Excessive ferocity due to caution

Zhao Yi currently has no knowledge of anything above the Great Calamity.

But he knew that the Great Calamity was by no means the limit of the power system in this world.

He doesn't yet have the strength to access higher levels of the world.

In the current situation, taking each step carefully is the most important thing.

After withdrawing from the spiritual world, Zhao Yi spent the 160,000 points he had just earned to buy 32 fragments of the Analects.

282 images!

We've already completed more than half of the collection!

It'll be soon!

Zhao Yi sorted through his spoils and suddenly had a whim to combine the Magic Barrett with the very hard mouth.

In any case, these two things were dispensable to him.

Could combining these two things create something quite interesting?

With that in mind, he took out the Magic Barrett and a very hard mouth.

...

[Item: Magic Barrett]

[Quality: Purple]

[Introduction: From an ancient wizarding family on a certain planet, after the steam age, they discovered that Muggles had invented a terrifying weapon—firearms. Some dark wizards drew inspiration from the Muggles and created this magical Barrett!]

[Effect: 100% of damage dealt is converted into magic damage, and recoil is greatly reduced.]

[Inventor's message: ...Still eating melons? You bunch of roughnecks, all you do is eat melons all day, what good are you? Your methods are outdated! These days, young people are all about guns! Guns!]

...

Zhao Yi took out the Regeneration Machine and threw the Magic Barrett into it.

Then he pulled out a very hard mouth.

It is indeed hard.

After being unsealed from the system containment facility, it kept talking to Zhao Yi:

"I know I'm going to die, but I'm going to hold on..."

"You are a god or demon!"

"You only saw the second level, but you thought of me as the first. Actually, I'm on the fifth level. Kill me? No way. Watch me rip out your big bird..."

Before it could finish its harsh words, Zhao Yi had already thrown it into the recycling machine.

The reprocessing machine roared to life.

The sound from that mouth disappeared in a very short time.

puff!

The regeneration machine spat out a new toy gun for Zhao Yi.

The muzzle of a gun is a mouth.

It's still that same stubborn mouth.

It didn't change its shape at all!

...

[Item: Barrett the Conversationalist]

[Quality: Gold]

[Description: A tough mouth + magical Barrett.]

[Effect: After selecting a target and firing, the "Hard Mouth" will continuously inflict mental damage on them. This damage is highly corrosive, and the effects vary depending on the target's mental strength.]

[Note: When your mental strength is higher than your opponent's, 30% of Barrett's verbal attacks will be converted into true damage!]

...

"Um?!"

Zhao Yi looked at the description of the toy gun in his hand and was momentarily stunned.

He held the gun in his hand and weighed it in his hand.

It seems like they gave us something really fun this time!

Holding a toy gun, Zhao Yi wanted to find something to test it on, but he felt rather lost and confused as he looked around for the gun...

He sighed and put his gun away.

Let's wait and see when we have another chance!

Di-

A system message arrived.

Zhao opened it.

The message comes from the warehouse's Oni-warrior quantity.

"Master, the Green Bamboo Society helped us get a small plot of land in the ruined city, and we set up a bar there, but we quickly ran into trouble..."

Zhao Yi frowned.

Before he entered the private secret realm last time, he made an agreement with the people of the Green Bamboo Society, asking them to help him find a place to stay in the abandoned city.

At that time, the people of the Green Bamboo Society had already told Zhao Yi that their influence in the ruined city was not great, and that they had recently clashed with other forces.

Zhao Yi quickly arrived at the Xieshan Hotel.

Warehouse Ghost and Chris are discussing the abandoned city bar, but all Chris can offer are business advice, not solutions to the illegal activities.

"Master..."

The warehouse ghost stood up and bowed to Zhao Yi.

The metal box on his body disappeared, and he transformed into a strong and robust man.

Zhao Yi knew that this was a sign of the warehouse ghost's growing strength.

The aura emanating from him... grew increasingly profound.

The battle with the mountain god of Zili Village granted the warehouse ghost a trace of the power of rules, from which the warehouse ghost benefited greatly.

"Our tavern just opened in the ruins, and someone's already causing trouble?"

The warehouse ghost's expression turned somewhat solemn.

"Yes."

"Over the years, the abandoned city has developed into a relatively complete area, the largest city in the south. Many forces have gathered here. After taking root in the abandoned city, they are divided into different classes and protect each other. It is very difficult for outside forces to get in and get a share of the pie."

"Unless there's someone influential inside... or the pay is high enough!"

"We need to take care of everything, including all the nearby businesses..."

"Otherwise, the oppression we face won't just be from one side, but from..."

Zhao Yi understood what the warehouse ghost had said.

These small factions that have settled in the ruined city have already formed alliances.

Dealing with one is equivalent to dealing with hundreds of others...

If you want to get around them, squeeze in a little further.

Then we need to bribe everyone here.

That was a terrifying advance payment.

Because the amount was too large, the warehouse genius felt hesitant and wanted to discuss it with Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi pondered for a moment.

If he were strong enough, he would not hesitate to wipe out these guys without the slightest hesitation.

But right now... we can't just do what we want.

The left brain thinks first, then the right brain thinks next.

Zhao Yi thought of someone.

—Xu Shengzhi.

That horror novelist with kidney deficiency.

He's a native of the abandoned city; maybe he can help me?

Alternatively, you could ask Barbara.

Although the Liu Group has no branches in the abandoned city, since it was left behind by Liu Ruoqing, it naturally has some foundation.

With this in mind, Zhao Yi had the warehouse ghost make some preparations and went to the abandoned city together. Under Xu Shengzhi's guidance, they found Xu Shengzhi in the slums.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Isn't it a joy to have friends coming from afar?"

Xu Shengzhi warmly welcomed Zhao Yi as he entered—he struggled to turn over in his doghouse and put on his pants.

Zhao Yi looked at the toilet paper scattered on the floor and raised an eyebrow, saying:

"Brother Xu, you have quite the refined taste."

Xu Shengzhi coughed awkwardly.

"Hey—haven't you been lacking inspiration lately...?"

"Looking for inspiration...looking for inspiration..."

He quickly tidied up his room and, with a pained expression, opened a carton of yogurt that had expired five years ago for Zhao Yi.

Zhao Yi politely declined.

"Thank you, I don't want any."

Xu Shengzhi laughed upon hearing this, then happily shoved the yogurt straw into his mouth and sipped vigorously, asking curiously:

"By the way, Brother Zhao, what brings you here all of a sudden?"

Zhao glanced at Xu Shengzhi's situation, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke of the predicament he was facing.

Upon hearing this, Xu Shengzhi immediately declared with boundless pride:

"You're bullying my friend, Xu Shengzhi?"

"No way!"

"Let's go, Brother Zhao!"

"Treat me to a meal first, and we can reminisce about the deep bond we've built over the past few weeks!"

"Once we've had our fill of food and drink, I'll do a sliding tackle..."

He spoke animatedly to Zhao Yi, describing to him the ruthless methods he would use to deal with those who opposed him.

Zhao Yi tilted his head back slightly.

"Xu Shengzhi...are you trying to freeload?"

Xu Shengzhi, who was speaking eloquently, suddenly froze, then chuckled awkwardly:

"How can something between friends be called lying?"

Zhao Yi sighed.

To end up looking like this, neither human nor ghost... only a novelist could do that.

"Forget it, I'm not counting on you anymore."

He left some money and prepared to leave.

Xu Shengzhi suddenly said:

"Brother Zhao, I'm not joking with you."

Zhao turned around and looked at him calmly.

Xu Shengzhi's joking expression vanished.

"You want me to do something for you? In return, you can treat me to a meal... That's not too much to ask, is it?"

PS: Only two updates today. I've been preparing for the next chapter, which has two stories. I'm not sure which one to write first.

Hmm... I'll think about it some more. I think we should start preparing to open a new dungeon in the next day or two.

Goodnight, my darlings!