Chapter 105: Ghost Amusement Park
After two rounds of voting, Li Zhi had deciphered the system's pattern.
For each correct answer, the system had designed corresponding decoys. The Mournful Ghost's decoy was the Joyful Ghost, the Birth Ghost's decoy was the Bloody Ghost, and the Soul-Capturing Ghost's decoy was the Black and White Impermanence.
If players only obtained two clues, they could easily be misled by these decoys and choose wrong answers. This forced players to complete all three challenge rounds, thereby increasing the mortality rate.
Out of eighteen players, the [Ghost] system probably expected half to perish—just to its liking.
Only twenty seconds remained on the countdown.
Li Zhi's gaze swept across the massive Hundred Ghosts Wall. The eerie portraits of ghosts stared back with stiff, unnatural smiles, as if posing for mugshots.
Her eyes lingered on the blank space at the bottom of the wall. The arrangement followed a strict aesthetic, typical of the system's obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
But the blank patch disrupted the symmetry, like an incomplete painting.
From Li Zhi's perspective, either the spacing between rows should have been wider to fill the gap, or an additional row of ghosts should have been added to maintain balance.
As she studied the blank space, the countdown reached its final five seconds. Li Zhi pressed the button to vote for the Birth Ghost and turned to leave the verification room.
They had agreed on this choice beforehand. After Li Zhi exited, Chi Yi entered immediately.
From the start, players had naturally split into three teams. Pei Hongyu's group kept their distance, clearly wanting no interaction.
Du Jia from Perfect Match had entered this instance with the sole purpose of competing against Team Butterfly. If not for his special item forcing Chi Yi into this amusement park instance, Li Zhi and her team might never have come here. Naturally, he wouldn't initiate cooperation now.
However, Han Wenlin approached as Li Zhi emerged.
"Did you get the third clue for the carousel?" he asked curiously.
The others held their breaths instinctively. Li Zhi smiled calmly. "No, we tried the Ferris wheel last round."
Disappointment flashed in Han Wenlin's eyes.
Since Perfect Match had already experienced the Ferris wheel, Han Wenlin must have known the correct answer. Li Zhi's three answers were useless to them now, eliminating any need for information exchange.
Li Zhi didn't ask about their second-round challenge either. Han Wenlin nodded and left. Cheng Jiayue, who had followed him, hesitated before offering a warning: "The pirate ship almost cost us all our props last round. Be careful."
Li Zhi smiled. "Thanks, we will." Then, unexpectedly, she asked, "Would you like to join us next round?"
Cheng Jiayue blinked in surprise. "Me?"
"Some attractions require six players," Li Zhi explained. "We're one short. Care to join?"
Cheng Jiayue hesitated.
Having initially chosen Perfect Match, switching teams now might seem like betrayal—potentially affecting her popularity. In the end, she declined. "Sorry, I'd rather stick with my original team."
Li Zhi didn't press further, simply nodding.
After Li Zhi's group finished voting, Perfect Match entered next. Their business here concluded, Li Zhi said, "Let's go."
As the five left the plaza, Pei Hongyu's team of four waited by the signboard for their turn. Tang Nanshan watched Li Zhi depart and suggested, "The haunted house requires at least six players. We're two short—we could cooperate with Li Zhi."
The required number of players likely indicated an attraction's danger level. The haunted house, demanding the most participants, was probably the deadliest. Even the roller coaster only needed four.
From Tang Nanshan's perspective, tackling the most dangerous attraction with Li Zhi would be safer and increase their success rate. Since they needed teammates anyway, cooperating with Li Zhi seemed wiser than partnering with Perfect Match.
But Pei Hongyu responded indifferently, "When the time comes, people will join us voluntarily."
He didn't need to seek cooperation. Others would line up to join his team.
He Yuan chimed in, "Exactly, Nanshan. We don't need her. If not for the player requirement, Brother Hongyu could solo it. We'll just pick two extras when the time comes."
Tang Nanshan shot him a glance, and He Yuan fell silent.
Viewers erupted in the comments:
[Ugh, can't stand show-offs!]
[It's not showing off—it's supreme confidence! Don't get salty just because your fave can't compare.]
[After two rounds, Li Zhi's performance isn't worse than Pei Hongyu's. He goes for spectacle, while she prioritizes stability and gives teammates chances to shine.]
[Pei Hongyu treats instances like his personal stage. Li Zhi considers the bigger picture.]
[Stop making excuses for your queen. Li Zhi's performances just aren't as exciting—deal with it.]
[Oh yeah, so exciting watching your king hog the spotlight while ignoring teammates. So cool!]
[Since the haunted house needs six, why not have Pei Hongyu and Li Zhi each lead a team? See who can clear it without casualties.]
[Support this showdown! Top players should compete!]
[Li Zhi fans, stop barking and go vote. At this rate, she'll fall way behind on the popularity charts.]
[LOL, a one-million gap isn't insurmountable. Talk like it's tens of millions.]
[Don't count your chickens. We'll see who has the last laugh.]
As the comments raged, Pei Hongyu's team finished voting. His next target was clear: "The drop tower."
With the verification room lights off, the park's colorful illumination returned. The plaza's mascots and performers reappeared. The teddy bear clutching balloons looked around dejectedly before drooping its fuzzy head.
Each zone featured different horror themes.
Li Zhi led her team into unexplored territory. Passing through an area bathed in crimson light, they encountered a red wooden pavilion. A bride in traditional garb stood on the second-floor balcony, holding an embroidered ball.
Spotting them below, she beckoned eerily, as if inviting them to catch her toss.
"You don't actually have to marry her if you catch that, right?" You Jingmeng muttered.
Ou Wendong shuddered and shouted, "Taken! Not interested!"
The bride's veiled head turned slowly, tracking their movement. Then she tossed the red-tasseled ball toward them.
They scattered with shrieks as the ball bounced into the shadows. The bride began weeping mournfully, her red veil and gown fluttering as if she might teleport before them any second.
Spooked, the group hurried away.
In the distance, engine vibrations cut through the chilly air. Following the sound and the scent of burning rubber, they reached a massive racetrack adorned with decorative tires at the entrance.
Qi Yongyi quickened his pace. "Go-karts! My favorite!" He turned eagerly to Li Zhi. "Let me take the first round!"
Li Zhi smiled. "Sure."
Ou Wendong raised his hand. "Me too!"
Having sat out last time, he felt confident about this ground-level attraction.
"Let's check the player requirements first," Li Zhi said, approaching the staff member.
This attendant wore a racing helmet, perfectly matching the theme. "Welcome to Speed Karting," came the muffled voice. "Player requirements decrease each round: three for the first, two for the second, and one for the third. Subsequent rounds must complete previous ones first. Present your tickets to enter."
"Different rules this time," Chi Yi noted. "Only one player in the third round. If they fail, the other two must compensate. Fewer chances for mistakes later."
Unlike the roller coaster, where four players participated each round—and surviving even one meant success—this structure increased difficulty by reducing participants progressively.
But with Li Zhi handling the final round alone, success seemed more likely. That made the first round practically free points—easy participation for popularity gains.
"I want in too!" You Jingmeng eyed Ou Wendong. "Rock-paper-scissors."
Despite their cooperation, they remained competitors. While no one challenged the top players, concessions weren't freely given among equals.
Ou Wendong reluctantly agreed. "Fine. Winner plays."
Chi Yi sat this one out, refereeing instead. "On three!"
You Jingmeng blurted, "I'm picking scissors!"
Ou Wendong: "......"
Yeah right!
"Three! Two! One!"
Confidently, he chose paper.
Opposite him, You Jingmeng snipped the air with two fingers, grinning innocently. "Told you I'd pick scissors."
Ou Wendong: Aaaargh!