[Initiated Chain Mission: Search for Combustible Substances]
[Mission Description: The fire of a high-piled firewood on this snowy night provides not only heat but also wards off hidden dangers. However, there is a shortage of combustible materials. Without finding new sources, the flames will burn out in the middle of the night, leaving us vulnerable.]
[Mission Tasks: Find enough combustible substances. The more, the safer we'll be...]
[Mission Tip: Seek quickly while it's still daylight, but be cautious... there are things to watch out for.]
[Mission Reward: You've been working hard to survive. Do you also desire a reward?]
Lu Li pursed his lips, neither approving nor disapproving. While he could withstand the freezing temperatures outside with his current abilities, he was dressed in a short-sleeved garment, and even with his extraordinary control, he couldn't stay in the icy world for long.
Observing the scant amount of firewood, Lu Li stood up and spoke with a smile to the old man, "There isn't much firewood left, and the high-piled firewood fire is estimated to go out during the night. I'll go look for more fuel."
"Young master? Your attire is thin, this..." The old man's tone carried a hint of confusion. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "It's getting dark now, it wouldn't be appropriate for the young master to go out. Let the fire go out for tonight, and we can gather together. Tomorrow, we'll continue our search for firewood."
"It won't affect me much, but you, old sir, are different. It's cold weather now, and without the high-piled firewood fire, you'll suffer through a harsh night." Lu Li looked at the old man, who was wearing patched clothes that weren't in the best condition. Without the warmth of the fire, he wouldn't be able to bear it until the next day.
"I'll be completely back before it's pitch black. You don't need to be too polite, and thank you for the clothes." Lu Li said, not waiting for the old man to respond. He opened the front door of the ruined temple and stepped outside into the frigid wind and heavy snow.
Lu Li's spirit trembled as he took another look at the icy and snowy surroundings. Then, he fixed his gaze on a small mountain ridge behind the ruined temple, exhaling white clouds as he took his first step. Stepping on the thick snow, Lu Li could feel the bone-chilling cold, but he didn't have time to be afraid.
As he entered the small mountain ridge, he found dead trees and withered shrubs scattered everywhere, making it relatively easy to find firewood. However, the Mission Tip warned him of potential danger, which could be more than just environmental hazards. Perhaps there were dangerous lifeforms or... monsters.
He carefully searched for fallen deadwood amidst the icy snow. These dead branches were not ready for immediate use as firewood; they would need to be dried and ignited later. Lu Li took off his short-sleeved garment, tearing it into strips and spreading them on the ground. He placed the collected deadwood on top and realized that time was running out as darkness fell. Lu Li tied up the cloth strips tightly around the wood, forming a bundle, and exerted his strength to carry the load. The icy cold wood against his back was discomforting, but he didn't have time to complain. Lu Li lifted his feet and continued walking, keeping a vigilant eye on his surroundings.
With the weather almost dark and the visibility low in the snowy night, the Mission Tip warned him that
danger was no longer present. This meant he needed to be extra careful. The game had transported him from scorching summers directly into a winter landscape covered in ice and snow, and the prompts were not to be taken lightly.
Traversing through the snowy terrain with the weight of the firewood on his back was burdensome, but Lu Li's physical condition was excellent. The game's appraisal had given him favorable data, with his physical ability surpassing the average human by a significant margin. Although he didn't understand the exact significance of the numbers, it proved that Lu Li's physical condition exceeded the average.
By exerting control over his body, Lu Li could enhance the absorption of food nutrients in his stomach, strengthen his liver's toxin expulsion capacity, and expel harmful substances that entered his body through daily consumption. He could even control his muscles to continuously contract, effectively simulating exercise. However, this ability had only been acquired a year ago. Previously, Lu Li had no reason to intentionally exercise since his body was naturally healthy. Suddenly, Lu Li stopped, his ears perked up. He then forcefully controlled his muscles, unleashing a burst of power that propelled him forward. It seemed as if he were flying, leaving deep footprints in the snow. The human body possessed various protective mechanisms, such as the physical strength of the skeleton and muscles, which had their limits. Lu Li's muscles immediately reached their full capacity, theoretically capable of lifting 25 tons. However, that was just theory. In normal circumstances, an ordinary person could use their muscles to about 20% of their capacity. Any high-intensity movement could risk self-inflicted damage, such as muscle strains or even bone fractures.
A relentless monster pursued Lu Li from behind. It resembled a humanoid creature, bald-headed with visible dark-colored blood vessels. Its skin was as if it lacked a layer, exposing large, sharp teeth stained with frothy blood and its pale body covered in tattered garments.
The monster's speed was peculiarly fast, using its hands and feet to propel itself forward, leaving deep claw marks in the snow. Although it was faster than Lu Li, there was no immediate danger.
The flame-lit ruined temple appeared not far away in Lu Li's vision. As the monster drew nearer, Lu Li stopped before the broken temple gate. He pressed his hand against it, releasing the lumber from his back and instead focused his attention on the approaching monster. As he caught sight of the monster, a new prompt appeared in the corner of his eye:
[Monster Discovered: Updating Data]
[Corpse Demon]
[Physical Evaluation: 2.01; Life Force: 1.3 (normal human average: 1/0.01)]
[Soul Evaluation: 0.5; Spiritual Energy: 0.12 (normal human average: 1/0.1)]
[Category: Infection-Type]
[Spawning Method: It was a human before death, but improper handling of the corpse led to infection, transforming it into a vengeful monster with a strong animosity toward the living.]
[Special Ability: Rigor Mortis: The monster's body is fixed in this form by unknown means. Any damage inflicted on its body will regenerate within a certain period of time.]
[Weakness: Given the nature of this dungeon, it's safe to assume that fire is effective! Other positive or direct energy sources, as well as various dispelling abilities, might also be useful.]
[Monster Appraisal: Highly formidable, with a truly troublesome special ability. It has few weaknesses and is quite formidable.]