Chenghuang," Tianxia Guihuo said, leaning against a tree trunk with a blade of grass in his mouth. "Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Once you join a team and see the side quests, you'll understand that the more dispersed the teams are, the better."

As he spoke, the mission prompt chimed again:

[Ding! Tianxia Guihuo invites you to join the team.]

[Ding! You have completed the team formation. Side quests have been refreshed.]

[Side Quest Three: The Valiant Mountain God.]

[Mission Description: A long, long time ago, a powerful evil cultivator infiltrated a human city, creating a great disaster there.

To contain the spread of the disaster and trap the powerful evil cultivator, the Mountain God, who had been cultivating in seclusion nearby, sacrificed himself, gathering the essence of mountains, rivers, grass, and trees to form a forest that isolated the city from the outside world, trapping the powerful evil cultivator and his minions within the city.

[The Mountain God's will transformed into a troop of monkeys, the Mountain God's flesh and blood solidified into high mountains, and the Mountain God's hair grew into a lush forest. To commemorate the Mountain God, the monkeys built a Mountain God Temple on the summit and enshrined the Mountain God's Scepter in the temple. Legend has it that obtaining the Mountain God's Scepter grants one the Mountain God's authority. The spirits in the mountains inherited the Mountain God's will and silently guard it.]

[Over the years, the evil cultivator has constantly dispatched his minions to search for the Mountain God Temple, attempting to seize the scepter and escape the Lost City. Recently, a group of evil-doers came to the forest, slaughtering monkeys and tree spirits, becoming the evil cultivator's pawns. Young heroes, please help the spirits in the mountains and protect the scepter in the temple.]

[Mission Requirements: The Mountain God Temple opens periodically, each time for 60 minutes. Please follow the mountain path to reach the Mountain God Temple and guard the scepter, preventing anyone from entering the temple.]

[Note: There are three paths leading to the summit. Over the years, the evil cultivator's power has infiltrated the forest, intertwining and contending with the Mountain God's power. The forest has undergone mutations, and each mountain path contains different dangers. Please be careful.]

After reading the mission description, Zhang Yuanqing had a deeper understanding of the outer layer's precautions.

No wonder the tree spirits actively bewilder those who enter the mountain, and the monkeys attack Spirit Attendants indiscriminately. Their mission is to guard the mountains and forests. To them, all outsiders are enemies.

Also, the inedible fruits and the mountain climbers who cannot be talked to or looked at are likely things that were catalyzed after the evil cultivator's power infiltrated the forest.

This creates contradictory content in the precautions.

He also understood why it was better for teams to be dispersed. Concentrating all on one mountain path, not to mention the limit on the number of people, would mean complete failure for the Lawful faction if there was a team wipe.

"Hiss..." Zhang Yuanqing sucked in a breath of cold air, his expression grave. "This second level is very dangerous, extremely dangerous..."

Tianxia Guihuo smiled and said, "How so?"

Zhang Yuanqing scanned the crowd and said, "The information given is too detailed. It almost eliminates the need for Spirit Attendants to reason and explore. Therefore, the difficulty of this level is entirely concentrated on the dangers of climbing the mountain.

"Everyone, this instance is filled with Saint-level power. I must state in advance that I cannot guarantee everyone's safety."

Tianxia Guihuo's lips quirked up as he looked at the others. "Just like I said, the crisis in this instance should be on the mountain paths."

The expressions of the others became slightly serious.

Baihu Wansui, from the crowd, laughed and said, "Yuanshi Tianzun, you're taking your idol persona too seriously. We're all experienced Spirit Attendants. We know the dangers of entering instances and never expect others to be responsible for our lives.

"Life and death are predetermined, wealth is bestowed by heaven. When you enter a killing instance, you should be prepared to sacrifice yourself. Teaming up with you mainly reduces the risk."

Baihu Wansui was a cheerful young man with upright features, neither ugly nor handsome. His eyes had the sharpness of a scout, and his overall demeanor was capable and valiant, like a veteran soldier who had been through many battles.

Most scouts have a disposition leaning towards that of a soldier.

Each class has its own unique disposition, such as the Fire Master's impulsiveness and recklessness, the Night Wanderer's eerie nobility, the Earth Guard's honesty and loyalty. The official Spirit Attendants nodded slightly, agreeing with Baihu Wansui's words.

"That's what you say, but I still have to be responsible for your lives. Being a leader and not being a leader are two different things..." Zhang Yuanqing exhaled and asked, "Has everyone memorized the maze map on the notice board?"

Several Fire Masters present shook their heads.

The others said, "Each person memorized a portion of the area. We can piece together a complete map."

"That's good. This way, I don't have to activate 'Super Brain' mode..." Zhang Yuanqing breathed a sigh of relief. "Time is of the essence. Let's climb."

When he moved into the Fu Family Bay villa, he brought blue pills with him in advance. An entire bottle of blue pills were always in his pocket.

The only item he left outside was the Cat King Amplifier.

This item was too peculiar. Using it in public would inevitably cause people to remember it and spread the word. Once the Demon Lord's old flames found out, it would be a hidden danger.

Although he used the Cat King Amplifier in Yin-Yang Town, there were only Guan Ya and the Queen from the Five Elements Alliance at the time.

Needless to say, Guan Ya, and the Queen was too far removed from the Demon Lord, and wouldn't leak his information for no reason. Although it was also a hidden danger, the problem wasn't too serious.

In the deep and lofty "universe," countless stars formed a dazzling galaxy.

The Sovereigns standing outside the Spirit Realm world were now all gazing at the Transcendence stage killing instance.

Most of the time, they only cared about the intense competition among the Saints. Even the Fear King and the Female Marshal, who had placed heavy bets, didn't pay too much attention to the Transcendence stage Spirit Attendants.

After all, the Transcendence stage was too low. Even Yuanshi Tianzun like the Holy Grail had become the Songhai Branch's spoils of war.

In a branch of the Psionic Association, a hoarse and deep voice came from the President's tattered hood.

Although he didn't name names, the big shots present all knew who he was talking about.

"I just don't know what his combat strength is like!" The Nanpai Sect Leader, who constantly changed gender and form, made a difficult gender-neutral sound.

Although they were geniuses from opposing factions, these Spirit Attendants at the peak had an instinctive appreciation for their juniors who were good at clearing instances.

The Fear King frowned, glanced at the President of the branch of the Psionic Association, and said, "The Fallen Holy Grail should never have existed in this world. It deprives a person of their most basic freedom and is a disgusting evil object. I hate it."

On the Five Elements Alliance's side, a red-haired youth raised his eyebrows and said, "This Tianxia Guihuo not only lacks the spirit of a Fire Master, but also lacks a sense of collective honor for Fire Masters. If he becomes an executive, I will first send him back to the training camp for a period of psychological treatment.

"Let him regain his sense of collective honor and pride as a Fire Master."

"Forget it, it's not easy for a Wolong to appear among the Fire Masters." The Dog Elders and others shook their heads.

The Female Marshal stared at the vast primeval forest, her gaze penetrating layers of barriers, as if she were gazing at something. Her long and straight eyebrows furrowed slightly.

She had seen that ring.

She had seen it on the Demon Lord.

Not long after Zhang Yuanqing led the Five Elements Alliance members deep into the middle of the forest, two figures darted out of the dense forest, chasing after the notice board.

The leader was a youth with thick eyebrows and bright eyes. Although he was handsome, he didn't have the delicate air of a pretty boy. Instead, he looked like an aggressive little wolfdog.

Behind the little wolfdog followed a chubby youth.

"Boss, slow down..." The little fatty shouted as he chased after him. As an Illusionist, his speed and stamina were far inferior to those of a Bewitching Fiend.

Soon, Kou Beiyue stopped next to the notice board, glanced around, and finally looked at the few longan-sized red fruits scattered on the ground.

There were no similar fruits nearby, indicating that someone had deliberately left them behind.

Kou Beiyue thought for a long time and deduced that the fruits were most likely the information Yuanshi Tianzun had left for him.

Yuanshi knew that he was participating in the killing instance, but since everyone couldn't openly acknowledge each other, Yuanshi wouldn't ignore him and would definitely leave some obvious hints.

Before entering the killing instance, Xiao Yuan repeatedly told him to use his brain more, especially when it came to Yuanshi Tianzun.

Yuanshi Tianzun would definitely leave information for him.

"There are no such fruits nearby. There must be something fishy about them!" Kou Beiyue said pretentiously.

The little fatty looked around, surveyed the environment, and then stared at the fruits for a few seconds. He took out a black rattan-woven ring and put it on, walked to a tree, and after confirming that it was just an ordinary tree and not a tree spirit, he held the ring to his lips and chanted something.

A few seconds later, the little fatty said in a deep voice, "It's telling me that the group just now went in after eating the fruits."

Kou Beiyue was overjoyed. "Eating the fruits allows you to go in? Then hurry up, let's divide the fruits. This way, we don't have to risk fighting the Boss and can smoothly enter the second level."

The little fatty stared at him blankly, his expression gradually turning strange.

He worshiped this guy as his boss because he liked his not-so-smart brain and thin skin. After pestering him for a while, he successfully became his underling.

But the little fatty actually knew in his heart that this silly fellow probably wouldn't survive the killing instance and might become the shortest-lived boss in his history.

Especially after seeing his new boss mindlessly defecting from the evil organization and chasing after the Lawful faction, he was even more convinced of his prediction.

Who in their right mind would do something like that? Was he not afraid of being repeatedly humiliated by the Lawful Spirit Attendants?

But unexpectedly, the Lawful faction had just left, and the fruits they had used were casually discarded to the side. This seemingly reckless and thoughtless behavior had inadvertently resolved the crisis for his new boss.

Could it be that the boss he had accidentally picked up was actually a person with rare good luck?

That's right, he's so stupid. If he wasn't blessed with luck, how could he have survived until now...? The little fatty said in a deep voice, "Boss, you're right, but I don't recommend you do that.

"If you eat the fruits, you'll be a member of the Lawful faction. The Lawful classes will kill you, and those cold-blooded and ruthless guys will also kill you. We're surviving in the cracks, and we can't survive at all.

"The best way is to return to the main force and take down the boss together."

Kou Beiyue frowned secretly as he listened.

The Tree King was so powerful, and there was also the Monkey King. Taking down the boss was a very dangerous thing, and he understood the principle of seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages.

But this little fatty's analysis was correct. Moreover, if he could lurk within the evil faction, he could better gather intelligence and cooperate with Yuanshi Tianzun at a crucial moment. Then he could only take the risk!

Kou Beiyue listened to advice and gritted his teeth. "Alright! Then let's go back and take down the boss."

As soon as he finished speaking, a Spirit Realm notification sounded in their ears.

[Ding! The Tree King has been slain. Your faction has won and is rewarded with 30 points. Please assist the Mountain Spirit in eliminating the monkey troop.]

The Tree King was dead. They didn't have to take down the boss anymore...

...The little fatty looked at Kou Beiyue, his mouth gradually widening.

Led by Zhang Yuanqing, nineteen Lawful classes traversed the dense forest, advancing towards the depths.

The night was already deep, and the layers of overlapping tree canopies blocked the moonlight. The forest was pitch black. Everyone walked slowly forward, led by the only Night Wanderer.

"The notice board in the central part of the forest doesn't prohibit the use of fire. I think we can light a fire for illumination." Tianxia Guihuo said loudly.

The others didn't speak, waiting for Yuanshi Tianzun's opinion.

Zhang Yuanqing pondered for a few seconds and said, "We can!"

The outer layer has its own side quests, and the middle layer has its own side quests. As far as it seems right now, the two are not connected.

The core of the middle layer is faction confrontation, so there can't be temporary faction changes, or there would be bugs.

"Chichi~"

The Fire Masters couldn't wait to raise their arms, letting flames rise up like torches, illuminating the surroundings and dispelling the darkness.

Everyone unconsciously relaxed and felt a sense of security.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the group crossed a hilltop. Ahead was a wide mountain depression (a flat area in the mountains, a low point between two mountains), with an open view and sparse vegetation.

The night sky was clear, and the bright moonlight shone down. The desolate mountains and wilderness were silent, creating an indescribable sense of terror.

In the mountain depression was a small path leading to the dense forest of the opposite mountain range. As expected, this was the mountain path mentioned in the side quest leading to the summit. Zhang Yuanqing stopped and looked at the mountain peak on the other side of the mountain depression, saying, "The summit over there should be the location of the Mountain God Temple."

"Everyone, take a five-minute break."

At this time, Guan Ya approached Zhang Yuanqing and said with a smile, "When did you switch to a Yin Household? It's quite beautiful. I stared at her for a long time but couldn't find any flaws."

"Because it's a plastic surgery face. How can it compare to a natural beauty like Guan Ya." Zhang Yuanqing first praised her, then backstabbed Fu Qingyang, saying with distress, "This was prepared for me by the Centurion. I didn't expect him to give me such a Yin Corpse. He even said to please stay away from Guan Ya in the future."

Guan Ya used the faint light to carefully examine Yuanshi Tianzun and was surprised to find that he wasn't lying.

"I really thank him." Guan Ya gritted her teeth.

She then looked at Asano Ryo, who was constantly bowing and saying "Ohayo" in the crowd, and said, "Did you pick up this kid?"

"The Peony Fairy picked him up. It has nothing to do with me." Zhang Yuanqing hurriedly cleared himself.

As soon as he finished speaking, Asano Ryo said, "Yuanshi Tianzun is my savior. I will never forget his great kindness. I will work hard to contribute to clearing the killing instance. Please take care of me, everyone!"

Guan Ya smiled brightly. "Wear my defensive mask for a bit." "No!"

"Wear it!"

"No."

Five minutes passed quickly. The group went down the mountain and entered the mountain depression, officially embarking on the mountain path.

As they entered the dense forest, they simultaneously received a mission prompt.

[Ding! You have entered the Labyrinth Forest. Please be careful and beware of the dangers along the way.]

The official Spirit Attendants couldn't help but take a deep breath and tighten their nerves.

Behind them, a middle-aged man said, "Go straight ahead, and when you see the first fork in the road, turn left. There are three paths at the second fork. Choose the one and ask that."

Following the instructions, the group traveled through the Labyrinth Forest in an orderly manner. During this process, Zhang Yuanqing tried to detach his spirit body and look down at the Labyrinth Forest from above, but as soon as he rose to the canopy, he was blocked by an invisible wall.

Mission prompt: [Flying is prohibited!]

The Wood Elves in the group tried to communicate with the trees but received no response.

The Labyrinth Forest could only be walked out of, restricting any opportunities to exploit bugs.

With the guidance of his colleagues, the group traveled through the maze for half an hour, until a little girl finished reporting the route she had memorized and said with glee, "We've already completed half of the journey."

As soon as she finished speaking, a thick fog surged out of the dense forest, the fog like gauze and dust, obscuring the view.

"Is the difficulty increasing?" Zhang Yuanqing shouted loudly, "Everyone, hold hands and slow down your pace."

Just as he finished speaking, a sharp cry came from the crowd, followed by silence.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?!"

Everyone was shocked, and the scene became chaotic.

Zhang Yuanqing smelled blood and his heart sank.

Tianxia Guihuo held up a "torch" and rushed towards the direction of the scream, using the flames to dispel the fog. When he looked closely, his expression changed drastically.

There lay a corpse, its head separated from its body, blood spurting from the break. It was the little girl who had spoken earlier.

Her dead eyes were wide open, and the expression of her scream was still frozen on her face, as if she didn't understand how she died.

This was a Wood Elf little girl who died on the spot, without even having the chance to activate the "Resurrection" skill.

How did she die?

The surrounding Spirit Attendants didn't know either, and a chill rose inexplicably in their hearts.