Samsara Paradise: Dream Weaver of Connections.

The tense atmosphere in the banquet hall eased slightly with Anna's words, but the oppressive feeling brought by the more than forty Gluttonous Beasts standing silently behind Su Xiao and Shang Yue became even heavier.

The guests took their seats one by one at the huge round banquet table.

The sound of the metal chair scraping against the floor was particularly clear in the excessively quiet hall.

Lin Yi chose a spot to Anna's left. The Dragon Spider lay obediently at his feet, its massive head resting on its crossed forelimbs.

Mond sat down casually next to Su Xiao, Shang Yue sat on the other side of Su Xiao, and Di Lin chose the diagonal seat furthest away from Su Xiao. Her wet hair was still dripping, and she used a simple spell to dry her clothes with a cold face.

The most eye-catching people in the room were naturally Su Xiao and Shang Yue.

The axe-wielding men behind the two men stood like a silent legion of sculptures, yet their almost tangible killing intent felt like countless cold needles piercing the skin of each person.

Mondstadt could even see the nearest axe-wielding beast; on the blade of the giant axe held by its thick fingers, a dark stain of blood belonging to another Gluttonous Beast had not yet dried.

He had a feeling that the next second, these silent monsters would all swing their weapons and cleave the two people in front of him into pieces.

Mond scratched his short white hair, the coarse stubble rubbing against his palm with a rustling sound.

He leaned towards Su Xiao, lowered his voice, and said with unusual caution, "Hey, are you... really okay? These things look creepy, I feel like they're about to pounce on us any second."

Su Xiao raised his eyes, his gaze calmly sweeping over Mond's worried face, then lightly glancing at the Gluttonous Beasts behind him, whose killing intent boiled but remained motionless: "Not for now. These 'bodyguards' are highly loyal and won't act rashly without clear instructions."

Dillian, who had just used magic to straighten her hair, rolled her eyes upon hearing this, not even bothering to snort. She was clearly in awe of Su Xiao's ability to lie through his teeth and didn't bother to respond.

Arguing with someone who is being chased by dozens of monsters from the House of the Dead and still calmly claims they are "bodyguards" is a complete waste of your energy.

Lin Yi glanced at Mond a couple more times.

The demon's words just now sounded blunt, even a bit silly, but the meaning behind them was very clear: just tell me if you need anything, and I'll help if I can.

In a world where the strong contend for supremacy and everyone is a rival who could stab each other in the back at any moment, this kind of protection based on racial ties seems particularly out of place.

The demons and the spellbreakers have been on good terms for generations, a friendship that is well-known even in the Void. It is just unexpected that Mondstadt would still be willing to express this stance in such a dangerous place as the House of the Dead.

Of course, when it comes to connections and special treatment here, no one can currently surpass Lin Yiqi.

With Anna's protection and the Dragon Spider's affection, Lin Yi's claim that he could roam freely in the House of Death was not an exaggeration.

He simply sat quietly, his fingers unconsciously tracing the stiff bristles on the side of the dragon-hunting spider's head, waiting for Anna to announce the next rules.

Anna, the Queen of Pain, slowly swept her gaze across the people around the round table. Her pale face was expressionless, except for her deep purple eyes, which appeared unfathomable under the light of the crystal chandelier.

She coughed softly, a sound that was not loud, but it instantly drew everyone's attention.

"Being able to enter the banquet hall already means you are qualified to continue participating in the death game." Anna's voice was not loud, but carried a calmness that had been steeped in the passage of time. "In the subsequent trials, you only need to find the 'Forgotten Dominoes' to complete the death game and accept the third stage of the battle for supremacy."

She paused, and the banquet hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop, except for the faint sound of the Gluttonous Beasts unconsciously dragging their chains in the distance.

“As a reward for completing the deadly game,” Anna tapped her fingertips lightly on the polished jade tabletop, “you can choose any collection you need in the ‘final place’.”

"The final resting place"... collection.

These words caused a slight change in the expressions of the people present.

Items that can be collected by the Queen of Pain, Anna, and used as rewards for completing the game are definitely not ordinary.

This may be the key to the second stage of the battle for supremacy: "accumulating advantages".

Anna didn't explain further. She raised her arm, her slender, pale fingers pointing to the wall in the banquet hall where a huge hunting painting had once hung.

As she moved, the solid wall rippled like the surface of water after a stone was thrown in, with gray-white ripples spreading from the center.

The solid material structure rapidly atomized, and a thick gray fog rolled in and spread outwards at a visible speed, engulfing the walls, floors, and even parts of the ceiling decorations.

The edges of the gray fog were unstable, wriggling like a living thing.

Judging from the spreading trend of the gray fog, it won't be long before it fills the entire banquet hall.

time is limited.

The Gluttonous Beasts behind Su Xiao and Shang Yue were clearly not going to be stopped in a short time, having been chasing them for dozens of hours.

Once the gray fog spreads, will it be considered "leaving the banquet hall," immediately triggering the monsters' pursuit, or will the rules be blocked by the gray fog? No one knows, but no one dares to gamble.

Shangyue was the first to stand up.

Black wings unfurled fully behind her, and with a gentle flap, she glided towards the edge of the gray mist like a shadow.

Her movements were extremely fast, yet they carried the unique elegance of the Feathered Clan.

She stopped at the boundary between the gray fog and the clear air of the banquet hall, just a hair's breadth away from the edge of the churning gray fog.

She didn't enter immediately, but instead turned slightly to the side, her right hand resting on the hilt of the curved sword at her waist, her silver eyes fixed on the Gluttonous Beasts behind her who all turned their "gaze" as she moved.

Looking at Shang Yue's back, Su Xiao instantly understood her plan—she wanted to take advantage of the speed difference and the possible temporary obstruction or interference from the gray fog the moment she stepped into the gray fog, to launch an ambush on the pursuing Gluttonous Beasts, at least to disrupt their pursuit rhythm and buy herself time.

Just as the edge of the gray mist was about to touch the tip of Shangyue's boots, she moved.

Instead of retreating, he took a powerful step forward while simultaneously spinning his body and drawing his curved sword!

"Zheng—!"

The clear, melodious sound of a sword.

A beam of silver moonlight burst forth from the blade, not aimed at any specific target, but rather tracing a perfect semi-circular arc, sweeping across the front of several axe-wielding warriors who were already poised to give chase!
However, the creatures created by the rules of the House of Death are far more ferocious than common sense.

The axe-wielding beast that was struck head-on by the blade suddenly opened the gash in the center of its body and let out a muffled roar. Without dodging or avoiding, it charged head-on into the silver blade light with its thick arms wrapped in iron chains and its terrifying giant axe!
"Clang—!"

A piercing metallic clang rang out.

The silver blade flashed, leaving a string of dazzling sparks and a deep white mark on the heavy axe surface, but it failed to cut it off, and didn't even slow down the axe-wielder's momentum much.

Its body swayed slightly, slightly hindered by the icy power contained in the Moonlit Blade, and a thin layer of frost condensed on its surface.

But the next moment, Axe Brother's massive body moved with a speed disproportionate to its size, following closely behind Shang Yue's retreating figure into the gray mist, and crashed headfirst into the churning gray mist!
Lin Yi could see clearly that just before Axe Brother rushed into the gray mist, Shang Yue's blade light did indeed affect it; the layer of frost and the momentary stiffness were real.

However, this effect is negligible compared to the Gluttonous Beast's terrifying vitality and indifference to pain.

More axe-wielding, knife-wielding, and chain-hammer-wielding men, like a school of sharks attracted by the smell of blood, roared and dragged their heavy chains and weapons as they rumbled into the gray fog. In the blink of an eye, they were swallowed up by the thick, grayish-white fog, with only the muffled thud of chains dragging on the ground and the occasional clash of weapons quickly fading into the distance.

Shangyue left, taking with her more than two-thirds of her pursuers.

Inside the banquet hall, there were still about a dozen Gluttonous Beasts remaining.

Their "target" is very clear—Su Xiao.

At this moment, the remaining monsters seemed to become even more restless because of the departure of their companions, and all their "attention" was locked on Su Xiao.

They moved slowly, adjusting their positions, and subtly formed a semi-encirclement, sealing off Su Xiao's location.

He slightly raised the weapon in his hand, its rusty blade aimed at the Slayer who was still sitting in the chair. The silent killing intent almost made the air thick with tension.

Su Xiao slowly inhaled and then gently exhaled.

His expression remained unchanged, only his eyes were sharper than usual.

He turned his head and whispered something to Baha, who was perched on his shoulder, and Bubuwang, who was at his feet.

Baha tilted its head, a knowing glint in its eyes. It flapped its wings, glanced at Su Xiao with some concern, but obediently flew away from Su Xiao's shoulder and landed on the back of the chair next to Lin Yi.

Bubuwang let out a low "woof" sound, rubbed its head against Su Xiao's calf, and then trotted over to Lin Yi's feet, lying down next to the Dragon Hunter Spider.

Su Xiao's intention was clear. Based on previous tests and observations, the Gluttonous Beasts seemed to have their hatred firmly locked on him and Shang Yue, the two "marked individuals," and were not very interested in others, as long as they did not provoke or block his way.

Sending Baha and Bubuwang into the gray fog with him would be tantamount to sending them to their deaths, as they would be pursued by dozens of Gluttonous Beasts.

Following Lin Yi, who currently appears to be the safest and most "preferentially treated" person in the Death House, is undoubtedly a wiser choice.

Seeing this, Mond moved his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but after looking at Su Xiao's calm profile and then at the menacing Axe Brothers, he swallowed his words.

Dillian watched from afar, a slight pursing of her lips.

Su Xiao didn't linger any longer. Just as the gray fog was about to spread to the edge of his seat, he moved.

Unlike Shang Yue's glamorous and swift start, Su Xiao simply stood up from his chair, turned around casually to face the dozen or so Gluttonous Beasts that were poised to pounce, and then—took a step forward!
This step, seemingly ordinary, was so fast that it left only a faint afterimage in place.

He didn't rush into the gray fog, but the moment he stepped out, he slightly lowered his body, like a fully drawn bowstring suddenly released, and swept out diagonally at an almost ground-hugging speed.

"Roar--!"

As soon as Su Xiao moved, the dozen or so Gluttonous Beasts were instantly ignited.

The closest gluttonous beast wielding a machete was the first to react, its body split open in fury as it slashed horizontally with its machete, sending a stench through the air!

On the other side, a chain hammer whistled as it smashed towards Su Xiao's possible dodge route.

The Dragon Slayer Blade had already been drawn half a foot from its sheath, blue-green lightning crackling across its blade. Su Xiao's body moved with astonishing flexibility and precision, narrowly avoiding the blade's attack.

"clang!"

Sparks flew everywhere. Su Xiao used the momentum to spin again, and the Dragon Slayer Flash was fully drawn. He slashed at the iron chain on the arm of another empty-handed Gluttonous Beast that was trying to surround him from the side.

The energy of the Azure Steel Shadow erupted and spread rapidly along the iron chain. The Gluttonous Beast's arm went numb, and its movements froze for half a second.

Just this half second!
A fierce glint flashed in Su Xiao's eyes. He pushed off with his feet, no longer entangled, and his body shot out like an arrow, faster than before, towards the gap that had appeared in the Gluttonous Beast encirclement because of his actions!

The remaining Gluttons roared angrily, their chains rattling and weapons flashing as they gave chase.

Their speed is indeed not top-notch, at least in this kind of short-distance burst sprint, they seem to be slightly inferior to Su Xiao's full-power burst.

But that tireless pursuit carried an oppressive sense of crushing everything in its path.

The moment Su Xiao's figure disappeared into the gray mist, a giant axe from Axe Brother barely grazed his afterimage before slamming heavily into the ground at the edge of the gray mist, carving a deep trench into the hard marble.

All the remaining Gluttons plunged into the gray fog without hesitation.

The sounds of chains, footsteps, and growls were quickly swallowed up and absorbed by the gray mist. The banquet hall was suddenly empty, leaving only the surging and spreading gray-white mist and the few people remaining at the table.

Lin Yi stared calmly in the direction where Su Xiao had disappeared.

He wasn't too worried about Su Xiao's safety.

The pursuit by dozens of Gluttonous Beasts was terrifying, but Su Xiao knew his survival skills better than anyone else.

If he can't win, Su Xiao definitely knows how to run, and he'll run very skillfully.

This death house has an eerie space, so there might be room for maneuver.

"We should go too," Lin Yi said, breaking the brief silence.

He stood up, and the dragon-hunting spider also raised its head.

Baha landed on Lin Yi's shoulder, with Bubuwang following closely at his feet.

Mond and Dylan also got up one after the other. Mond stretched his wrists and ankles and grinned.

The gray fog had already filled most of the banquet hall, and the cold air touched the skin, bringing a slight numbing sensation and a sense of disorientation.

Anna remained seated in the main seat, not moving, simply watching them quietly.

Her figure became somewhat blurred in the gradually thickening gray fog, only her deep purple eyes remained clear.

Lin Yi nodded to Anna as a farewell, and Anna nodded slightly in response.

Without saying another word, Lin Yi, along with Baha and Bubuwang, stepped into the gray fog.

The massive body of the Dragonslayer Spider followed closely behind, pushing through the mist.

Mond muttered something and strode after him.

Dylin was the last to arrive. She took a deep breath, a faint elemental shield rising around her, and stepped into the unknown gray-white expanse.

The moment you enter the gray fog, your senses are drastically distorted and suppressed.

Visibility plummeted to less than five meters, beyond which lay a swirling, grayish-white fog.

The sounds also became strange; footsteps that were close at hand sounded muffled and distant, and were completely absorbed by the fog if they were a little further away.

The most troublesome thing is the sense of direction and space. Here, front, back, left, and right seem to lose their meaning, and up and down also become blurred, as if walking in a boundless chaos.

Baha immediately folded its wings, gripped Lin Yi's shoulder tightly, and whispered, "Boss, this fog is strange! My senses are being suppressed, and when I release it, it feels like I'm hitting cotton, and it's easy to be misled."

It tried to fly through the fog, but all it saw was a thicker, more intense gray-white, and the occasional, meaningless, distorted shadows that flashed through it.

Bubuwang sniffed hard, then let out a frustrated whimper.

Here, its excellent sense of smell seemed to fail, only able to detect a cold, dusty odor, unable to discern any useful information.

The dragon-hunting spider seemed quite comfortable with it.

Its compound eyes kept turning, as if it could see more through the gray fog, and its direction of movement was very clear.

Lin Yi trusted its ability to guide him, after all, it was a "native resident" of the Death House.

"Follow it, and stay alert," Lin Yi instructed in a low voice, while simultaneously mobilizing the Abyss Power within his body.

A very faint black light enveloped his entire body; this was the protection formed after the power of the abyss was activated.

Within the gray fog, he could vaguely sense many faint but malicious "gazes" sweeping across him from all directions, but most of them quickly retreated upon touching the protective glow on his body and the aura of the Dragon-Slaying Spider. (End of Chapter)