Chapter Bonanza (10/10)

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

After news of a new breakthrough came from across the Blue Waters, the 300,000 bricks were reduced to 250,000, and the figures in Jian Xingyi’s memo were adjusted again to lower the difficulty.

Long Live For A Hundred Years

210,000,000 / 750,000,000 Dawn Coins

553,000 / 750,000 Wood

42,000 / 150,000 Zombies Killed

That’s why the entire server treats Cangshui and Jian Xingyi like their own parents. Unfortunately, Jian Xingyi has only unlocked four maps so far. Dawn Break has a total of eight maps—one is a restricted zone that hasn’t been opened yet—and the remaining three maps don’t allow players to purchase Jian Xingyi’s vines. As a result, players are left with no choice but to grudgingly use Cangshui’s initial 350,000 blueprints.

【Is there really no one who cares about us here on Rainforest Mountain…? *Crying* It’s bad enough we have no food, but now we don’t even get any vines either QAQ】

【Yeah… the rain here is getting heavier and more ridiculous by the minute. It’s unbearable!!】

【A telegram from a player on Wave Mountain, proving we’re still struggling to survive】

【A telegram from a Peace Mountain player proves we’re still struggling to survive】

The public chat was filled with the complaints and grievances of players from the other three regions. Jian Xingyi noticed this but could only silently echo their lament in his heart.

He wanted to unlock more regions to make money, too!

But there was nothing he could do—his Merchant System was upgrading far too slowly…

Jian Xingyi and Shanhai arrived at Peace Mountain.

This was the map Jian Xingyi knew best, and since it wasn’t very difficult, he used to come here alone on adventures all the time.

Returning to this familiar place now, Jian Xingyi felt a bit of a strange mix of emotions.

Coming to Peace Mountain with Shanhai felt a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut…

Shanhai saw right through Jian Xingyi’s thoughts and raised an eyebrow. “You won’t be able to handle the end of Peace Mountain.”

“Huh?”

Shanhai said, “Aren’t you looking to buy land?”

Jian Xingyi nodded.

Shanhai: “Based on your needs, I think we can make it past the end of Peace Mountain to the edge of the air wall.”

Jian Xingyi understood.

There aren’t many zombies or beasts in Peace Mountain, but spawn points are random, and there could be people anywhere. The land’s purity is also just average.

But the zombies emerge from in front of the Air Wall at the end. In other words, as long as they pass through the area where the zombies appear, the land along the edge of the Air Wall will definitely be free of zombies and outsiders.

Even if there were outsiders, they’d have to be T1 or higher to get there—after all, not everyone can fight their way through the zombies like Shanhai did.

And…

Shanhai said, “Players can unlock an achievement the first time they enter the 500-meter radius of the air wall. The rewards are generous. I previously received a Wish and quite a few special items, including exchange vouchers and Combat Power Medals.”

Shanhai felt that Jian Xingyi probably couldn’t reach the end of other maps, so this achievement could only be earned in Peace Mountain.

“Really…!” Jian Xingyi was somewhat surprised. “Then let’s go!”

That’s a Wish! It’s one of the most valuable items!

Killing two birds with one stone!

Jian Xingyi thought to himself, Being with Shanhai really is a workout for the heart—he goes for whatever’s most thrilling.

Shanhai paused, then asked tentatively, “Are you up for it?”

“What?”

Shanhai said, “I…”

Shanhai was used to facing crises and seeking thrills; even when adventuring on maps, he’d instinctively head toward dangerous areas.

Jian Xingyi smiled. “I don’t mind at all. Taking me to these places has let me gather so many resources, so I’m really happy.”

Shanhai paused.

Jian Xingyi didn’t criticize him.

Or rather, Jian Xingyi had always gently accepted everything about him—perhaps that was why he dared to try such things now.

But he wouldn’t go to risky places anymore. The places he took Jian Xingyi to were all places he was certain he could handle.

The two headed toward the foot of the mountain.

The last time Jian Xingyi came, he was with Lone Wolf, searching for the two tombstones of the Builders. But they had turned back along the road after reaching the village; this time, they were going to cross the village to go even further.

Jian Xingyi was especially careful where he stepped this time, afraid of triggering an alarm like last time.

Jian Xingyi looked around. The thatched houses in the village were just as dilapidated as before, and zombies would occasionally appear out of nowhere, but the two of them silently shot them down with their bows and arrows.

After passing through the village and the lake, they noticed the trees in the surrounding forest growing increasingly sparse, and the landscape becoming more and more desolate.

In their place, there were more and more zombies. Since all these zombies were coming from the same direction, the two easily tracked down the source.

Shanhai carried Jian Xingyi up a tree. Sitting there, Jian Xingyi saw an air wall resembling rippling water covering the entire sky in the distance. In one spot within the air wall was a slowly rotating black hole, and zombies were pouring out of it endlessly.

They were still some distance from the air barrier, so all they could see was a tiny black dot, with a dense swarm of tiny specks writhing in front of it.

These grains of rice… were all zombies. After emerging from the black hole, they scattered in all directions, heading toward Peace Mountain.

Jian Xingyi could imagine that if they got any closer, they’d be like two tiny mung beans tossed into a rice bin—outsiders who would be instantly overwhelmed.

Jian Xingyi sighed, “The source of all evil…”

So this is how the zombies on every map come to be. This was the first time Jian Xingyi had seen so clearly how zombies were “produced.”

Yet the two patches of land on either side of the black hole were devoid of zombies. For some reason, the zombies only moved forward; they never circled back.

But…

Jian Xingyi watched the swarming zombies and swallowed hard. “Are we really up to this?”

Can we really get through this?

This feels so absurd…!

Is Peace Mountain really this extreme? What on earth must the end of the Thousand Bells Snow Mountain be like…

Shanhai said, “There are a lot of zombies here, but their levels aren’t high. They’re easy to kill.”

━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Five minutes later, Jian Xingyi was sitting on the motorcycle, with Shanhai in front of him. And… he was controlling the motorcycle.

Jian Xingyi said nervously, “Letting me drive… are you sure it’s okay?”

Shanhai chuckled lightly, “Lacking confidence?”

Jian Xingyi said, “I know how to ride… but that’s in the real world. I’ve never ridden one in a game.”

“It’s fine, I’ll guide you.”

Motorcycles in games are actually easier than in real life—there are only a few buttons. Of course, that’s assuming you don’t pull off extreme maneuvers and tight turns like Shanhai.

Shanhai said, “You just need to help me hit the throttle and get the bike moving.”

“Oh…!”

Jian Xingyi got it—just a sidekick! No problem!

“Vroom…”

The engine roared to life!

Jian Xingyi gripped the handlebars and circled the spot a few times to get a feel for it, then headed forward.

Jian Xingyi was still a little excited—after all, he was riding… Shanhai’s top-of-the-line motorcycle, the best bike in the entire server!

With the engine’s deep, rumbling hum, the zombies all around were drawn to the sound. In an instant, Jian Xingyi saw zombies swarming toward them from every direction.

Their faces were hideous, their mouths gaping wide.

Jian Xingyi steadied himself and focused on driving forward.

Shanhai stood up on the motorcycle, raised the cannonball, and began firing, mowing down the zombies swarming toward them one by one.

The cannonball was a rare weapon forged by Shanhai; while its individual killing power was average, its massive area of effect made it perfect for the current situation.

Jian Xingyi could only feel explosions erupting all around him. Thick smoke nearly obscured his vision, and the constant “booms” rang in his ears—yet they couldn’t drown out the zombies’ screams.

Jian Xingyi thought to himself, “It looks like this wave has added quite a few zombie kills to Grape Mountain Peak’s tally.”

They fought their way through the horde, and Jian Xingyi watched as the black hole ahead grew larger and larger.

Until… they reached the edge!

【Congratulations to player 【Xinghe】 for unlocking the achievement 【What Lies at the End of the Game?】, earning 66,666 Dawn Coins, 1 Special Item 【Desire for Knowledge】, 1 Rare Item 【Special Combat Voucher】, and 1 【Special Management Voucher】】

Jian Xingyi was overjoyed.

There really was an achievement!

Shanhai reached out to grab one of the handles for Jian Xingyi, guiding him around the edge of the air wall, while Jian Xingyi used his free hand to hurriedly purchase the land along the edge of the air wall.

He had no time to think it through and could only buy it on the spot. Fortunately, after a quick glance, he saw that although the quality wasn’t great and the pollution level was high, it was a bargain. This kind of land would allow him to mass-produce snow lotus and feed, after all, neither of which required high quality.

【Player 【Xinghe】 spent 300,000 to obtain 20 Grade B fields】

【Player 【Xinghe】 spent 200,000 to obtain 15 B-grade plots】

【Player 【Xinghe】 spent 400,000 to obtain 30 B-grade plots】

Logically, one could only own one plot per area, but since they had traveled a long distance along the air wall, it counted as a different area.

With the air wall on the left and zombies on the right, Jian Xingyi was speechless.

After they passed through the zombies and reached the edge of the air wall… these zombies didn’t even turn around to chase them!

Jian Xingyi said, “These zombies… it feels like the system has set their routes.”

“That’s right.”

That’s why Shanhai had the confidence to bring Jian Xingyi here.

As long as they made it through that sea of zombies, the two of them would be safe.

But Shanhai couldn’t guarantee they wouldn’t suddenly turn around, so he still had Jian Xingyi ride the motorcycle at full speed, ready to retreat at any moment.

After spending 900,000 to buy 65 plots of land, Jian Xingyi was ready to call it a day.

If he’d spent over a million, he’d be feeling the pinch—that extra amount… should be enough to grow snow lotus… right?

Jian Xingyi said, “Let’s head back!”

“Mm.”

Before the motorcycle turned around, Jian Xingyi curiously reached out and touched the air wall.

I wonder what it feels like?

Whoosh—

Huh?

Huh?????!

Jian Xingyi’s eyes widened. His finger… had actually passed right through the air wall!

Shanhai froze when he noticed this.

Aren’t air walls supposed to be impenetrable?

Shanhai reached out and tried the same thing as Jian Xingyi. Sure enough, his finger felt like it had hit a wall; the resistance even bent his finger.

“Shuixi! My finger…”

Whoosh—

The next moment, Jian Xingyi was sucked right into the air wall.

Of course, not in the literal sense of being sucked in, but the person sitting in front of him… began to fade starting from his fingers, then spread to his arms and torso, until finally, Jian Xingyi’s entire body… vanished!

Shanhai stared at the empty space where the person had been, completely dumbfounded.

Huh?

Meanwhile, on the other side, Jian Xingyi looked at the steel, concrete, and buildings before him, equally dumbfounded.

Where… am I?