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Unranked players swarmed the perimeter of the Tower of Ascension's first floor, an invisible barrier denying them access to the interior.
Only those who had achieved the 1st Heavenly Ascension or higher were granted entry.
For now, the exterior of the tower served as their staging ground, resembling the familiar layout of the Dungeon Hall.
Rows of glowing screens lined the area, each cycling through vivid videos and still images showcasing various dungeons.
Beside the screens, their names and player requirements were displayed in bold text. Beneath every screen was a glowing circle etched into the ground—a selection pad.
Stepping into one marked a commitment to enter the corresponding dungeon.
Some glowing circles were modest, designed for small teams, while others sprawled wide to accommodate larger groups.
Despite the activity, the crowd here was noticeably smaller than in the Instance Hall. Many selection pads had only one or two players lingering, far below the threshold needed to activate the dungeon.
If a group failed to meet the required quota within an hour, they were unceremoniously ejected and forced to start the process anew.
It was a rule designed to maintain flow and prevent stagnation.
To avoid such frustrations and maximize efficiency, most players gathered in pre-formed teams, shouting their recruitment pitches to any passersby willing to join.
There was no shortage of choices—over a hundred screens stood waiting, each offering its own unique challenge.
"The Bus 412! Five spots filled, need one more! Join now, and we're good to go!"
"The Desert Expedition! A twenty-person dungeon—only four slots left! We've got an item that generates unlimited drinking water—no dehydration risks!"
"The Island Hotel! Dungeon with luxury perks—presidential suite lodging, unlimited gourmet food! Clearing the dungeon feels like a vacation! Only six spots left!"
The air buzzed with urgency and opportunity as players shouted to recruit for their ideal teams, each offering enticing promises or unique advantages, trying to lure in the hesitant or undecided.
…
Recruiting teammates outside the dungeon zones was an art of its own—part persuasion, part theater. With calls echoing through the area, players hawked their dungeon runs like street vendors peddling wares.
Those intrigued by the enthusiastic pitches might wander over to join. Others, wary of being the lone outsider among a tight-knit group, hesitated on the sidelines, assessing the situation before committing.
Overwhelmed by the array of choices, Zuo Chengan found himself paralyzed for a moment.
There were so many options, and he wasn't sure where to start. Still, he had his standards. No horror-themed instances—definitely not.
Anything requiring an all-nighter was also off the table. Ideally, he wanted something that could be completed within the same day, based on game time.
If a dungeon offered decent lodging or food, he'd consider bending the time restriction slightly.
"Instance 1-4779: Uncle Red-Eye's Farm?"
He paused, stopping in front of a screen showcasing the dungeon. The video loop displayed a serene and idyllic farm. Rows of ripe tomatoes gleamed in the sunlight, while little chicks followed a mother hen in their leisurely waddle. Sheep and cows dotted the rolling green hills, completing the pastoral charm.
It seemed… peaceful. Promising, even.
Zuo Chengan wasn't the only one eyeing the screen.
Beside him, two players—identical twins by the look of it—were engaged in quiet deliberation.
"Big Sis, look at this one. Seems like a task-focused dungeon—complete the objectives, and we can leave."
"A farm," the other mused thoughtfully. "If there are enemies, they're probably just wolves or maybe a leopard or two. No Zombie Brides or ghostly apparitions crashing the party. Should we pick this one?"
"I think it's doable, but we're only two people. It needs five to activate."
"Then we just wait for three more to show up. This screen's got a prime spot—someone's bound to come by soon."
…
Two minutes later, a clingy young couple arrived, completing the final two slots with an air of sugary sweetness. The moment they stepped into the glowing circle, there was no warning.
Zuo Chengan felt a gentle tug at his body, and in the next instant, a fresh scent of grass and soil filled his senses.
He opened his eyes and found himself standing by a bus stop sign. Written in bold letters were the words: "Uncle Red-Eye's Farm."
At the same time, information about the dungeon flooded his mind.
[Instance: Uncle Red-Eye's Farm]
[Instance ID: 1-4779]
[Objective: Complete the tasks assigned by Uncle Red-Eye.]
[Duration: 1 day]
[Background: Uncle Red-Eye runs a farm famous for its delicious tomato sauce. However, he's been struggling to find workers, leaving the farm understaffed. Luckily, a group of hardworking and brave players has arrived to save the day!]
[Note: Uncle Red-Eye is kind-hearted but despises slackers. Complete his tasks before the instance ends!]
The tasks themselves hadn't been assigned yet—it seemed they'd have to wait for this mysterious "Uncle Red-Eye" to dole out their responsibilities.
Zuo Chengan also noticed an addition compared to the beginner-stage dungeon he'd completed earlier, Night of Screams: this one included a detailed backstory.
His attention shifted to the four other players scattered around the bus stop.
As expected, the twin sisters stood close together, while the couple clung to each other, practically inseparable.
That left Zuo Chengan standing alone—a solo participant amidst the small group.
But he barely had time to consider this when something unsettling caught his eye. The floating cluster of blood-veined eyeballs had returned. Only this time, their numbers had multiplied.
In Night of Screams, there had been an average of one eyeball per player. Here, each participant was surrounded by three to five of the grotesque orbs.
They hovered, unblinking, capturing every expression and movement, feeding it to some unseen audience.
And then came the comments.
[Pre-ascension dungeons are so much better—no spoilers from halfwits ruining the fun.]
[For real! I hate it when you're fully immersed, and someone blurts out exactly when and where a monster will appear. Completely ruins the scare factor.]
[Couldn't agree more. Plus, pre-ascension dungeons have higher-quality scenarios. The tasks are trickier, and watching players get wrecked by the mission traps is my favorite!]
[Agreed, but this group seems too small. If they're all incompetent, they'll be wiped out in no time.]
[A farm? How quickly could they die here, though?]
[Didn't you see the stream's title? It's Uncle Red-Eye's Farm! That's the infamous bunny with a knack for trolling players!]
[Ohhh, right! That greedy rabbit who loves setting players up for failure. This is going to be good.]
…
Key details emerged from the flurry of commentary.
The titular Uncle Red-Eye was, apparently, a rabbit. A mischievous one at that—known for laying elaborate traps and finding joy in sabotaging and tormenting players.
Zuo Chengan's wariness kicked up a notch. He hadn't even met the so-called "Uncle" yet, but he was already mentally preparing himself for trouble.
…
Meanwhile, the other players were far more relaxed. Veterans of story-driven dungeons like this knew the drill: the welcoming NPC would eventually show up to kick things off.
In the meantime, they took the opportunity to get acquainted.
The twin sisters were the first to introduce themselves.
"I'm Fu Yu, and this is my younger sister, Fu You," the elder sister said. "We've cleared four Stage 1 instances. Our stats are solid—everything's maxed except Constitution. Our Mind is over 70—so we're pretty reliable."
The couple followed suit, their introduction as synchronized as their movements.
"You can call me Wang Guangfei, and this is my girlfriend, Youyou," said the man. "Our stats aren't as great—Speed's maxed, but the rest are average. Mind, though, is in the 80 range for both of us."
Zuo Chengan listened intently, noticing a pattern in their introductions: everyone emphasized their Mind stat.
He couldn't help but wonder, What happens if your Mind stat is too low?