Chapter 3: Novice Tutorial: True to Its Name

"Mission: Kill the Remnant Soul of Taoist Qingyu"

The dust on the ground coalesced into words within Gu Shanhai's vision. This was his task—to vanquish the remnant soul and depart from this dungeon world.

Once read, the dust vanished, leaving no trace of its presence. Gu Shanhai took note of the instructions, casually surveying the hut before him.

Taoist Qingyu's remains lay before him, but they held little significance.

"The magic mirror on the door, the green robe on the corpse, the book on the table, and the potted plant."

In an instant, Gu Shanhai assessed the valuables within the nameless hut. While he only required the books and potted plants, his greed led him to covet all.

The book primarily contained plant cultivation insights and techniques, serving as a conduit to the potted plant's power. As the world neared its end, aura reserves diminished, resulting in the demise of many immortal cultivators. However, this potted plant possessed a unique trait—converting carbon-oxygen balance into aura, albeit in limited quantities.

Gu Shanhai refrained from bringing back powerful techniques upon his rebirth, knowing his body couldn't withstand their potency. Thus, he relied on skills within his world rather than seeking external sources.

His choice of the novice tutorial was strategic. In his previous life, he carefully selected from novice tutorial copies, knowing the potential benefits.

While lacking semi-data, "First Era" recognized his acquisitions. However, without corresponding semi-data identification and protection, he bore the associated risks alone.

He swiftly claimed the magic mirror and assessed its capabilities—a one-time use item due to its depleted aura. The robe, closer to the potted plant, offered greater completeness.

He pocketed the mirror, deeming it wasteful to squander its power on a mere remnant soul. Unlike a complete ghost, remnant souls lacked intelligence or instincts.

Next, he secured the robe, ensuring a layer of defense against potential threats.

With meticulous care, he retrieved the items, avoiding contact with the potted plant's occupants.

His strategy was simple—secure the robe for defense before engaging the remnant soul.

With practiced ease, he liberated the robe from the skeleton, donning it without hesitation. The attached spells, likely spirit shields, bolstered his defenses—an asset in "First Era."

Lamentably, the absence of a storage ring was unsurprising given the era's limitations.

Activating the robe's shield, Gu Shanhai observed its fleeting brilliance—a modest but invaluable asset in his current predicament.

Approaching the potted plant, a black mist materialized, revealing a sinister visage that lunged towards him.

Summoning his resolve, Gu Shanhai bit his tongue, eliciting a pained cry from the spectral entity before its dissipation.

The novice tutorial—how daunting could it truly be? Just a tutorial for battling monsters, after all.

Gu Shanhai's challenges were significant, yet even regular players faced minimal difficulty. With blood locks in place, they were impervious to death, unlike Gu Shanhai, who had to contend with the spectral nature of his foe.

(End of Chapter)