Xi Mufu was speechless.
Ji Jiu had indeed taught her something—though it was physiognomy, not what everyone thought.
How could someone get the entire process wrong, yet the answer completely right?!
“Mm,” she smiled. “Master Jiu really has taught me a lot.”
Shanqu Guan’s expression was one of confirmation: “Learning from Director Ji is really worthwhile.”
Although Xi Mufu had exceptional talent, in his eyes, Director Ji was like a reincarnated ancient deity—certainly qualified to teach her.
In fact, he believed that only Director Ji could teach her. No one else—the president of the Metaphysics Association, the sect leaders and elders, or the heads of great families—was qualified, because none of them had talent comparable to Xi Mufu’s.
Xi Mufu nodded. “I think it’s really good too.”
Ji Jiu remained silently behind them, pretending not to hear their conversation as they discussed him openly.
As the three slowly returned to the courtyard, Xi Mufu suddenly felt a strong surge of merit bestowed upon her.
This merit was far stronger than any she had received before, making her whole body warm and even drowsy.
“This…” Xi Mufu looked at Ji Jiu in surprise.
Ji Jiu said, “It’s Ma Yong’s grandfather.”
Xi Mufu froze. The merit came from Ma Yong’s grandfather?
Shanqu Guan, having been the head of Tianyou Temple for many years, knew the city’s affairs well and immediately understood. “I heard Ma Yong’s grandfather performed great deeds during the Anti-Japanese War. Later, he didn’t go work in the provincial capital but returned to contribute to the town. People who have served the country in such a way naturally possess enormous merit, which is also extremely pure and strong, carrying a trace of national fortune.”
Xi Mufu suddenly understood.
She had heard Shanqu Guan explain before that everyone’s fortune contributes to the nation’s fortune, which in turn benefits each individual. That’s why as China grows stronger, everyone’s life improves.
Since Ma Yong’s grandfather had made such great contributions, he benefited the nation’s fortune significantly. His merit was profound, his personal fortune abundant, and the merit he gave her was exceptionally pure.
Shanqu Guan paused, then added: “Your incense shop is thriving, and with your own merit added, ordinary wandering spirits cannot approach. But just now, Ma Yong’s grandfather could stay at the entrance for so long and even protect Ma Yong’s great-grandfather because his merit is extraordinary.”
Xi Mufu felt both admiration and gratitude toward Ma Yong’s grandfather.
Perhaps due to the extraordinary merit she received, she suddenly felt inspired. She wanted to draw exorcism talismans, confident this time she would succeed.
Thinking this, she ignored the drowsiness caused by the strong influx of merit and hurried back to the courtyard to focus on practicing exorcism talismans.
She had been attempting it for days without success, but now her intuition told her it would work.
She wanted to master it before the next group of interdimensional visitors arrived, so she could give the talismans to them for free, continuing to improve her talisman-making skills.
Meanwhile, Lin Xia, part of the third batch of interdimensional visitors, returned to the main hall after being forcibly ejected from the dungeon, standing bewildered with her backpack. She hadn’t recovered for quite a while.
So dungeons could be permanently closed?
And apparently, this closure might be related to her. She didn’t know how to react.
“Lin Xia,” a female voice called from behind her. “I heard you visited an incense shop inside the dungeon. The three major guilds want to understand the transaction process with the shop. Are you willing to cooperate?”
Lin Xia readily agreed. She had wanted to report her experiences to the guilds, but in the past she was obscure, lacked strength, and didn’t even qualify to join any of the guilds, let alone contact their members.
Now that someone had approached her, her eyes lit up, and she immediately nodded: “I’m willing!”
Soon she was taken to the territory of the first major guild. Entering the council hall, she saw six people—both men and women—all radiating powerful auras.
“They’re actually the presidents and vice presidents of the three major guilds…” Though she had no right to contact them directly as a low-level player, she had always paid attention to these figures and knew what they looked like.
She never imagined the presidents and vice presidents would personally meet her!
“Don’t be nervous,” Pu Yunfeng said first, standing to welcome her and guiding her to a seat. “I’ve also been to the incense shop and met its two owners. We share the same experience—you can trust me.”
Lin Xia was indeed a bit nervous; after all, these six were the most powerful figures in this infinite-loop world. But hearing Pu Yunfeng, she relaxed and inexplicably felt a closeness to him.
She then carefully recounted her transaction at the incense shop.
When she mentioned that the shop owner recommended a talisman for protection—and it helped her repel a malevolent ghost—Pu Yunfeng couldn’t help but comment: “The shop owner is really insightful. She recommended a cleansing talisman to me, and a protective talisman to you, because she foresaw our differing circumstances.”
“Yes!” Lin Xia wholeheartedly agreed. “The shop owner definitely sees through our situation!”
She also mentioned that when she tried to ask the shop owner if they were there to save them, an invisible force blocked her.
Upon hearing this, all six guild leaders wore thoughtful expressions.
They knew the infinite-loop world was controlled by some force—perhaps a higher civilization or an evil deity… It seemed this force didn’t want them contacting the shop owner.
Yet the shop owner could still help them, which meant her power exceeded that force. There was still hope for escaping this haunted place.
The six leaders felt quite encouraged.
“Do you want to join us? Choose any of the three guilds,” Pu Yunfeng asked Lin Xia. “Of course, if you don’t wish to, the guilds will still protect you.”
Lin Xia didn’t hesitate: “I want to join Jiufeng.”
A beautiful woman in a fiery red qipao immediately stood up, smiling: “Welcome!”
This was Lan Ruoting, president of the second major guild, Jiufeng. Most of her subordinates were powerful female players—Lin Xia had long admired them.
Confirming her entry into Jiufeng, Lin Xia couldn’t contain her excitement. She had long wanted to join and now Lan Ruoting personally approved her—it felt surreal.
“Oh, I still have protective talismans and incense money!” she suddenly remembered, quickly focusing and placing her backpack on the table.
As she pulled out the items, a small note fell from the bag of incense money:
[Happy New Year!]
Lin Xia froze.
There were no holidays in the infinite-loop world. After entering it, they repeatedly faced dungeons and death, losing track of time in the real world—let alone knowing when the New Year was.
“So that day was New Year…” she murmured, tears welling in her eyes. “I really want to go home…”
Lan Ruoting gently patted her shoulder, soothing her: “We will definitely return.”
This “Happy New Year” felt like encouragement from the shop owner—not to give up, and that they would one day return to the real world.