The Conception of the Forbidden Realms: A New Instance Arrives

Five Days.

Under Yi Bai's urgent and meticulous arrangements, these five days passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, thanks to the "legacy" left by Jiang Junhao—a "specialized" computer (undetectable and untraceable)—Yi Bai used the custom software to purchase what he needed: a new phone and a slew of everyday necessities. The transaction took place in the bustling city center, and there were no unpleasant surprises. The merchant proved trustworthy. There were no issues like robbery or murder.

Through the Eye of Insight, Yi Bai discovered that the merchant was part of a special organization catering to players of horror games, with a solid reputation in the community.

Once the mundane matters were taken care of, Yi Bai stocked up on food, filling his beast-head belt with provisions. Sitting there, eating instant noodles, he began to think deeply.

In the human world, he had no family, no ties. He had once lived the grind of a 996 work schedule, a miserable existence. Now, as a player in a terrifying horror game, his life had changed drastically.

There was no going back to a regular job. The 996 lifestyle? Forget it!

Although his daily struggles didn't compare to others who fought for survival with every breath, Yi Bai was still walking a fine line between danger and life.

Hmm… A vampire noble and a zombie loli were both constantly eyeing his "body"…

So, re-integrating into his old circle, hiding his true self, and continuing to live as a mere worker was absolutely out of the question.

In the midst of his thoughts, a sudden idea sparked in Yi Bai's mind. He recalled a novel written by some red-haired monster, where the term "Life's Forbidden Zone" had given him an unprecedented burst of inspiration!

"I control parasitic puppets—equivalent to red-clad ghosts in the real world. It only takes three days to completely transform an ordinary person into a scarecrow."

"Could I use this idea to create my own 'Life's Forbidden Zone'?"

Yi Bai's heart raced. The more he thought about it, the more feasible his plan seemed.

Although the scarecrows made from humans were nowhere near as powerful as the monstrous ghosts, their eerie nature made them perfect for dealing with regular people. A surprise attack could even threaten someone like Jiang Junhao, that useless "Divine Chosen."

"But…" Yi Bai frowned slightly. "I still don't have enough power."

Creating a "Life's Forbidden Zone" would inevitably attract the attention of "Divine Chosen" and even the government of the Great Xia. With only parasitic puppets at his disposal, Yi Bai wasn't confident.

But the idea of constructing such a zone had deeply rooted itself in his mind, and he couldn't shake it…

Until…

The countdown in his mind finally ticked to zero. Yi Bai let out a helpless sigh, his figure fading from reality until he disappeared.

When his vision returned, he found himself facing a group of ten horror game players in front of a sign that read "Children's Amusement Park."

Three of them looked relatively calm, but the other six were trembling, their eyes filled with fear.

Yi Bai's gaze swept over them. His Eye of Insight quietly activated.

Six rookies and three seasoned players who had survived the third game. He ignored the rookies. The seasoned players probably had something up their sleeves. Judging by their reactions, they seemed to have some level of confidence.

Before anyone could introduce themselves, the familiar sound of the horror game's system echoed in their minds.

[Game Start!]

[Current Instance: Children's Amusement Park]

[Mission Details: Recently, due to special circumstances in the Yinming City, ghost parents couldn't take care of their children, so they decided to leave them at the Children's Amusement Park, where the kids could play freely and enjoy the free care of the park staff. The park has since been overwhelmed, and is now hiring temporary staff.]

[Dear participants, please cooperate with the park staff and complete your assigned tasks. Those who finish the mission in three days will return to the human world.]

[Friendly reminder: To handle children, you will need plenty of patience, enthusiasm, and attention.]

[The basic rewards for this round will be distributed after the game ends...]

"Children's Amusement Park? Can ghosts even have kids?" Yi Bai mumbled to himself after the voice faded from his mind.

A seasoned player from the group cheerfully answered his question, "Ghosts can indeed have offspring through certain means."

Yi Bai relaxed slightly. He was worried that in an unprepared state, he might end up becoming a ghost parent without even realizing it!

Another seasoned player, however, didn't respond to Yi Bai. Instead, he turned to the rookies and said, "Everyone, I've survived the third game. Based on my experience, the more normal-sounding the name of the instance, the more dangerous it usually is!"

"So, I suggest we form a team. Strength in numbers, right?"

His words made the other two seasoned players give him wary looks but remain silent. The six rookies were confused and uncertain, not knowing what to do.

Five of the rookies were young, with only one man in his fifties, who appeared older and grimmer.

When the seasoned player's offer was made, the five younger players hesitated but eventually seemed tempted.

They were rookies, after all. Though they'd read up on plenty of horror game information, they lacked the real-world experience to back it up.

"I…I think it's a good idea. Teaming up might improve our chances of survival," a shy, nervous young woman said, stepping behind the seasoned player.

The other rookies exchanged uncertain looks but eventually joined her.

Only the older man stood silently in place, his expression dark.

Yi Bai, however, showed no interest in any of this. Whether the seasoned player was looking for scapegoats or genuinely trying to form a team, he didn't care. He wasn't interested in joining.

The human heart was too treacherous. He trusted no one.

His attention shifted to the amusement park gates. Inside, it was eerily silent. There wasn't a single ghost child or staff member in sight.

Yi Bai furrowed his brow. This situation seemed vastly different from the third hospital's scenario!

"Could it be… that only by entering will I be able to see what's wrong?" Yi Bai wondered. He crossed his arms, covering the parasitic puppet, and silently approached the park.

There was no running away. Avoiding the place wouldn't work.

Horror games didn't have such huge loopholes.

Rather than wasting time outside, he'd take the initiative and seize the advantage!