Chapter 34: Double S-Rank Clearance Guides, I Have Two!

As a transmigrator who had lived two lives, Zhang Fang naturally possessed his own pride. After the initial shock, he immediately regained his usual composure. He uttered a polite "I have long admired you," and as he spoke, he naturally picked up his teacup and took a small sip, appearing remarkably at ease.

However, as the tea slid down his throat, Zhang Fang instantly felt an indescribable sweetness flood his taste buds, as if even the air he inhaled became incomparably sweet at that moment.

Following this, a warm current surged from his stomach, flowing into his limbs and bones; it felt as though every pore on his body was radiating an unspeakable sense of comfort. During this process, Zhang Fang even had the illusion that his internal energy, the "Sacred Qi of Longevity," had grown slightly stronger under the nourishment of this warmth.

[You have consumed "Heart-Seeking Plum." Your "Sacred Qi of Longevity: Yang" proficiency has increased by 10 points.]

It was not an illusion at all; his internal cultivation proficiency had genuinely increased!

Seeing the shock that Zhang Fang could not hide on his face, Nangong Qianxiu, who was sitting to his front left, could not help but chuckle. She explained, "This 'Heart-Seeking Plum' is one of the top-tier teas in the Five Blessings Teahouse. Each pot costs 200 points and serves 10 cups. Drinking one cup increases your internal energy proficiency by 10 points. It also has the effect of soothing the body and mind, clearing away the negative emotions in one's heart and leaving the drinker in a cheerful mood."

In other words, this pot of tea, worth 200 points, only provided the equivalent of 100 points in value?

The lives of these high-level Reincarnators were truly decadent and corrupt!

While silently despising the two women for their unbridled extravagance, Zhang Fang reached for the teapot. Unexpectedly, Feng Xueyue’s hand was faster, lifting the pot before he could. She smiled and said, "We agreed that we would be the hosts today; there is no reason for the guest to pour the tea."

Her movements did not appear fast; in fact, they seemed even more elegant than Zhang Fang’s own. Yet, one moment she had been sitting still, and the next, the teapot was already resting in her slender, jade-like hand. Despite such astonishing speed, there was not a hint of abruptness, nor did it feel as if she were competing with Zhang Fang for the pot. It was as if everything had unfolded exactly as it should have.

This simple act of picking up the teapot alone made Zhang Fang realize just how vast the gap was between them.

Perhaps this was what they meant by "hearing thunder in the silence."

As Feng Xueyue refilled his tea, she asked, "I heard from Qianxiu earlier that you want to acquire her Vibranium Round Shield through a trade. I wonder what you intend to offer in exchange—secret manuals, equipment, or perhaps the SS-rank walkthrough for the Hell-difficulty 'Juxian Manor' dungeon?"

Zhang Fang was slightly surprised. "Walkthroughs can be traded too?"

Feng Xueyue set down the teapot and replied, "As you might imagine, in dungeon worlds, perfectly replicating someone else's success is nearly impossible. For instance, in the initial quiz stage, every person receives different random questions. Trying to lock in a specific identity by memorizing a few standard answers is no different from relying on blind luck. However, when an organization has a large number of newcomers to cultivate, given a large enough base, there will always be someone who can benefit. Isn't that right?"

Zhang Fang nodded, accepting her logic. "Then, how should the value of a walkthrough be assessed?"

"Let's not rush that," Feng Xueyue said with a light smile. "How about this: I will first describe one method to obtain an SS-rank rating in the Juxian Manor dungeon. You only need to answer whether you used the same or a similar method during your own run."

"After you answer that question, we can discuss the details of the trade."

"Are you planning to give me a precious walkthrough for free? That is quite a bargain for me!" Zhang Fang laughed. He wanted to continue drinking his tea, but remembering he was in the middle of a major business negotiation, he maintained his composure and suppressed the urge to boost his internal energy proficiency further. He replied, "I am all ears!"

Feng Xueyue began, "In fact, half a year before you entered the Reincarnation Tower, someone had already cleared the Juxian Manor dungeon with an SS-rank rating during their novice trial. However, the Juxian Manor dungeon they experienced was not Hell difficulty, but merely Hard difficulty."

"During the quiz stage before entering the dungeon, that person obtained the identity of Xue Muhua, 'The Enemy of Yama.' The main mission after entering was: 'Save at least one martial artist who was destined to die in the bloody battle at Juxian Manor, preventing them from falling at the hands of Qiao Feng.'"

Hearing this, Zhang Fang nodded slightly. He thought to himself: So, the difficulty rating of a dungeon world varies from person to person, or rather, it is distinguished based on the identity the Reincarnator assumes.

Taking the Juxian Manor dungeon as an example, under the same main mission, the starting difficulty for someone like You Tanzhi could not be compared to that of Xue Muhua. What was Hell difficulty for the former might not be very difficult for the latter.

Presumably, that guy’s dungeon world was rated "Hard" largely because the power level of the *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils* setting itself was the highest one could encounter on the first floor of the Reincarnation Tower.

At this moment, Feng Xueyue continued, "That person’s approach was truly incredible. Utilizing Xue Muhua’s expertise in medicine, he poisoned the water, food, and wine at Juxian Manor with a lethal, delayed-action toxin. Before either side could even begin to fight, everyone in Juxian Manor died of poisoning, and even Qiao Feng was affected. However, he failed to achieve the feat of killing Qiao Feng, because as soon as the poison took effect, Qiao Feng was rescued by a powerful martial artist in black."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fang’s pupils constricted.

Damn!

To prevent Qiao Feng from killing, that guy had actually poisoned everyone else first, leaving Qiao Feng with no one to kill!?

That was too damn ruthless!

A person without an antisocial personality probably couldn't pull that off!

Suddenly, a thought occurred to Zhang Fang, and he asked, "Did that Reincarnator truly poison everyone in Juxian Manor except Qiao Feng? In my mission world, there was a man named Tan Qing, the 'Soul-Chasing Staff,' who originally went to Juxian Manor to cause trouble. He died from the backlash of his own secret technique after Qiao Feng shattered it with his roar."

"Did this person also die from the poison he planted?"

Hearing Zhang Fang’s question, Feng Xueyue’s gaze grew even brighter. "No. In his dungeon world, Tan Qing died from the backlash of his secret technique before the poison could take effect. That is why that person considered it his only regret in the 'Juxian Manor' dungeon, and the true reason he failed to achieve an SSS-rank rating."

Zhang Fang nodded slightly, but his brows furrowed into a knot.

Now, he had also found the real reason he hadn't achieved an SSS-rank rating! It seemed the Reincarnation World’s clearance rating was based purely on the completion of the main mission, and the criteria were unexpectedly simple and brutal.

Judging by that person's walkthrough, the Reincarnation Tower considered Tan Qing, who died from the backlash of his secret technique, as having been killed by Qiao Feng. If his identity was that of a Han Chinese, then his own special mission, "Sharing Weal and Woe"...

It seems he would have to find an opportunity to enter the *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils* dungeon world again in the future!

Just as Zhang Fang was deep in thought, plotting his return to the world of *Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*, he heard Feng Xueyue ask once more, "Now, can you tell me if your method of clearing the dungeon was the same as his?"

Zhang Fang replied without hesitation, "Of course not!"

"Excellent!" Feng Xueyue nodded gently. "In that case, it proves your intelligence is highly valuable. I am willing to pay 80,000 points for it. If you are not satisfied, you are free to ask others, but I believe no one else will offer more sincerity than I have."

Zhang Fang chose to trust Feng Xueyue.

For one thing, he did not know anyone from other factions, and before he truly grew stronger, he did not want to engage with more organizations.

Nodding slightly, Zhang Fang asked, "In that case, can you give me a fair price for that Vibranium Round Shield?"

Nangong Qianxiu had been prepared for this. She immediately replied, "150,000. This is the most conscientious price. Even if you were lucky enough to assume the identity of Steve Rogers in the *Avengers* world, you would still have to pay 150,000 points after clearing the dungeon to obtain this shield."

"Therefore, besides the SS-rank walkthrough for the Hell-difficulty Juxian Manor dungeon, you will need to pay an additional 70,000 points or an equivalent item. As long as what you offer is of sufficient value, we can conduct the trade right now under the notarization of the Reincarnation Tower."

As she spoke, the lively girl had already operated her interface, canceled the consignment of the "Vibranium Round Shield," and held it in her hand.

"No!" Zhang Fang shook his head calmly. "It is that besides the Vibranium Round Shield, you need to pay me an additional 10,000 points."

Under the stunned gazes of the two women, Zhang Fang held up two fingers: "Because I have two different methods to obtain an SS-rank rating in the Juxian Manor dungeon!"