265: Chapter 265 I'll provide the money, you just do the work.

Chen You's eyes instantly lit up.

Compared to a feast of experience from a city-wide massacre, the Supreme Training Room was practically child's play.

He could already imagine himself bathing in a rain of experience points.

"And... it's a hidden quest!"

The corners of Chen You's mouth curled up uncontrollably.

He recalled the title he had recently acquired—

[Routine Crusher]

[Unique Title]

[Effect: Your actions that disrupt plot logic will have a higher probability of triggering hidden events or unknown variables.]

Triggering a hidden quest—this was exactly his cup of tea!

It was right up his alley.

"Tell me," Chen You's breathing quickened slightly.

He stared at Hill as if he were looking at a walking treasury of experience.

"Which quest corresponds to Thousand Light City?"

He wished he could transform into a quest master right now and trigger every hidden siege event in all the main cities.

But for now, he could only start with Thousand Light City.

However, facing Chen You's near-fanatical questioning, the professional smile on Hill's face didn't waver in the slightest.

She maintained her elegant and composed posture, gently shaking her head.

"Respected supreme member, the charm of the Source Realm lies in the surprise of exploring the unknown."

Her voice was like a flowing spring, sending a chill through Chen You's heart.

"Every Adventurer's interaction with the world weaves a unique thread of fate."

"The clues to hidden quests are hidden within these intricate threads; you must discover and experience them for yourself."

"Speak plain English," Chen You said expressionlessly.

Hill's smile glitched for a tenth of a second before returning to normal.

"Apologies. What I mean is, you need to find the quest's trigger conditions yourself."

Chen You frowned.

Find them himself?

With a thought, he pulled up the map.

The map was densely packed with exclamation mark quest icons, enough to make one's scalp tingle.

Not to mention those random encounters that came with no hints at all.

Who knew which quest was the key to opening a 'Super-Large Scale Monster Siege'?

If he tried them one by one, the newbie protection period would have ended eight hundred times over.

"This is just too..." Chen You couldn't find the right word for a moment.

"Too much in line with the gaming spirit of the Source Realm, isn't it?" Hill interjected with a smile, "Full of challenges and opportunities."

Looking at her flawless face, Chen You suddenly felt an itch in his teeth.

Challenge?

What I need is efficiency!

He took a deep breath, giving up on the idea of talking in circles with this NPC.

All that gibberish aside—just tell me, how much?"

Chen You held up a finger, being concise and to the point.

"..."

This time, the smile on Hill's face completely froze.

Her eyes, which seemed to contain the stars and the sea, stagnated for a moment because of this overly blunt statement.

The air in the entire Supreme Tower lobby seemed to go silent.

A full three seconds passed.

Only then did Hill seem to reload her language module, slowly blinking her eyes.

That perfect professional smile reappeared on her face, though it seemed to carry a hint of something indescribable... helplessness?

"Yes, respected supreme member."

Her voice was still sweet.

"The Source Realm will always throw open its most convenient doors for your esteemed self."

"The price," Chen You said, not wanting to waste words.

"One thousand gold coins, a fair price for all," Hill quoted a figure.

Chen You didn't even blink.

This price was so reasonable it made him want to send a commemorative banner to the Source Realm.

"Take the money, do the work."

He made his choice instantly.

[You have spent 1,000 gold coins to purchase 'Hidden Quest Clue: Thousand Light City'.]

The cold system notification sounded.

One thousand gold coins instantly vanished from Chen You's account.

Hill looked at him, her smile becoming increasingly sincere.

She bowed slightly, right hand over her chest, and began to speak slowly in a deliberately profound tone.

"Wise traveler, the needle of fate has already begun to move."

"Please listen to these whispers from the stars; they shall guide your path forward—"

Chen You watched her expressionlessly, waiting for what came next.

Hill cleared her throat and began to recite in a voice full of deep emotion.

"Ah, love, it is like a ray of light."

"So green, it makes your heart take fright."

"..."

The expression on Chen You's face cracked.

"Ah, a brother, he is like a wall."

"Blocking the window of sorrow for us all."

"..."

The corners of Chen You's mouth began to twitch wildly.

"Ah, life, it is like a pot of stew."

"Simmering right in the middle of all of you."

"When the bright lamp once again illuminates the majestic hall,"

"Warrior, go forth! Don't ask how the days go by; first ask, is the stew tasty?"

"..."

A piece of doggerel verse filled with modern flair was finished by Hill in a solemn tone as if she were chanting an epic.

The entire Supreme Tower fell into a deathly silence.

Chen You stood frozen on the spot, feeling as though his worldview had suffered an unprecedented shock.

He had spent a full billion huaxia coins.

Just to hear... this crap?

Spending this money felt like throwing a stack of hell bank notes into a merit box—it was all about the 'participation,' and it was utterly ridiculous.

He looked at Hill, who still wore a smile as if she were quite satisfied with her masterpiece. He opened his mouth, but couldn't say a word for a long time.

Finally, he squeezed out a few words through his teeth.

"That's it?"

"Yes, respected supreme member," Hill's smile was impeccable. "The clue lies within this beautiful poem."

Beautiful?

Do you have some kind of misunderstanding of the word 'beautiful'?

Chen You felt his temples throbbing.

"Love... a ray of light... green with fright..."

Wasn't this clearly referring to being cuckolded?

Could it be... Cai Wenjuan?!

"Brother... a wall..."

Could it be... Du Chedi and Meng De?!

"Life... a pot of stew... simmering in the middle..."

Wasn't this his previous ridiculous solution of 'the three of you should just live a good life together'?

Forcing the three of them into one pot to stew together.

It sounded like... the first part was a summary of his previous actions.

Then, the key lay in the last two lines.

"When the bright lamp once again illuminates the majestic hall..."

Bright lamp?

Chen You's heart stirred as he remembered another of his titles.

[Beacon of Romance]!

And the majestic hall likely referred to the Meng De's Manor of Thousand Light City.

"Warrior, go forth! Don't ask how the days go by; first ask, is the stew tasty?"

This line was even more of a heavy-hitter.

So this quest really did align with his previously nonsensical 'one pot of stew' theory?

The clues instantly became clear.

The key figure to trigger this hidden quest was none other than the Meng De of Thousand Light City—Meng De!

Or rather, their bizarre trio!

This clue... you couldn't even call it blunt; it was just plain forced!

It was practically shoehorned in just to scam him out of his money!