Absolutely Packed with Highlights!

According to the Grapevine Peak guide, the tombstone could only be seen after passing through this village. It wasn’t hidden in any strange, hard-to-find place—it sat in a basin behind the village, requiring a rope to climb down.

They couldn’t say for sure how many zombies would appear, even after coming several times. After all, the game was gradually breaking free from the system’s set rules, making monster spawns and their range unpredictable factors.

But one thing was certain: they’d visited over ten times, and even at peak numbers, the zombies never reached terrifying levels or formed a zombie tide. That’s why Lone Wolf felt confident bringing Jian Xingyi along.

But now…

Lone Wolf stared in disbelief at Jian Xingyi’s disobedient feet.

This… couldn’t possibly cause any trouble, could it?

Jian Xingyi was on the verge of tears, his voice trembling. “I… I didn’t see…”

Lone Wolf had been about to curse, but hiding in the dry grass was indeed tricky—most people wouldn’t spot it.

Bang!

Countless zombies surged in from all directions, closing in to surround them. Only a dozen or so appeared for now. Lone Wolf took a deep breath, muttered a low curse, grabbed Jian Xingyi’s wrist, pulled him behind him, and swept his rifle forward with a burst of fire.

Gunfire would attract more zombies, but not shooting meant certain death.

Lone Wolf dragged his forward. The area was densely packed with buildings, making them easy targets for surprise attacks.

The two sprinted forward, Lone Wolf clearing a bloody path with continuous fire.

Jian Xingyi also fired a few shots. He didn’t try to do too much, aiming at one at a time. Though his hands trembled, he managed to contribute.

After breaking out of the village, they froze.

The cemetery in the basin mentioned by the Grapevine Peak… was nowhere to be found.

Looking down, they saw a lake whose depth was impossible to gauge, its surface at least two or three meters below their elevated position.

What the hell…!

Jian Xingyi’s eyes widened. Could it be that rain had flooded the cemetery?

Or had Grapevine Peak marked the location wrong? Had they taken a wrong turn?

Or had the system updated?

There was no time to ponder. Zombies swarmed in once more.

Though their numbers weren’t overwhelming, the relentless pressure drained both mental fortitude and physical stamina. If Jian Xingyi were a high-level fighter, they could have defended back-to-back. But now, Lone Wolf had to protect both himself and Jian Xingyi while maintaining 360-degree vigilance against zombies approaching from all directions.

He scanned the area and spotted a small warehouse by the lake, just big enough for two. Without hesitation, he dragged Jian Xingyi inside.

After shoving Jian Xingyi inside, Lone Wolf stood guard at the door, firing bursts at the zombies trying to break in.

Hordes of monsters, gaping with blood-stained maws, pressed and shoved against the small structure. As their numbers dwindled, the building… began to buckle.

Jian Xingyi, sensing the rafters tremble and crack: “…”

The shaking intensified. Seeing the zombies outside temporarily cleared and the next wave still some distance off, Lone Wolf turned and shouted, “Go! Charge out!”

Clack—

The moment they shifted, the shifting weight caused the structure to collapse completely. The already flimsy wooden walls crumbled instantly, the leaf roof and beams crashing down.

As the massive wooden beam loomed over them, Lone Wolf, focused on the zombies, remained unaware. Jian Xingyi took a deep breath and shoved him forward with all his might.

The shove sent Wolfen flying, while Jian Xingyi himself stumbled backward against the resistance. The beam crashed down with a thunderous roar, landing just between them.

But unfortunately… the force was too great, and without the wall to brace against, the warehouse being right by the lake meant Jian Xingyi tumbled straight backward into the lake, two meters below.

“…!”

Lone Wolf’s eyes widened. “Hey…!”

Jian Xingyi watched Lone Wolf grow smaller and smaller in his world, the roaring sound filling his ears.

He was falling.

This is it…

Jian Xingyi suddenly remembered—he couldn’t swim!

Splash—!!

As he submerged, terror and darkness engulfed him. Jian Xingyi flailed his arms desperately, trying to swim upward, but it was futile. Amidst the chaos of suffocating breathlessness, Jian Xingyi glimpsed something on the lake bottom… a gravestone.

Wait?

What?

Before he could process it, an unknown force hurled him toward the gravestones. Jian Xingyi braced against the lake floor and pushed himself up, coughing violently as he expelled a torrent of water.

“…?”

Jian Xingyi froze. He looked around. He had oxygen again, and the lake water was blocked above his head.

The lake water formed a ceiling above him. This place felt like a secret world beneath the lake.

Jian Xingyi blankly tried to reach into the lake water, only to find his hand blocked by an invisible barrier.

The rippling lake surface reflected his drenched, disheveled appearance like an impenetrable mirror.

How strange…

Jian Xingyi knelt before the tombstone, slowly calming his racing heart and trembling.

He sniffed, opened his terminal to reassure Lone Wolf, only to find the message wouldn’t send.

Huh…?

How could there be a place where messages couldn’t be sent? Signal coverage was supposed to be universal in this holographic game.

Jian Xingyi frowned slightly.

But since he was here, besides finding a way out…

Jian Xingyi turned his gaze to the two tombstones not far ahead.

Tombstone 05: Constructors W and C

Epitaph: May all people and my beloved live beautifully beneath the sun

—Constructor W and Constructor C devoted their entire lives to building safe fortresses for humanity. Though the fortresses ultimately crumbled, the human spirit endures.

Jian Xingyi thought to himself, these must be a pair.

He wondered if unlocking all the tombstones would reveal the full story. So far, he knew these commemorated a Commander and her two Builders.

But…

Jian Xingyi glanced at the epitaph.

Live beautifully under the sun…

Yet now, the two tombstones stood forlornly submerged beneath the lake. Weathered and moss-covered, they gazed up at the murky waters above, surrounded by barren wasteland where not a blade of grass grew.

Had they not been companions, their isolation would have seemed even more poignant.

Jian Xingyi felt an inexplicable sorrow for the tomb’s occupants.

And with such desolation all around, how could one even pay respects?

According to Lone Wolf, when players first discovered these tombstones on Grapevine Peak, they were above ground. Back then, all they needed to do was find a few flowers nearby to lie down.

Jian Xingyi scratched his head, deciding to explore the vicinity.

After walking for a while, he spotted a giant water bubble.

Hm…?

A strange object had suddenly appeared. Perhaps it could be useful. Jian Xingyi reached out and touched it with his finger.

Pop!

The bubble burst instantly. Jian Xingyi instinctively closed his eyes as a huge splash of water sprayed him. When he opened them again, the surroundings had instantly transformed into a lush, verdant forest.

Uh… Huh?

Jian Xingyi stood rooted to the spot. The two gravestones remained in the basin, but the surroundings had completely transformed. Dense foliage and shady trees stretched out before him. Not far away, a thriving little village bustled with activity. People moved busily back and forth within it, creating what looked like a picturesque, idyllic paradise to the uninformed.

Jian Xingyi also noticed… a young man in a white coat standing beside the two gravestones, seemingly clearing weeds.

Jian Xingyi blinked, feeling a mix of surprise and unease at this sudden appearance.

Just now… was someone here?

Jian Xingyi took a deep breath, mustering his courage to step forward. “Hello.”

This might be his opening.

The man paused, staring blankly at Jian Xingyi. “Xinghe…? How did you get here? And you’re soaked to the bone.”

Jian Xingyi froze. “You know me?”

The man frowned. “I’m the Doctor. Aren’t you Xinghe?”

Jian Xingyi stared blankly at him.

After a long pause, the man finally asked, “What year is it where you come from?”

Jian Xingyi suddenly understood. “2088.”

The man chuckled. “Ah, I see. It’s 2058 here. Looks like you’ve entered a time bubble.”

Jian Xingyi knew about these. Time bubbles randomly spawned in Dawnbreaker’s dungeons and wilderness, allowing players to enter for rich rewards—though their appearance was purely luck-based.

Who would’ve thought this mechanism still existed?

But these time bubbles usually transported players to bizarre dungeons to fight bosses. Jian Xingyi found this situation far too strange.

Besides, if time were scrambled, and the man claimed to know him, shouldn’t the man be living in a time beyond 2088? Thirty years before him? Jian Xingyi wasn’t even born yet. How could this man know him?

Jian Xingyi felt perplexed.

But… Could this mean this was the Peace Mountain Valley thirty years ago?

Jian Xingyi looked at the nearby village. Thirty years ago, it had been such a beautiful place, with two gravestones not yet submerged by the lake. Thirty years later, it had become a gathering ground for zombies.

The man shook his head. ” You should head back. Don’t linger here.“

Jian Xingyi said, ”I… want to pay my respects to them.“

The man’s expression turned sorrowful. ”As you wish.”

Then he walked away.

As Jian Xingyi searched for flowers to offer, he glanced at the surrounding greenery and casually activated his skill.

[Collection Successful, Obtained [Rice] Seeds x20]

[Collection successful, obtained [Carrot] seeds x11]

Jian Xingyi: “…”

Well, plants from thirty years ago still come in the classic trio: rice, carrots, and wheat.

But…

[Collection successful, absorbed [Essence] x9]

[Collection successful, absorbed [Essence] x8]

[Collection successful, absorbed [Essence] x11]

Holy crap…!!

Jian Xingyi was going nuts.

Are plants from thirty years ago really pollution-free and pesticide-free?!

Even ordinary weeds, wildflowers, and trees yielded high-value essence. Jian Xingyi was clicking away in a daze, utterly lost in the essence.

This one has so much, that one has so much too…!

Tears of joy welled up in Jian Xingyi’s eyes as he watched the system’s constant notifications, feeling like he’d reached the pinnacle of his life.

Yesterday, he’d spent the entire day toiling away and barely managed to gather 66 points of essence. After upgrading one plot of land, he now had only 16 points left.

But right now, just this forest alone—with his random sweeping and clicking, plus yesterday’s leftover points—totaled… 91 essence points!

Another 9 points, and two fields would be cleared!

If he had three fully productive fields yielding normal harvests, that would be pure bliss. Most people didn’t even have a single one.

Just then, the Doctor emerged, frowning at Jian Xingyi. “You’re still here? You’re not from this timeline, Xinghe. Staying here will kill you… Look down.”

Jian Xingyi froze, glancing down to see his hands and body turning translucent, as if they might vanish at any moment.

His blood ran cold. “How… how do I leave?” he asked nervously.

The Doctor shook his head. “I don’t know… You must return the way you came.”

Gritting his teeth, Jian Xingyi hurriedly picked the most beautiful flower nearby and placed it before the two tombstones, pressing his palms together in prayer.

My apologies, honored predecessors. Time is short, so my tribute is hasty.

[Player Successfully Paid Tribute to the Tomb of the Unburied 05! Reward [Dawn Coins]x6666]

[Peace Mountain Map Side Quest [Peace Grave] Progress 2/5]

Jian Xingyi had no time for joy, frantically retracing his steps to find the time bubble.

He spun until he was dizzy, but the original time bubble was nowhere to be found!

His body was growing increasingly transparent!

In this critical moment, he spotted a new time bubble appearing beside the tombstones. Though it didn’t quite resemble the one he’d come from, but… he was about to vanish!

Transfer first, worry later!

Jian Xingyi dashed inside.