The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

Zhou Jian gave a precise number.

"Besides, we've already spent it all at that grocery store."

"I bought equipment and potions."

Upon hearing this, Chi Zhengyang stopped tapping on the tablet.

More than two thousand source crystals.

All expenses.

This means that Comrade Lin Mo has completed the first phase of his mission and is temporarily safe.

Thinking of this, Chi Zhengyang breathed a sigh of relief.

"How did you die?"

Chi Zhengyang asked the question that he cared about most.

Zhou Jian's expression changed slightly.

It was a little awkward.

It wasn't because death was unacceptable to him, but simply because his death was shrouded in mystery.

"I didn't see it clearly."

Zhou Jian lowered his head in shame.

"At that time, we had just dealt with a horde of zombies and, after a short rest, were preparing to set off to hunt monsters again."

Zhou Jian recalled the scene at that time.

"They just stepped out of the safe zone."

Suddenly, I felt a gust of wind brush past me.

"soon."

"It was so fast that my body couldn't even react."

Zhou Jian gestured.

"Then I felt a chill in my chest."

"When I looked down, all I saw was a pink ribbon."

"Pink?"

Chi Zhengyang frowned slightly.

This color stands out starkly against the somber, wasteland tones.

"Yes, it's a pink ribbon, and it looks like it has tiny barbs on it."

Zhou Jian nodded affirmatively.

"It went straight through his chest."

Then I lost consciousness.

"Open your eyes again, and you'll be here."

Pink ribbon.

An unknown monster.

Chi Zhengyang silently memorized this information.

It seems that the danger of that world is far greater than anticipated.

Even Zhou Jian, a highly trained special forces soldier, was killed in a single blow.

If an ordinary person went in...

It's practically handing over food.

"Are the monsters inside really that strong?"

Chi Zhengyang asked the question knowing the answer already, as it was the information he most wanted to know.

Zhou Jian nodded heavily.

"Extremely strong."

"Even the most common mutated zombies are thick-skinned and incredibly fast."

"If you cut with an ordinary knife, it will at most leave a white mark."

"If it weren't for the weapons the grocery store owner rented to us, we probably wouldn't have been able to handle even a regular monster zombie."

Zhou Jian was still shaken.

equipment.

This is the key to survival in that world.

Without equipment, humanity is as fragile as a piece of paper.

Zhou Jian continued, "I need 100 Source Crystals to die each time now, otherwise I can only enter the game again at six o'clock tomorrow. I'm sorry, I have let you down."

A brief silence fell over the room.

100 Source Crystals.

For them now, that's quite a lot.

I bought equipment and potions, but I'm completely broke.

Furthermore, it's unknown whether your equipment will drop upon death.

He would really cry his heart out if he lost his rock-cutting sword.

That's a top-tier weapon worth 500 Source Crystals!

Zhou Jian gave a wry smile: "I'm sorry, sir."

"It was my carelessness that let you down."

He was killed in action on his first mission.

Although he brought back intelligence, Zhou Jian still considered it a disgrace.

Chi Zhengyang stood up.

I walked to the window.

Outside the window is a brightly lit city.

Bustling with traffic.

A piece of peace.

Who could have imagined that in another dimension, or fifty-five years from now, this once prosperous place would be reduced to ruins, with streets teeming with man-eating monsters?

"You have not disappointed us."

Chi Zhengyang had his back to Zhou Jian, and his voice was calm.

"You've brought back very important intelligence."

"If those monsters can be killed, then we still have hope."

Where there is hope, there is a future.

Zhou Jian was completely confused by what he was saying.

Chi Zhengyang didn't bother to explain: "Get some rest."

"I'll be online at 6 a.m. tomorrow."

Chi Zhengyang turned around and looked at Zhou Jian.

"Remember your mission: spare no effort to help Lin Mo develop that general store as quickly as possible!"

Zhou Jian straightened his back.

"yes!"

......

Inside the grocery store.

The test tubes were heated over an alcohol lamp.

The liquid boiled, producing fine bubbles.

Lin Mo's hands were very steady.

A drop of the dark blue extract was added to the test tube.

laugh.

The red liquid instantly turned black, emitting a burnt smell.

[Ding! Crafting failed; materials destroyed.]

A system notification popped up.

Lin Mo threw the discarded test tube into the trash can.

3 source crystals.

Gone.

This isn't making medicine; it's burning money.

The raw materials in the system shop are ridiculously expensive; a bottle of Servant-level Monster Blood Protein alone costs 30 Source Crystals.

Blood-clotting grass is also expensive, costing 13 source crystals per plant.

The cost of refining a basic life potion is close to 4 source crystals.

"Again."

Lin Mo picked up a new test tube.

This is the thirtieth attempt tonight.

The first ten times, they all exploded.

Ten times in between, it became three bottles.

It seems that my touch has only just started to return.

Time passed second by second.

The grocery store was quiet, with only the faint sound of liquid boiling.

[Ding! Crafting successful. You have obtained 1 Basic Life Potion.]

It became.

Lin Mo placed the red medicine bottle on the counter.

The crystal-clear red liquid swayed under the light.

It makes people feel at ease just looking at it.

carry on.

That night, Lin Mo transformed into a ruthless medicine-making machine.

The movements became faster and faster.

From initial caution to later smooth and effortless progress.

The success rate also skyrocketed.

Fifty percent.

Eighty percent.

Until these last few times, he almost never made a mistake.

I don't know how much time passed.

The sky outside the window was beginning to lighten.

The once booming turnover has now dwindled to a single-digit zero.

All 1521 source crystals were transformed into this pile of bottles and jars on the table.

There are a total of 103.

Lin Mo rubbed his sore wrist.

1521 Source Crystals were exchanged for 103 Life Potions.

One basic life potion costs 5 source crystals, so 103 potions would cost 515 source crystals.

It's a huge loss.

He glanced at the clock on the wall.

5: 50.

There are ten minutes left until the time for resurrection.

Has no one returned yet?

Lin Mo looked out the window, frowning, and said, "Could they have all been wiped out?"

Suddenly, several black dots appeared in the distance.

The black dot moved very quickly.

Getting closer.

Lin Mo narrowed his eyes.

There were four people in total.

They supported each other and stumbled as they ran this way.

Everyone had bruises on their bodies.

Chen Feng was walking at the very front.

His arm was wrapped in thick bandages, and blood was still seeping out.

He held a long, blunt sword in his left hand and supported another person with his right.

It is Lei Yue.

Lin Mo remembered the biggest guy in that group.

This big guy was in an even worse state than Chen Feng.

Half of his body was covered in blood, and his face was blackened with the marks of gunpowder.

Zhao Yunfeng and Han Bing followed behind.

They also looked like refugees fleeing famine.

Ten people went out.

Four half-dead men came back.

The battle was so brutal it was unbearable to watch.

Lin Mo stepped aside to clear the doorway.

The four of them practically rushed into the store.