Chapter 107: Ghost Amusement Park
01:58——
01:57——
The red numbers ticked down before Li Zhi’s eyes. She was still racing on the inner lane. From the very start of this round, both drivers had pushed their speed to the limit, their go-karts leaving afterimages on the track.
The maximum speed limit for normal cars on highways was 120 km/h. At higher speeds, the vehicle would become unstable, and even the slightest turn could result in a drastic change in direction. To ensure they had enough time and avoid a last-second sprint, Li Zhi had immediately maxed out her speed, pushing it close to 200 km/h.
Even the roller coasters she’d ridden before hadn’t been this fast. And now, she was the one in control. If she wasn’t rammed by the ghostly go-karts, the slightest mistake could send her flying off the track—ending in a fatal crash.
The ghosts racing alongside them hadn’t expected a human to be so reckless. By the time they realized what was happening, Li Zhi and Qi Yongyi had already left them far behind. Enraged, the ghosts stomped on their accelerators, chasing after them with furious determination.
Corners were the easiest places to overtake because they required speed control. As they approached the first turn, the two go-karts ahead, practically airborne, finally slowed down. The ghosts closing in from behind grinned eerily.
Screech—!
The sharp sound of tires skidding violently against the ground echoed through the turn, followed by the roar of engines. The kart on the inner lane slid outward, while the one on the outer lane slid inward.
The two go-karts swapped lanes mid-turn, barely reducing speed. The moment they cleared the corner, they accelerated again. The ghostly karts had barely caught up to their tails before being left in the dust once more.
The audience was stunned by their seamless, daring maneuver:
[Sp… Speed and Fury?!]
[Wasn’t Lian Qinglin always saying he wanted to be the Drift King of Akina? He should come see what a real Akina Drift King looks like!]
[Ghost: Last night, I lost to a go-kart. She drifted using inertia, and her car was fast. All I know is she’s kinda wild. If you know who she is, tell her I’ll be waiting for her at Akina tomorrow night.] (Reference: Initial D)
[Li Zhi’s passenger seat is missing me!]
[Li Zhi’s vibe is perfect for playing a reckless racer! This is her ideal role! Ugh, what a shame—we might never get to see her act again.]
[I went back and watched all her old bit parts. Her aura is just too good. She was truly a hidden gem back then.]
[Just look at how Li Zhi operates in the dungeons. She doesn’t care about fame. If she wanted to be popular, she would’ve been long ago.]
[Li Zhi is the GOAT! Li Zhi is the GOAT! Keep voting, friends!!!]
…
The ghostly karts had fallen behind from the start. No matter how much they accelerated now, as long as Li Zhi and Qi Yongyi didn’t slow down, they’d never catch up.
The karts that suddenly appeared from the sides or materialized on the track would freeze for a split second upon spawning. The two racers used that brief lag to dodge them at nearly 200 km/h.
Soon, they reached the second turn. Using the same technique, Li Zhi slid back to the inner lane. The tires screeched violently against the ground, producing thick, acrid smoke. But the go-karts in this ghostly world weren’t like real ones—Li Zhi wasn’t worried about them blowing out or falling apart.
They raced like this all the way to the finish line. When the countdown on the steering wheel screen hit 00:19, they crossed it.
Jumping out of the go-kart, Li Zhi tilted her head slightly and brushed back her wind-tossed hair. The live chat went wild:
[Sis, you’re so cool!!!]
[This is the first time I’ve truly appreciated Li Zhi’s looks. She’s just so badass.]
[I’m the breeze that just swept through Li Zhi’s hair!!! Sis, you smell so good, so soft, so kissable!]
[Players with both looks and skills are rare. Those prettier than her aren’t as strong, and those stronger than her aren’t as pretty.]
[Li Zhi is the best! Just wait—one day, she’ll reach the top of the popularity rankings!]
[Does Li Zhi even know her fans hype her up like this?]
[LOL, lacking in skill but relying on looks for votes. That’s all Li Zhi is, huh?]
[This is Li Zhi’s solo stream. If you’re not here to watch your own idol, are you just here to get roasted? Or are you secretly in love with her?]
[Someone’s mad, someone’s mad! My sis is gorgeous, and that’s that! Stay mad, stay mad!]
[The vote gap’s narrowing. No wonder they’re panicking.]
…
Qi Yongyi’s face was flushed with excitement. “That was amazing!”
Back in regular go-kart tracks, the speed was capped at 80 km/h for safety. The most thrilling race he’d ever done was at a sports karting track, where he’d hit 130 km/h—nowhere near today’s near-200 km/h takeoff speed.
Add in the ghostly karts chasing them, and Qi Yongyi had gotten a taste of high-speed pursuit. For a karting enthusiast, this experience was a once-in-a-lifetime thrill.
A helmeted staff member stood on the platform. Li Zhi walked over to him.
“Congratulations on completing the second round of the Racing Go-Kart challenge. Here’s your reward.”
Taking the clue box, the two walked to the entrance. The other three, waiting outside the railing, waved excitedly. The moment they got close, You Jingmeng couldn’t hold back: “How was it? Was the second round hard?”
Qi Yongyi, still buzzing, grinned. “Not hard! It was awesome!”
You Jingmeng: “…”
Chi Yi smirked. “If the system heard you say that, it’d flip out.”
Qi Yongyi scratched the back of his head sheepishly, flashing a bright smile.
Li Zhi opened the clue box and pulled out the card inside. Like before, the second clue was just four words.
“Don’t look back.” You Jingmeng read it aloud, shuddering. “Beware what’s behind you, don’t look back. The ghost this time must be the kind that latches onto people’s backs.”
Both clues pointed directly to the Negative Back Ghost Chi Yi had mentioned earlier. But after the Black and White Impermanence trap in the Merry-Go-Round round, no one dared jump to conclusions before getting the third clue.
Li Zhi turned to Qi Yongyi. “You want to take the third round, or should I?”
The third round only required one participant. If there was any danger on the track, they’d have to handle it alone—no help from teammates. Based on past experience, the strongest player should take this round for safety.
But this was a rare chance for Qi Yongyi to shine in his element. Li Zhi wasn’t one to hog the spotlight. If he could complete the challenge solo, it’d give his popularity a huge boost. Besides, official players weren’t weak—they just lacked experience.
Qi Yongyi understood Li Zhi’s intention. She was giving him this opportunity, and he couldn’t let her down. Just like his captain, her brother, she inspired admiration.
“Let me do it!” His gaze was firm. “I’ll clear it in one go!”
Li Zhi smiled and patted his shoulder. “Go for it.”
Qi Yongyi strode inside, disappearing onto the platform. Li Zhi watched him for a moment before turning and exiting through the passage.
Ou Wendong muttered, half-sour, half-envious, “Newbies sure are bold, huh?”
From their earlier chat, he knew Qi Yongyi was a first-timer. He’d even boasted about teaching him the ropes, promising to protect him. Yet here Qi Yongyi was, outperforming him. Some people just seemed born for the dungeons.
His eyes drifted to Li Zhi, who was lazily stretching by the railing.
If anyone was truly born for the dungeons, it was her. When the live streams first started, Ou Wendong had been just another anonymous viewer. The first stream he’d ever entered was the one with Li Zhi.
Back then, he’d only thought this celebrity was unusually brave and calm. It wasn’t until later that he realized what that meant.
Sure enough, Li Zhi’s popularity had skyrocketed. As live streams became more common, players’ mindsets shifted—some grew timid, others reckless. Only Li Zhi remained exactly the same as she’d been in her first dungeon.
Ou Wendong didn’t know if that made her exceptional or not. But when he’d spotted her in the crowd at the amusement park entrance, one thought had surged through him: This dungeon’s in the bag.
At some point, countless players and viewers had developed the same subconscious belief.
If Li Zhi’s in the dungeon, it’s a guaranteed win.
Even top-tier players like Pei Hongyu couldn’t inspire that same sense of security.
Too bad this dungeon’s format was different. No matter how strong Li Zhi was, she couldn’t protect every teammate. If this had been like the old dungeons, Zheng Qi might still be alive.
While Ou Wendong was lost in thought, Qi Yongyi emerged, having completed the challenge.
Go-karts were fast, making this the shortest challenge yet. You Jingmeng and Chi Yi were already applauding the impressive newcomer. Ou Wendong sighed quietly and joined in with a few half-hearted claps.
“The track was completely invisible—torrential rain, thunder, lightning. The raindrops felt like hail.” Qi Yongyi described the third round. “I had to rely on sound to dodge the ghost karts. Couldn’t see a thing. Luckily, I memorized the layout from the first two rounds and just drove on instinct.”
You Jingmeng gave him two thumbs up. “That’s still really impressive!”
Qi Yongyi grinned, rubbing the back of his head, and handed the clue box to Li Zhi. “Here’s the clue.”
Li Zhi smiled. “You earned it. You open it.”
For some reason, it felt ceremonial. This was his first solo mission! He opened the box. This time, instead of words, the card held an image.
A trail of footprints.
Chi Yi immediately said, “It can’t be the Negative Back Ghost! That thing clings to people’s backs—it wouldn’t leave footprints.”
The system was full of tricks! They’d almost fallen for it again.
With all three clues obtained, the card disintegrated into ash. Li Zhi flicked her fingers and looked toward the towering drop ride in the distance. “We’ve got time. Let’s check out the drop tower.”
The others’ legs went weak at the thought.
But whether they rushed in or hesitated, they’d have to face it eventually. Gritting their teeth, they nodded. “Let’s go!”
As they headed toward the drop tower, jump-scare NPCs startled them multiple times. Just before reaching the area, another team emerged—Pei Hongyu at the front, his expression grim.
The four of them talked among themselves before walking off in another direction. By the time Li Zhi’s group arrived, only their retreating backs were visible.
You Jingmeng blinked. “Wasn’t that Pei Hongyu’s team?”
Chi Yi smirked. “They must’ve already finished the challenge.” Her competitive spirit flared. “Now it’s our turn!”