"Huh?"
At the sight, Fan Shang's eyes widened involuntarily.
Looking at that small, dying figure on the ground, the first thing Fan Shang felt, honestly, wasn't anger, but... shock.
He had thought Little Black had already run away. After all, he was only a cat, and seeking safety and avoiding danger was an instinct all living creatures shared.
With him thrown out of the car and ghosts nearby, no one could blame the cat for fleeing.
Yet this scene was completely beyond Fan Shang's expectations.
Why hadn't Little Black run?
Why had he come back to save him instead?
Honestly, Fan Shang couldn't understand it. All he had done was take Little Black to the hospital after a cat lover broke both his front legs.
Then the apocalypse came, and Little Black left with him.
At first, he had only wanted some company. Animals were more reliable than people in the apocalypse, after all. But after Little Black's warnings helped him escape several deadly crises, he stopped treating the cat as a pet and started treating him as a partner.
Because Fan Shang didn't think Little Black owed him anything.
So even if Little Black had fled just now, Fan Shang wouldn't have blamed him. Yet this cat hadn't run away-he had actually come back to save him.
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Fan Shang looked at Little Black. Little Black's mismatched eyes were also fixed on him, and Fan Shang seemed to hear a warning in that weak meow.
A warning to run, because he was in danger.
Then, for some reason, a surge of anger flooded Fan Shang's heart.
Immediately afterward, his vision began to blur.
Noticing this, Fan Shang opened his panel. This was the only way out he could think of now.
[Name]: Fan Shang [Species]: Human [Physique]: 11 (Normal human peak: 10. Physique is the foundation of human activity. Those with frail constitutions, such as college students, will be at death's door after running a kilometer; those with robust constitutions can travel dozens of kilometers a day without tiring. Affects strength, speed, stamina, defense, injury recovery time, etc.) [Spirit]: 8 (The normal human limit, in optimal condition, is 10. When high: I can actually solve math problems. When depleted: forgets things after seven seconds. Affects willpower, intuition, senses, mental resilience, etc. Can resist spiritual contamination such as oppressive auras, pressure from higher life forms, and fear to a certain degree.) [Qi]: 8 (Normal human peak: 10. Qi is the source of energy. Affects maximum energy, energy recovery speed, qi sensitivity, etc.) [Skills]: Willpower lv1, Street Elbow Strike lv3, Learning lv3 [Sequence]: None [Survival Points]: 2400
Since raising his physique to 11 couldn't awaken his Sequence, he would raise his other attributes!
[Ding. Spend 500 Survival Points to increase spirit by 1?] [Yes!] [Current spirit: 9]
As the cold mechanical voice faded, an indescribable clarity flooded Fan Shang's entire body. In an instant, everything around him seemed to slow down.
He could even see the trails of the fine rain falling from the sky.
No, his surroundings hadn't slowed down. His senses had become sharper!
His vision, which had begun to blur, cleared at that moment.
Even so, Fan Shang could still feel the weakness in his body.
The ghost on the back of his shoulder was still sucking out his blood, and perhaps something else.
Without hesitation, Fan Shang immediately turned his attention to the [Qi] field.
He repeated the same process.
[Current qi: 9] [Survival Points remaining: 1400]
As Fan Shang increased his qi attribute, a warm current surged through his weakened body, bringing a burst of strength to his powerless limbs.
Fan Shang even felt that he could struggle to his feet now.
But that was nothing more than wishful thinking.
Another sound of flesh being pierced rang out.
A sharp beak tore out through the flesh of Fan Shang's left arm.
Looking closely, Fan Shang could even see the mouth opening and closing as it sucked his blood.
Thud!
Caught off guard, Fan Shang, who had only just pushed himself up, collapsed to the ground again.
But he paid that no mind. Instead, he looked toward his left arm, where another ghost was greedily sucking his blood.
A twofold wave of weakness began to wash over him.
"Fuck!"
Feeling this, Fan Shang couldn't help cursing aloud.
But despair followed immediately afterward.
Because, at some point, all sound around Fan Shang had vanished.
The heads that had sucked the survivors into dried corpses had already stopped feeding and turned toward Fan Shang.
The greed and venom in their eyes were plain to see.
Realizing this, Fan Shang naturally didn't dare hesitate any longer.
He could only gamble-gamble that he could awaken!
If breaking through his physique limit hadn't worked, then he would try qi!
[Ding. Spend 500 Survival Points to increase qi by 1?] [Yes!] [Ding. Spend 500 Survival Points to increase qi by 1?] [Yes!] [Current qi has exceeded the limit. Current qi: 11]
As his qi surpassed the limit attainable by humans, Fan Shang felt an indescribable sense of fullness permeate his body.
Fan Shang struggled to stand up. Yet even with that fullness spreading through him, the relentless waves of weakness kept draining the little strength he had just mustered.
But it was useless. He still hadn't awakened. He still hadn't become a Sequence Transcendent.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it! Is it spirit?!"
"Do all three attributes have to exceed the human limit before I can awaken my Sequence?!"
As Fan Shang thought this, two more sounds of flesh being pierced rang out.
Two ghostly heads lunged at him and pierced his legs.
He collapsed to the ground. At that moment, Fan Shang felt death gathering between his brows.
It seemed... he really was going to die.
His vitality kept draining away. His physique was useless, and even his mind was beginning to cloud.
And he... couldn't even hurt these ghostly things.
"Heehee... Fan Shang, Fan Shang, Fan Shang..."
Once again, he heard that repetitive, emotionless call. For some reason...
This time, Fan Shang felt no fear. Instead, he felt anger and defiance.
"If you're dead, then stay fucking dead!"
Fan Shang growled, then tried to struggle, tried to crawl up from the ground.
He couldn't die yet. He couldn't die here. He still hadn't found Little Li. He had only just managed to escape that damned school.
He absolutely couldn't die here!
With that thought, Fan Shang immediately tried to add points again!
Yes, if exceeding the limits of physique and qi hadn't worked, then he would try spirit. He had to become a Sequence Transcendent. He had to kill these fucking bastards!!
[Ding. Spend 500 Survival Points to increase spirit by 1?] [Yes!] [Ding. Insufficient Survival Points. Current Survival Points: 400]
Seeing that line, Fan Shang's eyes went wide. Then he seemed to remember something.
[Ding. Detected that the host has escaped the Cat-Faced Ghost's pursuit. Survival Points +500. Claim reward?] [Yes!] [Current spirit: 10]
Another wave of clarity surged from within him, and Fan Shang felt his clouded consciousness instantly clear.
But it was useless. He still hadn't awakened.
"System, keep going! Keep adding points!"
Fan Shang wanted to add more, because he was only one point away. Just one more point, and his spirit would surpass the human limit too.
With all three attributes beyond their limits, Fan Shang refused to believe he wouldn't awaken.
But... he was disappointed.
[Ding. Insufficient Survival Points to increase spirit. Current Survival Points: 400]
Reality wasn't a novel or a game. There weren't so many last-minute breakthroughs, nor did everything unfold the way you hoped.
Just as his Survival Points wouldn't increase out of thin air, the system naturally wouldn't give him a discount of 100 Survival Points so he could raise his attribute.
[Ding. Insufficient Survival Points to increase spirit. Current Survival Points: 400] [Ding. Insufficient Survival Points to increase spirit. Current Survival Points: 400] [Ding. Insufficient Survival Points to increase spirit. Current Survival Points: 400]
Fan Shang kept trying, but the response was always the same.
Can't add points!
Can't add points!
Can't add points!
In an instant, overwhelming despair spread through him.
Those ghostly heads hadn't stopped feeding. His body, which had only just regained a little strength, began shriveling rapidly. Even his flesh clung to his bones in nothing but a thin layer.
Weakness permeated his entire body.
Then came his mind. Though he had just increased his spirit, the relentless feeding of those ghostly heads made Fan Shang's consciousness grow hazy again.
It was worse than ever. In just a few seconds, he couldn't even make out what was in front of him anymore.
He... was going to die.
This time, he really was going to die.
He didn't have enough Survival Points left. Two of his attributes had already surpassed their limits, yet even so, Fan Shang was still going to die.
Because he was still an ordinary person, still not a Sequence Transcendent.
Thud!
Unable to support his body any longer, Fan Shang fell flat on the ground.
By now, he looked like a dried corpse.
Under the ghosts' frenzied feeding, his once-black hair had turned white. Behind his barely open eyelids, his eyes were rapidly losing their light.
Noticing this, Wang Xiaoxue, who had been clinging tightly to Fan Shang's right shoulder, finally released her mouth and fleshy tendrils. She looked at the figure on the ground, now resembling a dried corpse.
Wang Xiaoxue's rosy, cherry-like lips curled into a smile.
"Heehee... Fan Shang, Fan Shang, Fan Shang, look at you now. I told you I'd make you come down and keep me company... heehee..."
After releasing her mouth's grip, the fleshy tendrils beneath her neck began writhing, and Wang Xiaoxue slowly moved in front of Fan Shang.
Staring at his still relatively plump head, Wang Xiaoxue licked her lips, then puckered her mouth.
Her puckered mouth began to stretch, like a mosquito's needle, pointing straight at Fan Shang's head.
A mosquito biting an egg.
That was Fan Shang's first thought. He stared fixedly at the sight. Of course he knew what this ghost wanted to do-she wanted to suck his head dry.
Fan Shang wanted to struggle, but his desiccated body couldn't muster even a trace of strength. He could only stare.
Stare at that mocking, venomous face, stare at the sharp beak drawing ever closer like the Grim Reaper's scythe.
At that moment, there was no fear in Fan Shang's heart, only anger.
He refused to accept it. Why did he have to die? Why should he die?!
He couldn't die yet, especially not at this damned woman's hands!!!
Revenge on me? You think you were wronged? When you tried to steal my supplies and take my life, why didn't you think I was being wronged?!
In an instant, that anger began blazing like a fire inside Fan Shang's chest.
"You..."
Fan Shang's lips moved slightly, forcing out a single word.
But before he could finish, Wang Xiaoxue's sharp mouth stabbed straight toward his head.
"Fan Shang, Fan Shang, Fan Shang, I want you dead... heehee... hee..."
Giggling, she prepared to suck Fan Shang's brains dry.
But before the next giggle could leave her lips, her voice abruptly cut off!
Because an arm as pale as a corpse had seized her mouth in an iron grip.
Then a hoarse, chilling voice slowly spread through the air.
"If you're going to die... then stay fucking dead..."
Then, beneath the slowly darkening night sky, an eerie blue flame began winding outward from Fan Shang's body.
Until it formed a long road.
Every stretch of pavement touched by the flames took on an eerie blue glow, with flakes of ash like burned joss paper scattering upward into the air.
Seen from afar, beneath the darkening night sky.
This road-no, perhaps it was more of a trail-was like a path for ghosts.
Sinister and eerie, it seemed no place the living could tread.
And as all this unfolded, unbeknownst to anyone but Fan Shang, an icy mechanical voice echoed through the air.
[Ding, detected: the host's life is rapidly draining!] [Ding, detected: the host's mental strength is rapidly depleting!] [Ding, detected: the host is on the verge of death!] [My name is Fan Shang. By the time you read this, I will already have... ■■■■...] [Error, system error...] [Ding, detected: host Fan Shang's will is becoming stimulated!] [Ding, detected: host Fan Shang's will is surging!] [Ding, detected: host Fan Shang's will... anger... emotions surging... ■■■■...] [Detected...] [Host Fan Shang... refuses to die...] [Detected: the host's mental threshold is approaching its limit. Detected: the host's mental threshold has broken through its limit.] [Current: will lv1 → will lv2] [Ding, detected: the host's will threshold has broken through its limit. Mental strength +1.] [Ding, detected: all three of the host's attributes have surpassed the human limit. Autonomous awakening will now begin!]
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