Corpse Ghost

[Accepted stage task: Find combustible materials.]

[Task description: In a snowy night, a campfire not only provides warmth but also deters the dangers lurking in the darkness. But there isn't much fuel left. If you don't find more soon, the flames will die out in the middle of the night, and danger will follow.]

[Task requirements: Find enough combustible materials. The more you find, the safer you'll be...]

[Task hint: Hurry and look while it's not completely dark yet. Just be careful of... things.]

[Task reward: You're working to stay alive. Do you really expect a reward?]

Lu Li pursed his lips, noncommittal. If he were wearing thick winter clothes, going outside wouldn't be a problem. But all he had on was a short-sleeved shirt beneath his costume. Even with his almost game-breaking control, he couldn't last long in the freezing snow.

But when he saw how little wood remained, Lu Li stood and smiled at Old Man. "There's not much wood left. The fire will probably go out tonight, so I'll go find some firewood."

"Young master? You're so lightly dressed, and..." Old Man's voice held a note of confusion. He hesitated before continuing, "It's almost dark. It wouldn't be wise for you to go out. If the fire goes out, so be it. We'll make do for tonight and look for more wood tomorrow."

"I'm strong and healthy, so I'll be fine. But you're different, old-timer. In this freezing weather, if the fire goes out—pardon me for saying so—you might not make it through the night." Lu Li looked at Old Man. His clothes were patched, not exactly thin, but not particularly warm either. Without the fire, Lu Li wouldn't be surprised to find him frozen solid by morning.

"I'll be back before it gets completely dark. And don't be so formal, old-timer. Think of it as repaying you for the clothes you gave me." Before Old Man could answer, Lu Li got up and pushed open the broken temple's doors. A freezing wind whipped the snow against him.

Lu Li's spirits lifted. He surveyed the vast, frozen landscape once more, then fixed his gaze on a low hill behind the temple. Breathing out a cloud of white, he set off. As he trudged through the thick snow, he felt the cold seep into his bones. But this wasn't the time to be afraid and turn back, and he felt no such urge.

The low hill was full of dead trees and withered shrubs. Finding some wood wouldn't be difficult. The thing to pay attention to was the task hint, which warned that danger might appear. That danger probably wasn't just the environment. There might also be dangerous creatures or... monsters.

As Lu Li searched the freezing snow for fallen branches, he found they weren't dry enough to burn. He'd have to dry them by the fire first. He took off his short-sleeved shirt, tore it into strips, and spread them on the ground. Then he placed the branches he'd gathered on top. The sky was darkening fast, and he didn't have much time.

After adding a few more branches to the pile, Lu Li thought that time was running out. He quickly folded the strips of cloth around the wood and tied them together, then heaved the bundle onto his back. The cold wood dug into him, but he had no time to complain. He set off, constantly scanning his surroundings.

Darkness had nearly fallen, and visibility was even worse in the snowy night. The danger mentioned in the task hint still hadn't appeared, but this was the time to be extra careful. This so-called game had pulled him straight from the height of summer into a world buried in snow and ice. Its warning couldn't just be idle chatter.

As he trudged through the snow, the branches on his back weighed heavily, packed with snow. Luckily, Lu Li was in good shape, and the game's assessment had given him decent numbers. The average person scored 1/0.01, while Lu Li scored 1.23/0.1. He had no idea what the second 0.1 meant, but at least his physical condition wasn't below the human average.

With the degree of control Lu Li had over his body, he could speed up the absorption of nutrients in his stomach, boost his liver's ability to detoxify, and flush the harmful substances we consumed out of his system. He could even control his muscles to keep them trembling, giving himself an efficient workout. Unfortunately, he'd only gained this ability a year ago, and he'd never made a point of exercising before. As far as he was concerned, being reasonably healthy was enough. There was no need to train deliberately; it was too boring. Though his life had already been boring enough.

Lu Li suddenly stopped. His ears twitched, then he forced his muscles under control. His strength erupted, and he shot forward, his feet punching holes into the snow. The human body protected itself in all sorts of ways, and the materials it was made of—bones and muscles alike—had physical limits. In theory, all the body's muscle fibers could produce up to twenty-five tons of force in a single burst. Of course, that was only theoretical. Ordinary people could usually use only around twenty percent of their muscles. Exerting themselves too hard could cause injury, such as muscle strains or broken bones.

Behind Lu Li, a monster came sprinting after him. It was roughly humanoid, bald, with dark veins clearly visible across its head. It seemed to have no lips, leaving its many teeth exposed, still flecked with scraps of flesh and blood. Its pallid body was covered by a tattered hemp garment.

The monster was incredibly fast. As it ran, it scrambled along on both hands and feet, each tipped with sharp claws that gouged long tracks through the snow. But Lu Li, who had released some of his muscles' restrictions, wasn't slow either. He couldn't match the monster, but for now, he wasn't in immediate danger.

The broken temple, its windows glowing with firelight, came into view not far ahead. The monster's footfalls drew closer behind him. Lu Li's thoughts raced, but his feet never faltered. When he reached the temple, the monster behind him seemed to grow agitated and sped up even more.

Then Lu Li stopped in front of the temple. He pressed a hand against the door and set down the bundle of wood on his back. Turning to face the approaching monster, he smiled. The moment he'd spotted it, a new prompt had appeared in the corner of his vision:

[Monster detected. Updating information.]

[Corpse Ghost]

[Physical assessment: 2.01; life energy manifestation: 1.3 (average human value: 1/0.01)]

[Soul assessment: 0.5; spiritual energy manifestation: 0.12 (average human value: 1/0.01)]

[Category: Corporeal infection type]

[Cause of formation: It was human in life, but after death, its body was not properly taken care of. It became infected by something and rose again as a monster. It harbors an intense hatred for the living.]

[Special ability: Fixed state: Something has fixed its body in this monstrous form. Any damage it suffers will recover after a certain amount of time.]

[Weakness: Given this instance, you could figure it out with your toes. Fire, of course! And other positive energies, as well as various means of exorcism.]

[Monster rating: Strictly speaking, its special ability is seriously game-breaking. Without all those weaknesses, it wouldn't be a mere grunt.]

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