340: Chapter 340 Rescuing Zhang Hao! A Hilarious Dungeon Cleared

When the teleportation light dissipated, Lin Chen stood at the entrance platform of the Elite Sector with Arrogant Dragon, Morgana, Alpha, and the Flame Demon.

The platform was still suspended in the void, surrounded by an endless starry sky with countless points of light flickering within. But this time, Lin Chen didn't look at those rankings; instead, he directly opened the map and located a specific position—

"Gag Dungeon"

Zhang Hao's name was flickering there, his ranking had dropped to 108th, and his HP was down to only 23%.

Arrogant Dragon looked at that number, his expression solemn.

"Boss, Zhang Hao is about to reach his limit."

Lin Chen nodded.

"I know."

He opened the system to check the rules of the Gag Dungeon.

[Dungeon Name: On the Self-Cultivation of a Lackey]

[Dungeon Rules:]

1. Players must prove the "rationality of a Lackey's existence" within a limited time.

2. The method of proof is not limited, but it must pass the examiner's review.

3. The examiner is automatically generated by the dungeon, and the evaluation criteria are random.

4. Failure Penalty: Permanently delete the player's "Lackey" attribute, turning them into an ordinary passerby.

Lin Chen finished reading the rules and fell silent for a second.

Then he smiled.

That smile sent a chill down Arrogant Dragon's spine—although he didn't know what the boss was going to do, he knew that Zhang Hao was going to be saved.

"Boss, can we enter this dungeon?" Morgana asked.

Lin Chen looked at the rules.

[Party Limit: A maximum of 2 people are allowed to enter simultaneously.]

He looked at the four people beside him.

Arrogant Dragon, Morgana, Alpha, Flame Demon.

"You guys wait outside. I'll go in alone."

Arrogant Dragon was stunned.

"Boss, can you do it alone?"

Lin Chen looked at him.

"Would you be of any use if you went?"

Arrogant Dragon thought for a moment and shook his head.

"I only know how to fight. As for this Lackey business, I don't understand it."

Lin Chen then looked at Morgana.

Morgana also shook her head.

"I am the Frost Supreme. In my era, an existence like a Lackey would be frozen to death immediately."

Alpha's light screen flickered.

"Lackeys are illogical. I cannot analyze them."

The Flame Demon scratched its head.

"I play with fire; I only know how to burn things."

Lin Chen shrugged.

"Then just me."

He turned and stepped into the teleportation array.

A flash of light occurred.

He stood on a massive stage.

Below the stage sat countless expressionless audience members. These audience members were wearing uniform gray robes, their faces devoid of any expression, their eyes staring blankly at the center of the stage.

In the center of the stage, Zhang Hao was kneeling.

A table was placed in front of him, with a manuscript on it. He held a pen in his hand, tremblingly writing something. His face was covered in sweat, his eyes were bloodshot, and his lips were dry and cracked; he looked like he had been trapped here for three days.

Hearing footsteps, he abruptly looked up.

The moment he saw Lin Chen, tears almost burst from his eyes.

"Boss! You're finally here!"

He tried to stand up but fell directly to the ground because his legs were numb.

Lin Chen walked over and helped him up.

"What are you writing?"

Zhang Hao handed him the manuscript.

Lin Chen took a glance.

The title was: [Report on the Rationality of a Lackey's Existence (37th Draft)]

The content was densely packed with various theoretical derivations, logical arguments, and historical research. There were quotes from ancient sages, lists of successful cases, analyses of social needs, and even calculations of a Lackey's contribution to the GDP.

Lin Chen finished reading and was silent for three seconds.

Then he smiled.

"You wrote thirty-seven drafts?"

Zhang Hao nodded.

"Every single draft was sent back by the examiner. They said my arguments weren't sufficient, my logic wasn't rigorous enough, and my examples weren't vivid enough."

Lin Chen looked up above the stage.

There, a massive orb of light was floating—that was the examiner.

The light orb flickered with a cold blue light, and a mechanical voice spoke:

"New player has entered. Please follow the rules and do not interfere with the examinee's answers."

Lin Chen ignored it.

He patted Zhang Hao on the shoulder.

"Is writing this stuff of any use?"

Zhang Hao was stunned.

"Is it not?"

Lin Chen shook his head.

"Does a Lackey need proof?"

Zhang Hao was stunned again.

Lin Chen continued:

"What is a Lackey? It's someone who is the first to charge forward when the boss needs it, and the first to hide when the boss doesn't. It's someone who can yield or stand tall, be tough or soft, and can act like a person or a dog."

"Does this kind of thing need proof?"

Zhang Hao became thoughtful.

Lin Chen threw the manuscript aside.

"No need to write anymore."

Zhang Hao got anxious.

"Not write? Then how do we clear the dungeon?"

Lin Chen looked at him and smiled.

"What is that in your hand?"

Zhang Hao looked down.

He had been clutching a small booklet in his hand; the cover was crumpled, but a few words were vaguely visible:

"The Self-Cultivation of a Lackey"

That was a rough draft he had casually written in the Gag Dungeon, which he hadn't had time to organize into a formal report.

Lin Chen took the booklet and flipped through it.

The content was very simple, even crude.

Chapter 1: The boss is always right.

Chapter 2: If the boss is wrong, refer to Chapter 1.

Chapter 3: Do whatever the boss tells you to do; don't ask why.

Chapter 4: Take the initiative to do what the boss hasn't ordered; if it's done well, it's a credit; if it's messed up, it's practice.

Chapter 5: Always be prepared to take the fall for the boss.

Chapter 6: After taking the fall, act as if nothing happened; don't let the boss feel burdened.

Chapter 7: When the boss is happy, be happy with them; when the boss is unhappy, find a way to make them happy.

Chapter 8: Never steal the boss's thunder.

Chapter 9: Never forget who you are—you are a Lackey, not the boss.

Chapter 10: Silently recite the above nine rules every night before bed.

Lin Chen finished reading and smiled.

He handed the booklet back to Zhang Hao.

"Give it to the examiner."

Zhang Hao was dumbfounded.

"Just this?"

Lin Chen nodded.

"Just this."

Zhang Hao hesitated for three seconds, then took the booklet and, holding it with both hands, walked toward the light orb.

The light orb looked at the booklet and was silent for five seconds.

Then, the mechanical voice rang out:

[Examinee's submitted work detected: "The Self-Cultivation of a Lackey"]

[Reviewing...]

[Reviewing...]

[Review complete.]

[Rating: S-rank.]

[Reason: Although the content is crude, it profoundly reveals the essence of a Lackey—it does not require proof, only practice. Theory can be packaged, but sincerity cannot be faked. The examinee used the simplest language to write the most authentic insights. Recommended for use as an introductory textbook for "Lackey Studies" and promoted for use.]

Zhang Hao was completely dumbstruck.

He turned back to Lin Chen, his eyes wide as saucers.

"Boss, this... it's just cleared like that?"

Lin Chen shrugged.

"Otherwise?"

Zhang Hao stood there, speechless for a long time.

Three seconds later, he rushed over and hugged Lin Chen.

"Boss! You're too amazing!"

Lin Chen pushed him away.

"Cut the crap. Let's go."

He turned and walked toward the teleportation array.

Behind them, the light orb suddenly spoke:

"Player 'Zhang Hao,' congratulations on clearing the 'Gag Dungeon.' As a reward, you will receive a special ability—"

Zhang Hao stopped in his tracks.

"What ability?"

The light orb's light flickered a few times.

[Fourth Wall Eavesdropping]

[Ability Description: Can hear voices from "outside the game," namely the internal communications of the True Game Committee. There is a probability of being discovered by the other party when using it; please use with caution.]

Zhang Hao was stunned.

"Fourth Wall Eavesdropping? Voices from outside the game?"

The light orb did not answer.

It had already disappeared.

Zhang Hao looked at Lin Chen.

"Boss, is this ability... useful?"

Lin Chen thought for a moment.

"Useful. If Yuanshi tries to cause trouble again, you'll be able to know in advance."

Zhang Hao's eyes lit up.

"Then wouldn't I become a spy?"

Lin Chen nodded.

"Yes. My spy."

The two stepped into the teleportation array.

A flash of light occurred.

They returned to the entrance platform of the Elite Sector.

Arrogant Dragon, Morgana, Alpha, and the Flame Demon were waiting there. Seeing Zhang Hao come out unscathed, Arrogant Dragon breathed a sigh of relief.

"You're out?"

Zhang Hao puffed out his chest proudly.

"Of course. With the boss around, what dungeon can't be cleared?"

Morgana looked at him and smiled.

"That Lackey attribute of yours, did it upgrade again?"

Zhang Hao scratched his head.

"It upgraded. Now I can eavesdrop on the fourth wall."

The Flame Demon didn't understand, but didn't ask either.

Alpha's light screen flickered, recording the data.

Lin Chen looked around at the five people.

Arrogant Dragon, Morgana, Alpha, Flame Demon, Zhang Hao.

Including himself, six people.

"Everyone's here," he said.

Zhang Hao was stunned.

"Everyone? What's next?"

Lin Chen looked up toward the deepest part of the Elite Sector.

There, a massive black vortex was suspended.

Around the vortex, there were no points of light—there were no players there, only a single name:

"Abyss of Nothingness"

The player ranked first was right there.

"Next," Lin Chen said, "we're going to meet that number one."