Chapter 23: All That Matters Is Becoming Stronger

Zhou Yan chose not to stay.

A month of raging snow had sealed the city. Even with the habit of stockpiling food common among the people of this ancient era, most would be nearing the end of their supplies. The little food Zhang Facai had left would likely last only a few days more.

Moreover, when Zhou Yan entered this world, his physical condition was clearly at its peak. The enhancements from his Life Gear and the fusion transformation had made him far stronger than an ordinary person. He had no need to eat for a short time.

All the more reason not to consume someone else's precious food.

He had not expected that, in this second Chaos Calamity Realm, he could actually communicate with the natives.

Concealed within the tangled alleys, Zhou Yan moved swiftly, his thoughts racing. With a mental stat as high as seventeen, his intelligence was not necessarily increased, but his memory was greatly enhanced, and he could process thoughts at a speed far beyond ordinary people.

For example, if faced with a complicated arithmetic problem, an average person could only add numbers slowly, while a genius might invent multiplication and arrive at an answer quickly. Zhou Yan’s situation was akin to "though he could only add, he did it so quickly that he arrived at the answer even faster than those who used multiplication."

His recent conversation with others prompted him to speculate about the situations he might face in the future. The worlds he traversed might not all be ones where civilization had been wiped out. It was possible that his actions in these worlds could trigger a chain reaction, altering their fates.

Perhaps—save the world?

The thought made Zhou Yan shake his head and chuckle.

Zhou Yan, you’re overestimating yourself. With your mediocre skills, you can’t even fight a hundred men alone. Your strength might not match Luo Xuan, yet you think you can save the world?

He quickly abandoned this overambitious idea. Frankly, if he could save the world with his current abilities, the mysterious power that brought him here would have no need for such elaborate measures. It would be easier to save the energy spent on transporting him and simply erase Spring City with a wave of the hand.

Better to face reality than indulge in fantasies about being a savior.

Perhaps the mysterious being who allowed him to traverse worlds was simply bored, wanting to see what sort of growth their chosen one might achieve through repeated journeys.

All Zhou Yan needed to do was grow stronger, and then stronger still.

His gaze became steady as he thought this.

He no longer agonized over existential questions like “Why am I here?” Instead, he focused on his immediate goal.

His basic task was “survive for one day.” Judging by his current power, he could easily dispatch minor foes. If he sought survival quietly, hiding in a relatively safe house, the basic task would pose no difficulty.

But from the previous world’s settlement, it was clear that merely completing the basic task would likely yield no good rewards, perhaps no reward at all.

Without rewards, he could not become stronger. And by his estimation, he would be forced into one Chaos Calamity Realm after another. If the coming worlds were as “simple” as this one, it would be fine, but if they became increasingly terrifying, lying low now would be tantamount to digging his own grave.

His path was clear.

He had to seize every opportunity to develop in each world.

Not only would he attempt the extra objectives—he would strive to exceed them.

He would find and uproot the so-called “Karma Lotus,” and perhaps… even resolve the disaster in Spring City entirely.

Thus, his destination was clear: the “City Lord’s Hall” in the northern part of the city.

*

[Slain “Snow Automaton” ×7, gained 96 Spirit.]
[You have obtained “Rune Factor: Physique.”]

Ten minutes later.

In a pitch-black alley, Zhou Yan calmly put away his bat.

At his feet lay a jumble of tattered Snow Automaton remains, each one’s head precisely smashed by him.

He had spent some effort, moving along “South Street,” passing through two more alleyways, traversing half of Spring City to reach the northern district.

He had planned to keep advancing, but soon noticed that night had fallen completely. The entire city was plunged into utter darkness.

In this world’s ancient setting, there were no streetlights, no neon.

Even with his body enhanced several times over in fusion form, giving him excellent night vision, traversing in such sparse moonlight was still hazardous.

More importantly, Zhou Yan noticed that, as Zhang Facai had said, after nightfall, all the Snow Automatons began moving, swarming throughout Spring City.

With thousands or tens of thousands of these creatures, Zhou Yan dared not face them directly.

So he slipped into a corner alley in “North Street’s First Lane.”

He only intended to eliminate a few Snow Automatons lurking there, to clear the area for a restful night.

Unexpectedly, he was rewarded.

A faint smile touched his lips. He took out the newly acquired Rune Factor and attached it to his Life Gear.

His Physique stat increased by one point. Though the gain was slight, the sensation of growing stronger lifted his spirits.

After equipping the new Rune Factor, the Rune section of his Life Gear now showed “7/10,” meaning three more runes would fill the slots.

He was curious what would happen once the bar was filled.

Would nothing occur, merely allowing him to swap weaker runes for better ones in the future? Or would new slots be unlocked? Or some other change?

“Let’s try to fill all the remaining slots during this journey…”

He murmured softly, then climbed into the innermost, deserted courtyard of the alley.

The house inside was empty. Whether the owner had fled, become a Snow Automaton now wandering the city, or had long since been devoured by monsters—he neither knew nor cared.

After carefully inspecting the house, Zhou Yan secured the door and latched the gate.

A brief rest first; tomorrow, he would continue his exploration by daylight.

***