Chapter 95: Going Deeper

The second Liu Yun saw the wide corridor covered in thick moss and black vines, her scalp went numb. Her fingers tightened around the wooden stick as she scanned the long corridor.

Seeing that the entire corridor was covered in thick moss and black vines, Liu Yun gritted her teeth and thought, ’Liu Yun, don’t be a coward! You can do it!’

After repeating these words a few times in her heart, Liu Yun raised her feet and walked out of the small room.

As she walked down the long, wide corridor, the lamps installed in the ceiling kept flickering.

The dim, flickering lights illuminated the corridor and provided Liu Yun with some visibility, but they also made the surroundings feel even more frightening.

The eerie atmosphere, combined with the musty and faint chemical smell in the air, caused Liu Yun’s heartbeat to quicken as she walked farther down the corridor.

Crush... crush... crush...

With every step Liu Yun took, the sound of something being crushed beneath her soles and the sticky sensation sent goosebumps across her skin.

Lowering her gaze, Liu Yun looked at the floor for the first time. When she saw the black vines covering it, her mind went blank.

’Ahh!! Even the floor is covered by the black vines!’

Recalling the scene of the face appearing on the giant tree’s trunk and sucking away the human trapped inside the black sack, Liu Yun’s stomach churned.

Bending slightly, she suddenly vomited. "Blergh~!!"

While she was vomiting, a notification suddenly rang in her mind.

Ding!

[A poisonous substance has been detected in the air. Emergency protection has been activated.]

Listening to the notification, Liu Yun froze in place. Before she could react, another notification came.

Ding!

[A special item has been added to the System Store for two minutes. The Player is advised to purchase the item immediately before it is removed.]

Hearing this, Liu Yun came back to her senses. Without hesitation, she quickly opened the System Store.

Seeing a new icon named [Special Sale] appear on the System Store’s main interface, she quickly pressed it. A second later, a new transparent blue screen appeared in front of her.

[Pure Air Protection Mask]

[Quality: Rare]

[Grade: Blue]

[Type: Defensive Gear]

[Duration: 24 hours of continuous use.]

[Shelf Life: Permanent]

[Purchase Limit: 1]

[Effect: Blocks 95% of ordinary airborne toxins and poisonous gases. Neutralizes common biological contaminants and harmful particulates. Provides protection against smoke, chemical fumes, spores, and mildly corrosive gases.]

[Limitation: Extremely concentrated toxins may gradually consume the mask’s purification capacity. Does not protect the user’s eyes or exposed skin from direct contact with poisonous substances. Once its purification capacity is exhausted, the mask will be automatically destroyed.]

[Price: 500 System Points]

[Information: A lightweight protective mask developed by an advanced civilization. It can automatically detect and neutralize most airborne toxins, poisonous gases, biological contaminants, and harmful particles.

Unlike ordinary masks, the Pure-Air Protection Mask does not merely filter the air. It actively purifies contaminated air before it enters the wearer’s respiratory system.]

[Buy] [Exit]

Liu Yun read the item’s details carefully, then gritted her teeth and sold 50 Level 0 Zombie Crystal Cores to the System.

Ding!

[Successfully sold 50 Level 0 Zombie Crystal Cores. Obtained 500 System Points. Player, please check your balance.]

After gathering enough System Points, Liu Yun pressed the [Buy] button.

Ding!

[Thank you for your purchase, Player. The item has been delivered to your inventory.]

Receiving the notification, Liu Yun exited the System Store, then opened her inventory. Taking out the Pure Air Protection Mask, she quickly put it on.

As soon as she put on the mask, the musty and faint chemical smell disappeared.

Taking a deep breath, Liu Yun sighed and said, "This is the taste of fresh air."

Feeling her nausea disappear, Liu Yun straightened her body, clenched her wooden stick, then continued on her way, following the transparent route.

The farther she walked, the thicker the moss became and the denser the black vines grew.

Liu Yun walked carefully, trying her best not to crush too many black vines while slowing her breathing. After walking for a long time, she finally saw the stairs leading to the lower floor.

Staring at the darkness below the stairs, she swallowed hard, then asked, ’System, are you still there?’

A second later, the System’s mechanical voice echoed in her mind. [Player, do you need something?]

Listening to the System’s emotionless voice, Liu Yun’s fear strangely diminished slightly. Shaking her head, she replied, ’Nothing. I’m just checking if you are still here.’

Inside Liu Yun’s sea of consciousness, the System stared at the data displayed on the virtual blue screen floating in front of it.

After a few seconds of silence, the System said, [Don’t worry. This System will always accompany you.]

Receiving the System’s response, Liu Yun nodded, then slowly descended the stairs.

Tap... Tap... Tap...

Although Liu Yun had been walking very slowly and carefully, her footsteps still echoed through the silent surroundings.

Along the way, Liu Yun didn’t dare to be careless. She scanned the area and noticed that the black vines covering the walls and floor were thicker than those covering the corridor and the small room.

Knowing that she was getting closer to the secret of Niu Ma Village, Liu Yun’s eyes flickered with determination.

’I have come this far. I won’t return without seeing the secret of Niu Ma Village with my own eyes!’

Filled with determination, Liu Yun walked faster while increasing her vigilance.

At the same time, Ye Xuan had finally found the metal door. Seeing the trampled vegetation nearby, he knew that he had come to the right place.

After scanning the area, he looked at the metal door covered in thick moss and vegetation, then noticed the password machine installed on it.

Ye Xuan narrowed his eyes and thought, ’She has indeed come to this place.’

Now that Liu Yun’s trail stopped here, Ye Xuan began checking the metal door. A few minutes later, he fell into deep thought.

’There is no sign that this metal door has been opened, and her trail indeed ended here. Could it be...’