Survival in an apartment, starting with a stroke of luck on a plane

She paused, then continued, "The guild leader speculates that the inheritance of this 'ancient cultivator' might be the only lifeline left for players by the system; otherwise, this main quest would almost be a dead end."

The energy contained within this spiritual energy is too strange. Absorbing just a little bit is fine, but if you absorb too much, no one can hold on. You'll only sink deeper and deeper until you're completely trapped in the abyss.

"By the way," Phantom changed the subject, her tone becoming more relaxed, "the vice president, 'Craftsman,' has come up with some new gadgets tailored to the situation in this world. They're quite useful; you can take a look."

Then, she sent a message about an item.

Lin Yu took a look.

Apartment Relocation Card

Category: Props

Rank: Bronze

Effect: After use, the player's apartment (including all internal facilities and current status) can be moved to another unclaimed and safe location in the current game world that can accommodate buildings. The relocation process is completed instantly. Each card can only be used once.

Description: Let's move to a different place, see a different view, and maybe avoid some trouble.

(Note: This item is made by the player "Craftsman". Except for the player and their authorized agents, no other player can give it to others in any way.)

"Good stuff!" Lin Yu's eyes lit up.

This tool is practically tailor-made for the current situation, greatly increasing mobility.

After all, he couldn't stay in Black Swamp Town forever; he would definitely leave eventually. But if he kept the apartment there, it would be too troublesome, since it was very important to Lin Yu.

Phantom's message came again: "This card was made by our vice president. She said that each member of our guild can receive one."

However, if you want to buy it again in the future, you'll have to spend money. It costs 50 game coins per piece, which is considered a friendly price within the guild.

Alternatively, we could barter, but the specific value would need to be appraised by the vice president. What do you think? Would you like that?

Lin Yu replied without hesitation, "Yes, I need them. These cards are very useful. I'd like nine more. But do you have a way to deliver them to me?"

He has plenty of game currency now, so he definitely needs to stock up on some of these convenient items. However, he hasn't forgotten that there's no trading platform in this system. Even when trading in the neighborhood, it's always a cash-on-delivery transaction.

How do I get the Phantom to myself in the game now?

Phantom: "Great! As for the transaction method, you just need to tell me your apartment number and neighborhood number, and the vice president will have a way to deliver it to you."

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow. There's such a delivery method? He replied directly: "9527-403".

Phantom: "Roger that~ Just wait, it'll be quick."

About five minutes later, a system notification suddenly sounded in Lin Yu's mind: [Player Craftsman has entrusted player Phantom to conduct a transaction with you. Do you agree?]

"Agreed." Lin Yu raised an eyebrow and silently agreed.

As soon as he finished speaking, the air in front of him rippled slightly, as if waves were spreading outwards.

Immediately afterwards, a tiny sprite, no bigger than a palm, with crystal-clear butterfly wings and an exquisite and adorable appearance, appeared out of thin air in his apartment living room.

The little elf flapped its wings and hovered in front of Lin Yu, blinking its big eyes curiously.

It didn't speak, but instead took out a small sign from behind its back, on which was written in neat handwriting: 【Cheng Hui 450 Game Coins】.

Without hesitation, Lin Yu took out 450 game coins from his storage space.

The game coins shimmered faintly in his hand, piled up in a small heap.

The little elf squinted its eyes happily when it saw the game coins.

It waved its small staff and gently tapped the pile of game coins, which instantly vanished.

Then, it waved its staff, and 10 brand-new [Apartment Relocation Cards] floated lightly into Lin Yu's hand.

After doing all this, the little elf gracefully bowed to Lin Yu, flapped its wings, and its figure once again merged into the air and disappeared, as if it had never existed.

"A miraculous method..." Lin Yu muttered to himself, looking at the three extra cards in his hand.

This "craftsman" vice president not only seems to be skilled at making props, but also has such a bizarre and unpredictable way of delivering them, making his strength unfathomable.

Now, he has ten apartment relocation cards.

He walked to the window and carefully observed the environment of Kurosawa Town.

The town is too small, lacks resources, and is isolated from information; there's not much point in staying here.

His target was Tieshu County, the regional center where the three major cultivator forces were located, and where there would surely be more information and opportunities. Perhaps he could go and check out the situation first.

Lin Yu then went out for another walk, but failed to find out any more information.

Therefore, he felt that he definitely could no longer stay in this small place.

He learned that every so often, the town’s residents who needed to go to Tieshu County for business, to sell local products, or to visit relatives and friends would spontaneously gather into a temporary team to defend themselves against the dangers that might lurk on the way, by using their numbers to their advantage.

After all, this is ancient times, and ancient times with supernatural powers, so there must be many dangers in the wild.

In fact, Lin Yu would prefer to act alone, but the problem was that he had no idea how to get to Tieshu County and was also unaware of the situation outside. He was also afraid of accidents if he flew there in an electric car, so he had no choice but to do this.

Soon, Lin Yu found a team that was about to set off.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a dark complexion and rough hands, named Zhao Dashan. He traveled between Heize Town and Tieshu County year-round and seemed to be an honest man.

The team consisted of a dozen or so people, all of whom were ordinary civilians.

Lin Yu, posing as a "scholar who travels far and wide to broaden his horizons," symbolically paid some money as a token of "friendship" and successfully joined the team.

Seeing that Lin Yu was dressed simply (his equipment was all inside his clothes), Zhao Dashan noticed that although Lin Yu was tall and handsome, with clear eyes that showed no sign of panic, he did not seem like a bad person. After a moment's thought, Zhao Dashan nodded in agreement.

Having another young person by your side brings a sense of peace of mind during these turbulent times.

Before leaving, Lin Yu thought for a moment and left a canine with blood-red fur and two heads at home to guard the house.

This is a silver-level creature that Lin Yu controlled in the game using the [Pure Brain Worm Brain]. It's quite strong, but because its body is too big, it's not suitable to take it out, so Lin Yu left it at home to guard the house.

The next day, before dawn and before the morning mist had dissipated, the team quietly left the still-sleeping town of Kuozawa, trudging through the damp mud, and slowly made their way towards Tieshu County along the rugged dirt road marked by cart tracks and footprints.

The scenery along the way exuded a wild and desolate atmosphere. On both sides of the road were mostly exposed rocks and sparse drought-resistant shrubs, and the barren land seemed unable to grow lush vegetation.

The "polluted spiritual energy" in the air seemed thicker and more active than in the town, like an invisible veil shrouding the wilderness, keeping Lin Yu on high alert at all times.

The [Heavenly Eye (Fake)] would occasionally and quietly activate, carefully scanning the energy flow of the surrounding environment, not missing any abnormal fluctuations.

Zhao Dashan was a talkative person, and perhaps to dispel the boredom and underlying unease of the journey, he took the initiative to chat with Lin Yu.

From some information about Tieshu County, we talked about some vague legends about "mountain spirits" or "zombies" that circulated among porters and merchants.

In short, all sorts of rumors and gossip were told, which gave Lin Yu a better understanding of the game world.

As the sun rose higher, the group walked onto a particularly treacherous mountain path.

On one side are steep cliffs with jagged rocks, and on the other side is a bottomless valley shrouded in mist. The narrow path, barely wide enough for two or three people to pass side by side, makes one involuntarily hold their breath.

Just as the group was about to round a prominent mountain corner, Lin Yu's [Heavenly Eye] suddenly detected an extremely discordant energy fluctuation coming from ahead—chaotic, violent, and filled with an aura of decay and resentment, with a concentration of polluted spiritual energy far exceeding that of normal.

"Stop! There's something ahead!" Lin Yu immediately shouted in a low voice, but everyone could hear him.

Upon hearing the shouts, Zhao Dashan and the others froze on the spot like startled birds, their faces drained of color, and their terrified gazes all turned toward the unsettling corner of the mountain.

Boom...boom...boom...

The heavy, dragging footsteps, accompanied by a "rustling" sound like a dry branch being broken or rough bark rubbing together, came from afar, each step seeming to pound on everyone's hearts.

Finally, a twisted, bizarre shadow staggered out from behind the corner of the mountain.

The thing probably still retained some human form, but its skin had been completely mutated, turning into a dark, cracked, lifeless tree bark. Its limbs were twisted at abnormal angles, and its fingers and toes resembled withered tree branches.

Its face was almost a mess, with only two deep holes remaining where its eyes should have been, emitting a pale green light. Its mouth was irregularly open, unable to make a clear sound, only a "hoarse" sound of air leaking out, mixed with thick, black saliva, which dripped down its chin and corroded the ground.

"It's...it's a tree demon! A man-eating tree demon is here! Run!" A timid farmer in the group let out a heart-wrenching scream. Panic spread like wildfire, and the crowd stirred, almost scattering in all directions to escape.

Zhao Dashan was also pale and sweating profusely, but as the leader, he still had a sliver of reason left. He forced down his trembling voice and shouted, "Don't run around! This road is too dangerous. Retreat slowly and don't fall."

But obviously, his words had no effect. In the group, a young man was too anxious and accidentally stepped into a hole, rolling down the cliff.

Fortunately, the cliff below was covered with various plants, and in the panic, he managed to grab onto some shrubs, which prevented him from falling directly down.

Seeing this, the others panicked even more; some wanted to run, while others wanted to save people.

The "bark man" was clearly attracted by the presence of living people. Its empty eye sockets glowed brightly with green light, and it let out a low, inhuman roar. Its previously slow pace suddenly quickened, and it pounced on the crowd like a wild beast, moving on all fours and bringing a stench with it! It was much faster than before.

"He's asking for it!"

Ahead, Lin Yu's eyes turned cold. Instead of retreating, he stepped forward to meet the oncoming monster.

The monster's aura wasn't strong, barely reaching the bronze level; Lin Yu could easily destroy it.

He didn't use the Azure Rose or the Demon Sword; against this monster, which was clearly deeply corrupted and leaned towards evil, the extremely yang and powerful thunder magic might be more effective.

With a slight push of his feet, he shot out like an arrow, so fast that he left only a faint shadow in his wake.

He swiftly extended his right hand, his five fingers slightly curled, and a blinding white electric light suddenly condensed in his palm, emitting a chilling crackling sound.

"Palm Thunder!"

A soft shout, like a thunderclap, resounded through the valley.

Boom!

A blazing, snake-like white arc of lightning struck precisely the bark man's muscular chest, covered in bark.

"Awooo—!"

The tree-bark man let out a shrill scream that no human could utter. Lightning exploded on its body, and the supremely yang and powerful force of exorcism, like boiling water poured on snow, frantically purified and destroyed the filthy energy within its body.

Its forward momentum abruptly stopped, a large, charred, and smoking hole blasted open in its chest, instantly filling the air with a foul, burnt smell and a stench of decay.

However, this monster was incredibly resilient. Despite being severely injured, it did not die immediately. Instead, it became even more ferocious. It swung its arms, which were like withered tree branches but carried a sharp whistling sound, and frantically swept them towards Lin Yu, who was right next to it, as if it wanted to perish together with him.

Lin Yu moved with the lightness of a willow catkin, dodging the furious attack at the last second. At the same time, he joined his left fingers like a sword, gathering magic power at his fingertips, which glowed with a faint red light. He then struck the green-glowing hole on the bark man's forehead with the Seven Subduing Demon Techniques of the Green Mountain Path - Killing Technique, as fast as lightning.

puff!

Where the fingertips touched, the bark defense, harder than hardwood, was pierced like paper, and the finger wind, containing the power to ward off evil, struck directly deep into its skull.

The tree-bark man froze instantly, the green light in his eye sockets flickering violently like a candle in the wind before going out completely.

Its twisted body swayed, and finally, with a "thud," it crashed straight to the ground, twitched a few times, and then lay still.

Immediately afterwards, the bark-like tissue on its body began to wither, crack, and fall off rapidly, revealing the highly distorted flesh and bones underneath with bizarre colors and textures. Finally, with a series of "sizzling" sounds, it turned into a pool of black pus and blood that emitted a strong stench and seeped into the soil.

From the moment the monster appeared to its complete purification, the entire process took only a dozen seconds.

Behind them, Zhao Dashan and his group were already dumbfounded, their bodies weak and they could barely stand.

Where had they ever seen such swift, ruthless, and decisive exorcism methods? Their gazes as they watched Lin Yu's retreating figure were filled with the relief of surviving a calamity, an indescribable awe, and a hint of lingering fear.

"Thank you so much, Immortal Master, for saving our lives! We will never forget your great kindness in this lifetime." Zhao Dashan was the first to react. He almost scrambled to the ground and kowtowed repeatedly with a sob in his voice.

The others also seemed to wake up from their daze, and they all knelt down, their voices filled with tears of gratitude.

Only the young man still clinging to the cliff was left, shouting for help. The crowd then remembered him, and several men rushed forward to pull him up.

Lin Yu waved his hand gently: "No need for formalities, it was nothing."

His gaze fell on the pool of pus and blood that was still slightly writhing and exuding an ominous aura, and his brows furrowed.

Under the vision of the [Heavenly Eye], he could clearly "see" the extremely thick, polluted spiritual energy that condensed and did not dissipate within the pus and blood, as well as the remnant of a completely insane, twisted, and resentful spiritual imprint.

"Team Leader Zhao," Lin Yu turned to the still-shaken Zhao Dashan, his voice low and serious.

"Do you know where this thing comes from? Are these kinds of... monsters common here?"

Zhao Dashan glanced at the pool of pus and blood with lingering fear, as if afraid it would come back to life. He swallowed several times, not pondering why Lin Yu, as a "Celestial Master," didn't know about these monsters. He answered tremblingly, "Replying to...replying to the Celestial Master, this...this monstrous creature should be what the elders call a 'demonic cultivator.'"

"A demonic cultivator?" Lin Yu seized on this key phrase and pressed for details.

"Yes...yes." Zhao Dashan tried to calm his breathing and organize his thoughts: "We country bumpkins don't understand the mysteries of immortals."

I only heard from the old folks in the county who had seen the world that some immortal masters, when cultivating that all-powerful magic, if... if their will was not firm, or if they made some mistake, would "go astray in their cultivation".

It has transformed into this terrifying thing, neither human nor ghost, neither demon nor monster! It possesses immense strength, is impervious to blades and spears, and pounces on any living creature it sees, tearing it apart—it's incredibly ferocious!

"Going astray in cultivation?" Lin Yu sneered even more in his heart. This was hardly a case of going astray in cultivation due to a lack of willpower.

Clearly, the accumulated polluted spiritual energy within the body exceeded the limits that the physical body and soul could withstand and purify, resulting in the complete erosion, distortion, and alienation of the essence of life.

The so-called "new method of cultivating immortality" in this world is nothing but drinking poison to quench thirst; every step is a step on the edge of turning into a monster.

"Are there many 'demonic cultivators' like this?" Lin Yu continued to inquire.

Zhao Dashan's face immediately showed deep fear, and his voice trembled: "So many! How can there not be many! This world has simply become a breeding ground for these evil things! Every year we hear that either this deserted village has been slaughtered or that caravan has suffered a disaster in the wilderness."

The officials in the county government and those... those immortal masters and sects would occasionally send people out to clear them out, but these things were like chives in the field, they would grow back after being cut down, and they could never be completely eradicated.

It's tough on us unarmed civilians. When we're out and about, we're practically risking our lives...

Lin Yu nodded silently.

It seems that these monsters, mutated by the failure to cultivate the "new method," have become a common and pervasive source of terror on this land.

This also confirms, from another perspective, the extreme danger and uncontrollability of the "new method" practice system.

He didn't ask any more questions, and gestured for Zhao Dashan and the others to calm down as soon as possible and leave the place where they had just experienced a life-or-death battle.

After this scare, the group moved much faster. Everyone fell silent, looking at Lin Yu with awe, and taking even better care of him along the way, afraid of neglecting him in the slightest.

After a hectic and stressful journey of several hours, as the sun began to set and the sky was ablaze with the colors of sunset, the group finally caught sight of the towering city wall of Tieshu County.

Compared to the low-lying and dilapidated Heize Town, Tieshu County is indeed much more magnificent.

The earthen and stone city walls, several meters high, have been weathered and bear mottled marks. At the city gate, carriages and people come and go in an endless stream. Dozens of soldiers, armed with spears and wearing uniforms, are strictly checking people coming in and out, creating a tense atmosphere.

When it was Lin Yu's turn, he naturally couldn't produce the "road pass," the proof of identity in this world.

"Halt! Where did you come from? Show me your travel permit!" A cold-faced city guard blocked his way with a spear, shouting impatiently.

Seeing this, Zhao Dashan quickly stepped forward, a humble smile plastered on his face, and bowed respectfully: "Sir, please calm down! Sir, please calm down! This...this is a traveling immortal master who has just emerged from his cultivation in the deep mountains, so...so he doesn't have a travel permit. Please do me a favor, sir..."

"Immortal Master?" Upon hearing this, the soldier looked Lin Yu up and down a few times. He saw that Lin Yu was very young, dressed plainly, and looked travel-worn. Apart from his calm demeanor, he was far removed from the legendary images of strange or otherworldly "Immortal Masters".

He couldn't help but scoff, mocking, "Immortal Master? Hmph! I bet you're just another charlatan trying to sneak into the city! Without a travel permit, no matter how much you bluff, you're not getting in! Get out of here!"

Lin Yu frowned slightly. He didn't want to get entangled here and cause trouble, but he couldn't be stopped outside the city either.

His mind raced, and he had an idea. With his expression unchanged, he slowly raised his right hand and extended his index finger.

The next moment, to the astonishment of everyone around, a thin, yet incredibly condensed, white arc of electricity appeared out of thin air on his fingertip, like a living spirit.

The electric arc twisted slightly, emitting a subtle yet clear crackling sound. An aura of supreme yang and strength, capable of making mortal souls instinctively tremble, quietly spread out from Lin Yu's fingertips.

This scene, as if imbued with a magical spell, instantly froze the noisy air at the city gate.

The soldier, who had initially looked disdainful, froze instantly, his eyes bulging as if someone had grabbed him by the neck, filled with unbelievable terror.

He felt a chill run from his feet to the top of his head, his legs went weak, and he collapsed to his knees with a thud, kowtowing repeatedly, his voice trembling uncontrollably: "Immortal...Immortal Master, please forgive me! I was blind! I looked down on you! I offended your divine presence! Please, Immortal Master, spare my life! Spare my life!"

The other soldiers also changed color, retreating several steps like a receding tide, bending over and bowing their heads, not daring to breathe.

To be able to control lightning with one's bare hands is no ordinary trickery; it is the true power of immortals. Offending such a person means you'll die without even knowing how.

There are immortal masters in Tieshu County, and they know all too well the strange methods of these "immortal masters".

With a thought, Lin Yu's fingertip arc of electricity vanished silently, as if it had never appeared.

He looked down at the kneeling soldiers begging for mercy, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Now, may I enter the city?"

"Yes! Yes! Immortal Master, please! Please come into the city quickly!" The soldier didn't dare to raise his head, and almost crawled to make way, his voice trembling with tears.