A Fierce Hand Seizes "Food"

[Congratulations, you survived for 12 hours and died at the hands of the Fierce Ghost entrenched in the center of town. For a player, that was nothing to be ashamed of. At the very least, you still had countless chances to reverse the outcome of death.]

[Rating: Grade G.]

[Enemies slain: Demon Eater (1), Pig Woman (indirect death).]

[Rewards: 2 Simulation Coins (rating), 70 Simulation Coins (enemies slain).]

[My Wallet: 501 Simulation Coins.]

[Would you like to replay your simulated life?]

"50 Simulation Coins for the Demon Eater, and 20 Simulation Coins as a reward for indirectly causing Pig Woman's death." He Zhao stroked his chin and muttered. "A Fierce Ghost? It was at least several hundred times more vicious than that Melon Skin Hat I killed before."

The Fierce Ghost entrenched in the center of town did not waste words. So long as you stepped on the Blood-Colored Footprints, it killed you outright.

"If I didn't have the Spiritual Vision talent, who knew how many times I'd have to die before discovering the pattern?" He Zhao made up his mind. It was better to grind out the Simulation Coins for Spiritual Vision first, lest he one day wandered down the street and suddenly dropped dead.

He focused his mind on the [Past Life Mall], and a brand-new item entered his sight.

[Spiritual Vision: You can see things ordinary people cannot see. (Note: This talent is the key to entering certain special worlds, but please be extremely careful. To see is to touch.) Price: 10,000 Simulation Coins.]

He Zhao nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood. Of course, he was not questioning the Simulator's price; he was merely shocked by its sky-high cost.

"Ten thousand Simulation Coins? How long would I have to grind for that!"

Ruthless He Zhao, who prided himself on being nothing but liver from head to toe, swallowed with considerable difficulty.

To be fair, he felt that even 100,000 Simulation Coins could not reflect Spiritual Vision's true value.

Just the ability to enter the Spirit Realm alone was an inexhaustible gold mine. What was more, it allowed him to see certain special traces and avoid falling into a Fierce Ghost's hands.

From this death, He Zhao had noticed the shortcomings of Sixth Sense.

It could not sense the Death Traps laid by Ghosts!

No, before he stepped into the trap, the Fierce Ghost had not been targeting any living creature.

"True. If it could predict death in advance, Sixth Sense would probably be called Prophecy instead."

[Life after life, Endless Joy!]

[.]

[Have a pleasant game!]

In the Spirit Realm, He Zhao casually tossed away the Demon Eater Heart and stared at the chaotic Blood-Colored Footprints covering the ground, his expression rather complicated.

As for why he did not want the Demon Eater's heart?

Mainly because he was afraid Pig Woman, who was following behind him, might misunderstand.

Heh heh.

At this moment, he had a new target.

With the far stronger Pig Woman before him, who still cared about a Demon Eater Heart?

He Zhao rose onto his tiptoes and carefully threaded his way through the dense footprints. After choosing a safe spot, he extended his right arm, raised his middle finger, and provocatively gestured at Pig Woman in the distance.

"Come over here!"

Pig Woman: "???"

Then I'm coming.

When He Zhao saw Pig Woman's terrifying body step onto the disorderly Blood-Colored Footprints, her body shuddered, and she crashed to the ground with a thud.

"Phew."

Ruthless He Zhao let out a soft breath. At last, he had dealt with the menace gnawing at his heart.

He subconsciously turned his head and looked toward the black shadow not far away.

The Fierce Ghost seemed to be holding something in its hand as it stood there, posed as though it had plunged it into its own chest.

Pig Woman's grunting grew quieter and quieter. He Zhao did not know whether it was an illusion, but he felt her scattered figure become ever so slightly more solid.

"Whatever."

He once again rose onto his tiptoes, walked out of the Blood-Colored Footprints' encirclement, and came before the collapsed Pig Woman.

Then—then he went numb.

The dagger he had brought from the Inn had stabbed Pig Woman in the chest without even leaving a white mark. Worse, because he had used too much force, the blade shattered on the spot, leaving only the wooden handle.

"I..."

He Zhao slapped his forehead in frustration. The joy of his successful plan had gone to his head. How could an ordinary mortal weapon possibly harm Pig Woman, who could even smash apart buildings in the Spirit Realm?

Thus, he hurriedly began searching the town, hoping to find a weapon.

Before long, he returned holding a Short Blade.

He had found it in a Blacksmith Shop. Most of the weapons there were corroded and decayed, crumbling into slag with the slightest force. Only this Short Blade had remained intact.

Clang!

A spray of sparks burst forth, and the Short Blade in his hand cracked apart.

"I fucking—"

He Zhao was beside himself with anger. This was the weapon he had spent half the day looking for!

"What should I do now?"

"Wait!"

Slap—

The corner of He Zhao's eye caught the black figure, and he suddenly slapped his forehead.

Then, avoiding the Blood-Colored Footprints, he walked up to the Fierce Ghost, which remained in its previous posture.

He swallowed, his gaze resolute, and raised his right arm high. With lightning speed, he fiercely gave it two resounding slaps.

The anticipated smacking sounds did not come. Instead, his palms passed through the Fierce Ghost's scattered body.

"Hm?"

"How did I forget? Only Spirit Power can touch Ghosts."

He mobilized his Spirit Power and gathered it in his right hand.

Slap! Slap!

He Zhao felt as though he had struck cotton, yet faint sounds still reached his ears.

"It works."

The expected counterattack never came. The Fierce Ghost continued staring fixedly at Pig Woman with its black eye sockets.

"Just as I thought!"

This thing was like a preset program. No matter what creature it was, as long as it stepped on the Blood-Colored Footprints, it would immediately suffer an invisible killing blow.

The sensation of having one's heart pierced was like a dagger stabbing straight in, while draining a massive amount of life force.

"The thing this bastard is holding has to be good stuff."

He Zhao circulated Spirit Power through both hands and reached out to snatch it.

As for whether such an aggressive act would provoke a counterattack, he did not care!

Even if he died, he would only waste 11 Simulation Coins. He would still come out ahead.

"It's surprisingly strong."

His Spirit Power-wrapped hands could touch the Fierce Ghost. Unfortunately, with his skinny arms and weak legs, even after exhausting every trick in the book, he had only managed to painstakingly pry open one finger. Then, unable to continue, his attempt to seize it failed.

"I want to see exactly what you're holding!"

He Zhao sat down on the ground and quietly waited for nightfall.

When night came, under Child of the Night's persistence, his physical abilities would receive a tremendous boost.

Several hours later, night arrived as expected. The blood-colored sun set, and the entire town was plunged into darkness.

Using the remaining half of the Short Blade, He Zhao stabbed it into his lower abdomen without hesitation.

Severe Injury!

Among Hundred Battles Elite's effects, combat granted +2 to all attributes, while Severe Injury granted +2 to all attributes.

With his talent added in, that was +7 to all attributes!

He refused to believe that still would not be enough to pry open the Fierce Ghost's hand.

The entire process went smoothly. Amid searing pain, He Zhao panted as he snatched something that did not belong to him from the scattered black shadow's chest.

"A dagger?"

A crude white dagger, as if polished from human bone, lay quietly in his palm.

"Why does it look somewhat like the Immobilizing Wailing Bone in Cheap Master's hand?"

"No, this thing is a Sacrificial Vessel!"

He Zhao was somewhat stunned. It seemed he had discovered some incredible secret.