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

The demon assassin moved erratically, weaving through the gaps in the pillars of lava like a ghost, but he was also forced into a somewhat disheveled state.

With her superb agility, the blue fox narrowly avoided several pillars of fire.

Lin Yu activated [Spatial Leap] instantly, appearing in mid-air and avoiding the explosion on the ground.

But he could feel that the surrounding air had become scorching and viscous, greatly restricting his movements.

Just then, the Voidwalker's somewhat weak but still calm voice came from the void: "Don't rush, hold on for one minute, I have already activated the group spatial imprint."

"Let's give it our all!"

The ancient warrior roared, his totems igniting as if on fire, his body swelling once more as he charged toward the lava demon, attempting to draw its attention.

"Hey big guy! Look here!"

Enraged, the lava demon punched the ancient warrior.

The fist fell like a meteorite, carrying the force to destroy everything.

The ancient warrior roared and threw out both fists, colliding with the giant lava fist.

boom--!!!

With a deafening roar like Mars colliding with Earth, the ancient warrior spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into the rock wall and embedding himself within it.

"Ancient times!"

The blue fox exclaimed in surprise, and in a flash, it appeared next to the ancient warrior, its green life energy surging.

The demon assassin's expression turned grim, and his hands moved even faster as he formed hand seals. The countless demonic phantoms behind him coalesced into a gigantic ghostly hand, reaching for the lava demon's head: "Ten Thousand Demons Devour the Heart!"

A flash of fire appeared in the lava demon's eyes, and the enormous ghostly hand vanished like snow under the sun.

The huge level difference greatly reduced the effectiveness of the Demon Slayer's bizarre methods.

The Lava Demon slammed down with its other hand, covering the area where the Demon Slayer, the Blue Fox, and the Ancient Warrior were located.

At this critical moment, Lin Yu made his move. He knew he could no longer hold back.

[Leveraging resources] We've already used it today.

So, only one of our last trump cards remains!

[Transformation into a Dragon]!

boom--!

A surge of immense magical power erupted from Lin Yu's body like a burst dam, and his body began to undergo dramatic changes!

A torrent of power filled with resentment and destruction forcefully poured into Lin Yu's limbs and bones. His body swelled and mutated rapidly under Kasa's astonished gaze, instantly transforming into a miniature version of the eerie dragon that exuded a terrifying and malevolent pressure.

"roar--!"

The dragon's roar echoed through the rift valley, temporarily drowning out the lava demon's howl.

Having accumulated the King's Battle Technique for so long, coupled with the Dragon Transformation, Lin Yu's strength has now skyrocketed to the peak of the Diamond level.

The lava demon's massive hand, which had been slamming down, paused slightly. Its burning eyes looked at the monstrous dragon that Lin Yu had transformed into, and a hint of surprise appeared on its face: "A dragon? Interesting!"

The strange dragon that Lin Yu had transformed into was surrounded by Samadhi True Fire and wisps of dark red lightning. When he opened his dragon mouth, he spewed out a [Dragon Breath] that was condensed with destructive power.

boom!!!

The dragon's breath and the lava demon's giant hand collided violently, causing a massive explosion!

The energy impact forced the surrounding magma back!

The lava demon's giant hand was blasted back slightly, leaving a charred and corroded mark on its palm.

Upon seeing this, the demon assassin's eyes lit up.

"Witcher brothers, awesome!"

The ancient warrior embedded in the rock wall also struggled to raise his head and grinned.

Lin Yu, in his monstrous dragon form, hovered in mid-air, feeling the surging power within his body.

After transforming into a dragon, his physical attributes were greatly improved in all aspects. Although he was still not as good as a true Shining Stone level, he already had the ability to fight against one or two opponents head-on!

"Attack together, hold it off!" Lin Yu roared.

"Good!" The demon slayer was greatly encouraged and once again used his secret technique, casting countless curses and weakening halos upon the lava demon.

Qinghu also focused on stabilizing the ancient warrior's injuries while casting illusions to disrupt the lava demon's senses.

The lava demon was completely enraged.

It never expected that these few ants could hurt it. It pounded its chest with its fists, making a sound like war drums. The magma in the entire heart of the molten core began to boil, as if it had come to life, turning into countless giant magma pythons that rushed towards the crowd from all directions.

"Beware of ley line disturbances!"

The vicious killer cried out in alarm.

The dragon that Lin Yu had transformed into roared, and countless rockets condensed from Samadhi True Fire rained down on the giant magma pythons, shattering and vaporizing them one by one.

At the same time, his massive dragon body crashed directly into the lava demon, his claws wreathed in true fire and lightning, fiercely clawing at its chest.

The lava demon roared as it clashed with the monstrous dragon. Each collision caused the earth to tremble.

With his powerful physique after transforming into a dragon, his eerie dragon breath, and the assistance of the Demon Killer and the Green Fox, Lin Yu barely managed to withstand the Lava Demon's frenzied attacks, but he was still at a significant disadvantage. His dragon scales kept breaking, and charred wounds appeared all over his body.

Time seemed to slow down dramatically, each second feeling like an eternity.

"Hurry, Void!"

The Demon Slayer was sweating profusely; maintaining such a high level of power was extremely taxing on him.

A trickle of blood also spilled from the corner of Qinghu's mouth. He had suffered a backlash for overusing illusion magic to interfere with a Shining Stone-level being.

The ancient warriors have rejoined the battlefield, but it's not of much use.

Just as the lava demon condensed a gigantic lava fireball powerful enough to destroy the entire rift, preparing to annihilate everyone in one fell swoop—

"It's done!"

The Voidwalker's voice rang out like heavenly music!

Behind each of them, a stable, oval-shaped spatial portal emitting a soft purple light suddenly opened.

"Go!" Lin Yu roared, unleashing his last breath of dragon fire to temporarily force back the lava demon. Then, he used his dragon tail to lift the ancient warrior, who was severely injured again, and flung him into the spatial portal behind him. Afterward, he also rushed towards the spatial portal.

Without hesitation, the Demon Slayer and the Green Fox transformed into two streaks of light and shot into the area.

The lava demon's massive fireball crashed down on the spot where everyone had just been, turning that area into a void of lava!

But it was too late.

"Roar—!!!" A furious and unwilling roar echoed through the rift valley.

……

In a safe area dozens of kilometers away from the rift valley, a purple portal flickered, and five disheveled figures stumbled out.

The portal closed instantly.

Pfft!

Lin Yu deactivated his dragon form and returned to human form. He knelt on the ground, panting heavily, his face as pale as paper.

The transformation into a dragon consumes an extremely high amount of mana and physical strength. Coupled with the injuries caused by withstanding the attack of the Shining Stone level, he was also at his limit.

The diamond-grade [Symbiotic Willow Vine] emitted a vibrant green light and began to absorb the earth's power to heal him.

The ancient warrior lay on the ground, his chest heaving violently, but his face bore a smile of relief.

The blue fox is doing everything it can to treat him.

The Demon Slayer straightened his tattered tuxedo. Though disheveled, his eyes remained calm as he looked at the Voidwalker who emerged last.

The Voidwalker was in the worst condition. He collapsed to the ground, his aura weak, as if his body had been hollowed out. He chuckled bitterly, "Damn it... a Radiant Stone level... even more terrifying than I imagined... I almost... almost didn't make it back..."

After resting for a while, everyone finally caught their breath.

The Voidwalker looked at the Blue Fox and asked, "How was the harvest, Blue Fox?"

"It exceeded our expectations."

Upon hearing the Voidwalker's question, Qinghu smiled and took out his spoils from his spatial equipment.

Six [Obsidian-grade Flame Cores], and a mountain of [Diamond-grade Lava Vein Crystals], in addition to a large quantity of various diamond-grade and platinum-grade materials.

Upon seeing their harvest, all five of them smiled.

This was a great deal!

The Voidwalker looked at Lin Yu and said weakly, "Witcher, we owe you a lot this time. If you hadn't withstood most of the pressure, we would all have perished there."

So, you take two [Radiant Flame Cores], and the rest will be split equally, how about that?"

The Ancient Warrior, Demon Slayer, and Blue Fox had no objections to this allocation plan.

Lin Yu's performance in the battle just now earned him everyone's respect.

Without him, let alone the materials, we probably wouldn't even have survived.

They underestimated the strength of the Obsidian-level monsters.

Lin Yu glanced at everyone, then nodded without any pretense, "Okay."

He took the two pulsating flame cores, which were scalding hot to the touch. The immense flame energy contained within them made the Samadhi True Fire within his body leap with joy.

This item has immeasurable benefits for his cultivation of the "Divine Fire Heart Sutra" and the "Molten Fire Demon Body".

"Haha, although it was thrilling, the gains were huge!" The ancient warrior struggled to sit up and grinned.

"Witcher, welcome to the team! We'll definitely call you again for any exciting events like this!"

The demon assassin smiled and nodded at Lin Yu.

Qinghu watched Lin Yu's beautiful eyes flicker.

Clearly, the three of them had completely accepted Lin Yu as their teammate.

The Voidwalker rested for a while, then struggled to his feet.

"Next, everyone go back to recover from your injuries and digest what you've learned. We'll contact each other again for the next operation," the Voidwalker said.

Everyone nodded in agreement. This expedition was a close call, but it was also very rewarding, and it will take time to reflect on its success.

He then looked at Lin Yu and took out a badge from his storage space and gave it to him: "This is a prop I made myself. It contains my spatial energy and spatial imprint."

If there are any further actions, I will contact you through my friends list. At that time, you only need to enter the Black Mist World and use your magic to activate the spatial energy inside, and I will be able to sense it and open the door for you.

However, this thing does have a range limitation, but normally it should be more than enough.

"OK, I understand."

Lin Yu put away the badge and nodded.

After exchanging contact information, everyone returned to their respective apartments.

……

Lin Yu returned to his familiar apartment, feeling the peaceful aura emanating from the statue of Zhenjun and the portrait of Nezha, and let out a long sigh of relief.

He placed two [Radiant Stone-grade Flame Cores] on the offering table in front of the True Lord and the Third Prince in the Daoist study.

Sensing the sudden increase in the presence of flames in the study, he nodded in satisfaction.

This adventure, though dangerous, was worthwhile.

Not only did they obtain high-level resources, but they also initially integrated into a formidable squad.

He didn't rush to absorb the flame core; his priority was to recover his condition.

Even with the blessing of dragon transformation, his direct confrontation with the Radiant Lava Demon still caused him considerable internal injuries, leaving his mana, physical strength, and mental energy nearly exhausted.

The vibrant green light emanating from the symbiotic willow vine and the power of the earth continuously nourished his body, but a full recovery would still take time.

He created a shadow clone to cultivate on the side, while he himself sat cross-legged on a futon in the center of the study, first offering three sticks of incense to the statue of Qingyuan Miaodao Zhenjun and the painting of Nezha making havoc in the sea.

With his comprehension boosted by 500% in the study, he carefully reviewed every detail of his battle with the Lava Demon, especially his understanding of power control in his dragon form and the oppressive feeling of walking on the edge of life and death when facing an absolutely powerful enemy.

This experience itself is a treasure.

He then took out the [Diamond-grade Abyss Dragon Soul] and some auxiliary materials obtained from the Nightmare Mansion, and began to practice the method of "Molten Flame Demon Body".

The Dragon Soul contains the origin of the dragon race and the power of the abyss. Although its attributes are biased towards darkness, under the effect of the Molten Flame Demon Body's ability to melt all things into one's own body, it is gradually extracted, purified, and integrated into his limbs and bones, strengthening his physical body.

At the same time, he also took Moon Spring Capsules and pure spring water to accelerate the recovery of his magical power.

Consciousness then sinks into the [Nightmare Mental World], cultivating while maintaining recovery.

Time flies by during intensive practice.

When Lin Yu opened his eyes again, it was a day later.

"Well enough."

Lin Yu got up and stretched his body.

In that one day, not only did his injuries fully recover, but his strength also improved significantly.

He could feel that the Molten Flame Demon Body had significantly increased his physical strength.

It must be said that the Dragon Soul and the Lava Vein Crystal are indeed very suitable for this technique.

"It's time to absorb them."

Lin Yu stared intently at the two flame cores.

He took a deep breath, picked up one of the cores, and activated the Divine Fire Heart Sutra at full power.

Om-!

The core of the flame seemed to be activated, bursting out with a dazzling crimson light. A vast expanse of pure flame energy surged into Lin Yu's hands like a flood.

If it weren't for the Samadhi Heart Fire protecting his body, and the physical enhancement from the Molten Flame Demon Body, he might have been injured by the flames.

Intense pain surged through my meridians, as if magma were flowing through my body.

But Lin Yu focused his mind and guided this energy along the specific route of the "Divine Fire Heart Sutra" to circulate and refine it.

The Samadhi True Fire within his body was like a gluttonous beast that had been starving for a long time, frantically devouring the Radiant Stone-level flame energy. The flames grew and transformed at a visible speed, their color gradually changing from the original transparent with a golden tinge to a deeper gold.

Time flies, and another day has passed.

Lin Yu slowly opened his eyes, and deep within his pupils seemed to be two clusters of dark golden flames burning quietly before disappearing.

He exhaled a soft breath, the heat of which scorched the air in front of him, causing it to distort slightly.

"Obsidian-grade... truly extraordinary."

Lin Yu felt the surging power within him, and a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.

Although the time was short and he was unable to absorb all of the core, only about one-tenth of it, even so, the energy of the obsidian-grade core greatly increased his total mana, and its quality became more condensed and pure.

The power of the Samadhi True Fire has also increased considerably.

Now, if he were to face that lava demon again, he still wouldn't dare claim victory, but he would certainly not be as pathetic as before. At least he would have more confidence to maneuver and counterattack.

"Their strength has improved significantly. Let's see how they are doing." With a thought, Lin Yu opened his friends panel, found Void Walker's friends, and casually typed a message.

Voidwalker: "Yo, a demon hunter? You're recovering pretty quickly! How was your harvest?"

"It's alright, you guys have improved quite a bit, haven't you?" Lin Yu replied.

"They've almost fully recovered. That ancient guy is tough and resilient; he was up and running again after just a couple of days of rest."

The Blue Fox and the Demon Slayer were a bit exhausted, but they were fine and were discussing their next operation.

How's your preparation going? I've made a new discovery here.

"What did you discover?" Lin Yu asked.

"Remember that [damaged coordinate badge] you had before? I had someone study it, and combined with my abilities, we roughly pinpointed a direction. I've already checked it."

That shattered world appears to be an abandoned game world themed around "the undead" and "curses," codenamed "The Abyss of the Dead."

The Voidwalker continued, "Based on information I've gathered from some players, this is likely a world that was recently destroyed, and there may be some special heritages or resources related to souls and curses remaining within it."

Of course, the danger level isn't low either. After all, matters involving the soul are quite troublesome, and this world seems rather difficult. Do you have any thoughts?

"The Abyss of the Dead? Souls and curses?" Lin Yu's heart stirred.

He possesses the diamond-level necromancer item, the [King's Skull], and his Sharingan and Heavenly Eye also touch upon the spiritual and soul realm to some extent. If he could find relevant resources or knowledge, it would be quite beneficial for him.

"If you're interested, when do you plan to leave?" Lin Yu asked directly.

Voidwalker: "I knew you'd be interested. We need a little more time to make final preparations, mainly to collect some protective items against the undead and curses."

You can also collect some from your own neighborhood, and we'll meet at the usual spot in two days, okay?

"Okay." Lin Yu thought for a moment and agreed to the time.

After the communication was interrupted, Lin Yu did not rest.

He first entered the Nightmare World to familiarize himself with his new power.

With a thought, dark golden flames silently ignited, and the surrounding nightmare energy seemed to have met its nemesis, retreating in all directions.

He attempted to manipulate the flames, transforming them into various forms such as knives, swords, and whips, which he could control with ease and with astonishing power.

He even tried to infuse a wisp of Samadhi True Fire into the demonic bullets of the Azure Rose. The bullets fired not only carried physical and demonic impacts, but also had a terrifying, continuous burning effect, greatly increasing their destructive power.

Next, he tested the [Dragon Transformation] skill.

Somewhat unexpectedly, he vaguely sensed that as he absorbed the influence of the [Abyss Dragon Soul], the strange dragon form he had transformed into seemed to be undergoing some subtle changes.

It carries a hint of the Black Dragon.

……

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Lin Yu entered the black fog world again through the community gate on time.

He took out the badge given to him by the Voidwalker and infused it with mana.

Soon, ripples appeared in the space ahead, and a familiar purple portal opened.

Stepping inside, we arrived once again at the temporary safe area that served as the rendezvous point.

Voidwalker, Ancient Warrior, Demon Slayer, and Blue Fox were already waiting there.

"Witcher brother! Haha, I feel like you've gotten even stronger!" The ancient warrior was still as hearty as ever, patting Lin Yu's shoulder hard. Feeling the steady, mountain-like aura, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Slight improvement." Lin Yu smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone.

The Voidwalker still looked like he hadn't woken up yet.

The demon assassin changed into a new tuxedo, still elegant and composed.

Qinghu, on the other hand, was dressed in a neat and sleek adventure outfit, looking dashing and heroic.

Clearly, after the last joint effort and resource allocation, everyone's strength has improved, and the team atmosphere is more harmonious.

"It seems everyone is ready." The Voidwalker yawned and said, "Everyone has seen the information about the Abyss of the Dead, so I won't go into details."

Although the exact appearance inside is uncertain, everyone is still taking extra care to protect their souls and not let them be corrupted by any ancient resentment.

Just in case.

He took out several amulets that emitted a soft white light and distributed them to everyone: "These are [Purification Amulets], which can resist soul erosion and low-level curses to a certain extent. Wear them all."

Everyone took the amulets and put them on.

Although Lin Yu was protected by nightmares and had strong mental resistance, he did not refuse.

More protection means more safety.

"Set off!"

The Voidwalker formed hand seals, and powerful spatial energy surged once more, constructing a more stable spatial passage with silver runes shimmering at its edges.

The five people exchanged glances, nodded, and stepped into the spatial passage one by one.

After a brief feeling of weightlessness, everyone felt their feet firmly on the ground.

A cold, decaying scent, mixed with a faint smell of blood, instantly filled my nostrils.

The sky was gray, devoid of sun, moon, and stars, only filled with leaden-gray clouds that seemed poised to press down at any moment.

The land was a dark brown wasteland, littered with withered bones and broken tombstones, with a collapsed ancient castle and a twisted, withered forest faintly visible in the distance.

The air was thick with the aura of death and the faint wails of vengeful spirits, making people feel involuntarily oppressed and apprehensive.

"This is the border between the Abyss of the Dead and the Black Mist World. Because the world was shattered, a part of it overlapped with the real world."

The Voidwalker began to explain.

"Such a dense aura of death..."

The blue fox frowned slightly; as a demon, she instinctively felt uncomfortable in this environment.

"It feels like I've stumbled into the lair of some undead overlord." The ancient warrior clenched his fists, his blood surging, radiating a scorching aura that dispelled the approaching chilling death energy.

The demon slayer took a deep breath, a look of near ecstasy on his face: "Such pure soul wails and curse power... What a delightful aura."

The demonic phantoms around him seemed to become more active.

Clearly, this place felt like home to him.

Lin Yu's words didn't elicit much response, but the Monarch Skull on his body reacted, frantically absorbing the surrounding necromantic and soul energy and transforming it into the Flame of the Dead.

Lin Yu activated his Heavenly Eye and scanned his surroundings.

In his vision, this world was filled with countless twisted, tormented fragments of souls and black threads of cursed energy.

In some places, the deathly aura was so thick it was impossible to dissipate.

"Come with me, let's go inside."

The Voidwalker waved his hand and spoke.