She's only 515 points away from 50,000, and she won't need to enter any more dungeons to accumulate that many points.
Before returning to the real world, her goal is to master the necessary talisman engraving techniques.
Su Cheng mentally prepared herself, then replied to all the unread messages from her contacts one by one.
The Hao Ruoxue and Hai Shuang Hai Lu sisters did not participate in the competition, but they sent their greetings as soon as they saw the announcement.
Su Cheng typed away on her phone, dealing with unread messages and simultaneously finishing the meal on the table.
She stretched leisurely, finally almost home.
Over the next three days, Su Cheng went to the Central Circle twice and had a small gathering with Xu Shaowei and Yan Yu.
She also had a meal with Lu Heng, Yun Xi, and Wang Tai once.
However, Su Cheng didn't linger in the Central Circle for long, only saying, "When we get back to the real world, there'll be plenty of time to play together again."
They all roughly guessed that Su Cheng would be leaving the apartment soon. While wishing her well, they also encouraged each other and agreed to meet again in the real world.
Wang Tai and Lu Heng gave a lot of thank-you gifts, and Su Cheng took some according to her needs.
More than receiving gifts, Su Cheng wanted to make this person's acquaintance; perhaps she could gain another connection when she returned to reality.
After acquiring the materials, Su Cheng devoted herself entirely to the Primordial Talisman Compendium, practicing repeatedly until it became muscle memory.
She first mastered the most basic talismans, followed by offensive talismans, and so on.
When she looked up from her book again, there was a thick stack of talisman paper on the corner of the table; these were all successfully engraved talisman papers.
Su Cheng kept some for herself, gave a few to Xu Shaowei and the others, and sent the rest to the auction house.
The next day, after the points transferred from the auction house arrived in my account, my points were updated to: 51500.
Passes can now be purchased!
Su Cheng opened the supermarket app on her phone and successfully placed an order for a pass.
Three minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
When I opened the door, it wasn't a smart robot, but Tang Su, the supermarket cashier, who came to my door in person.
Tang Su smiled and said with emotion, "It's been so long! I didn't expect you to be going home so soon."
She took out a scanner. "Scan your bracelet for me. 50,000 points is too much; the app can't control the deduction."
Su Cheng extended her wrist.
With two "beep" sounds, the black bracelet untied from her wrist and fell into Tang Su's palm.
The bracelet coming off meant she was officially severing ties with the Survival Apartment.
Tang Su: "Congratulations, you are the fifth resident to leave the apartment."
"Thank you." Su Cheng touched her bare wrist, feeling a little uncomfortable.
"I have another question. There's a ghost in the bracelet I left at the apartment. What will happen to her after I leave?"
Tang Su pondered for a moment, "Logically speaking, homeowners can only take away basic supplies and bound items; everything else will be taken back by the apartment complex."
"A ghost in the stored items? The pass only allows one life form to pass, so she definitely can't go with you."
Tang Su's eyes lit up. "I've got it! You can buy her a bionic human body, then she can become an apartment owner."
"Understood. I'll use the remaining 1,500 to buy her a bionic human body." Su Cheng nodded. "You just said that homeowners can only take basic supplies and bound items?"
"Yes." Tang Su smiled sincerely, and then, seemingly out of nowhere, produced a scanner. "I'm here to make sure you don't leave with any contraband."
"Most of the items purchased at the apartment supermarket are not allowed to be taken away, right?"
"That's right!"
Su Cheng was silent for a few seconds. So, the homeowners were actually only buying the right to use the props? That's really shady!
Tang Su continued, "You have two minutes to clear the items. Don't use your phone to secretly tip off others."
Su Cheng took her hand out of her pocket. Okay, she'd been found out. She was just about to text Yan Yu and the others about it.
Su Cheng could only quickly filter the items in the Smart Bag.
Miniature Bomb, laser guns, and even nutrient solutions cannot be taken away.
Su Cheng sighed as she took it out, then drank two bottles of nutritional fluid until her stomach was full.
It's better to be stuffed than to be recycled for free!
Fortunately, her Thousand-Machine Umbrella and Immortal-Binding Rope are both bound items, so she can take them with her; otherwise, she would have really lost out.
There were also meal vouchers issued by the system, which Su Cheng knew she couldn't use all of, so she had already given them to Xu Shaowei and Yan Yu.
After cleaning up, Tang Su used a scanner to confirm that Su Cheng did not have any prohibited items on her.
[Ding~]
[Congratulations to homeowner Su Cheng for successfully purchasing a pass! Your rebirth channel is now open!]
Su Cheng vanished from her spot, a sudden flash of white light illuminated her, and she instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes, feeling a sudden loss of balance beneath her feet.
A few seconds later, the white light disappeared, and a sound came to my ears.
Su Cheng blinked, and after her eyes adjusted to the light, she quickly looked around. She was in a small alley where trash cans were piled up.
She remembered this alley; she would pass by its entrance every time she returned to her rented room, and she would often have to cover her nose because of the stench from the garbage cans.
A light rain was falling from the sky, and the fine drizzle stung my skin a little.
Is rainwater corrosive?
Su Cheng opened the Thousand-Machine Umbrella, slung her Smart Bag over her shoulder which transformed into a hiking backpack, and quickly ran out of the alley.
"Selling tangerines!"
We recycle old cell phones, old computers, old refrigerators...
A three-wheeled vehicle passed by, and pedestrians on the street were holding umbrellas; there weren't many people.
It was a scene she was familiar with.
But during her time away, she noticed things on the street that she had never seen before.
For example, banners were tied between the trees in the green belt. "The weather is changeable, please be careful when traveling, pay attention to protection, and safety comes first."
Rows of safety education leaflets were posted on the walls outside the alley.
How to save yourself during an earthquake?
Fire prevention, electrical discharge prevention, theft prevention, and accident prevention.
What should you do if you are in a car accident?
What is acid rain? What damage does it cause?
Su Cheng withdrew her gaze, looking at the gray sky, and a vague guess had formed in her mind.
She took a breath, suppressed her myriad thoughts, and took out her phone.
My phone suddenly seemed to connect to a signal, displaying over 99 red dots indicating missed calls.
Mainly from his uncle, aunt, and cousin Qu Lan.
Meanwhile, Yan Yu and the others' contact avatars turned gray, as if they were in two different timelines and could not establish contact.
The flow of time differs between the real world and the Survival Apartment; the month displayed on her phone indicates that six months have passed since her car accident.
Su Cheng slightly bent her fingertips and pressed the back button.
"Beep beep beep beep..." After a busy signal, the phone was connected.
A familiar, trembling voice came from the other end of the phone. " Chengcheng, is that you?"
Su Cheng's eyes reddened slightly. "Aunt, it's me. I'm alive. I'm back."
*
After returning home, Su Cheng began searching extensively for news and reports from various places, learning what had happened during the six months she was away.
Various natural disasters have begun to occur in different regions, including earthquakes, tsunamis, mudslides, volcanic eruptions, acid rain, etc. The frequency of these events is three times that of the past.
Countless people have died or gone missing in these disasters.
The coastal and mountainous areas were particularly affected, while the inland areas where Su Cheng lives were less affected, with only one earthquake and then the recent continuous acid rain.
Besides natural disasters, a number of strange things have been happening in various places.
A large number of residents in a village or town died, and the manner of their deaths did not seem to be caused by humans, but rather by supernatural forces.
Furthermore, an organization dressed in unusual attire emerged, possessing an exceptionally terrifying ability to "lobby," making it difficult for anyone targeted to escape joining.
The authorities have intervened to address various unusual events that have occurred over the past six months, while also implementing comprehensive control over public opinion and prices.
The investigation results of the strange events in various regions were not made public, but under the control of the authorities, the society gradually stabilized after the initial panic, and order was not disrupted.
But Su Cheng knew that the stability was only temporary. Once the strange phenomena became more frequent and widespread, public opinion would no longer be able to be suppressed.
"The real world is going to end, no wonder some people want to enter the apartment. Only those who return from the apartment have the ability to survive better in the apocalypse."
Su Cheng lowered her eyes slightly, touched the monster tattoo on the inside of her arm, and finally sensed a wisp of spiritual consciousness.
Since sealing away the evil spirit, she has been nourishing it with Qi, urging it to regain its consciousness.
The curse is another of her trump cards.
Su Cheng walked out of the room. Her uncle was cooking in the kitchen, while her aunt was on the phone by the window, her face showing obvious signs of exhaustion.
A month ago, Su Cheng's cousin Qu Lan went to the countryside to pick wild vegetables. Suddenly, an earthquake struck, and she disappeared without a trace.
The rescue team could not find Qu Lan and her companions, and they were eventually registered as missing persons.
The disappearance of two children within just six months was a devastating blow to the two middle-aged people. Their black hair turned white, and their anxiety and exhaustion were impossible to hide.
Hearing the noise, Auntie composed herself, put down her phone, and said, "Is Chengcheng hungry? Auntie has made an appointment for your check-up at the hospital; I'll go with you tomorrow."
Su Cheng sighed, stepped forward and hugged her, gently comforting her, "Auntie, don't worry, Lanlan will be alright, just like I was able to suddenly come home."
Upon learning of Qu Lan's situation, Su Cheng immediately suspected that Qu Lan had been bound to the Survival Apartment System.
She told two relatives about her experience in the Survival Apartment and suggested that Qu Lan had encountered the same thing as her, which was why she had disappeared without a trace.
All they can do now is trust Qu Lan, protect their home after the apocalypse, and wait for her safe return.
Auntie held back her tears, "Yes, Lanlan will definitely come back safely."
She glanced at the dark sky outside the window, "No matter how the world changes, our family must live well."
"I've drawn a few more talismans. You and your uncle should carry them with you at all times. Use them if anything seems amiss. As for the medical checkup, things are turbulent outside right now, and it's not peaceful. I'm perfectly healthy, Auntie, don't worry."