People are collapsing, but the integrated strategy is launched

Listening to Xia Ling's calm words that could be considered cruel, the system suddenly felt that it was time to update its evaluation of the host.

[Well, since the host has made up his mind, there is no need for me to stop him. I can only wish the host good luck.]

"You don't have to act like we're parting forever." Xia Ling smiled and returned to her usual demeanor: "I'm not dead yet. Besides, even if there are people around, it doesn't necessarily mean they're encounters in combat. I remember there were several levels on the first and second floors that involved a lot of people but you could choose to avoid combat."

Leaving these words behind, Xia Ling quietly packed up his things, picked up his sniper rifle, and slowly walked forward.

As she got closer, Xia Ling's pace slowed down.

Because she heard laughter and shouting, as well as a distinct stench coming from inside the cave.

Maybe I made a wrong bet, she thought. But now that I have reached a critical point, I cannot quit. I have to go down the path I have chosen.

After calming his trembling arms, Xia Ling took a deep breath and walked into the cave.

Then, her feet went weak, and the sense of relief and the thrill of escaping death almost made her lose her balance and sit on the ground.

This cave, which was probably once the lair of the Rift Beast, was filled with laughter, shouts, and "Ursus swear words". Some people who seemed to be new residents were obviously enjoying their lives, and in the corner, Xia Ling could still see the "original owner" who was dying after being punched and kicked.

It turned out to be this node...Xia Ling breathed a sigh of relief.

Unexpected Encounter - Ursus, this is one of the rare nodes in the first and second layers where you might think you can fight but actually can't. When Xia Ling first saw it, she also thought it was a battle level, so she didn't dare to go in and chose a safe option.

However, she later discovered that none of the three options in this level would result in fighting, the payoffs were just a little lower.

Familiar with the situation, she immediately gave a standard answer: "Why are there so many Ursus people here?"

"A place full of Ursus people is naturally Ursus!" A drunk man answered Xia Ling.

As Xia Ling watched, it seemed that they were planning to transform the cave into some kind of territorial control office.

Then, these people gave Xia Ling a pile of vodka wrappers and told her that this was an "official colonial license" and that she could use it to obtain all the assistance from the country.

With an awkward but polite smile, Xia Ling walked out of the cave with the pile of wrapping paper. About ten meters after leaving the cave, Xia Ling stuffed all the wrapping paper into her backpack, her body softened, and she sat down on a rock.

[Hey, where is our determined host? ]

The system's teasing voice sounded in Xia Ling's ears at the right time.

"You're so annoying." Xia Ling didn't want to pay any more attention to this guy. She just wanted to punch this system girl and calm down her agitated mood.

"You know clearly that this is not a battle node at all." Xia Ling gritted her teeth and squeezed out a voice: "I don't believe it. Even if you can't see the specific information of the node, do you think that a bunch of drunkards in Ursus who can't even see the cave can be a battle node?"

"I was wondering, how could you be so kind as to give me a hint that the detector didn't give?"

[Hey, isn't this a good opportunity to test the host a little? ]

The system's voice was full of apology.

[You must know, host, whether it is the collapsed world or the Ark Pigeon in the trial, it is not a place to play house, fighting and death can be seen everywhere. ]

[I am afraid that the host will still face these with the same mentality as before in the game, and then will be unable to recover when he really encounters setbacks. ]

[But now it seems that the host is still very aware. What he said just now was very cool. ]

"What the hell is handsome about that!" Xia Ling's cheeks flushed, and she was about to cry out of shyness: "Isn't that a complete black history? What kind of brain circuit do you have to think that it's handsome? Delete it now!"

[Oh, yes, there is also a recording. I would have forgotten if the host hadn’t mentioned it.]

“You bastard! Just shut up right now, ahhhhhh!”

Chapter 7: Cunning Merchants

After crossing the last node, Xia Ling's pace became visibly lighter.

If you don't take the vertical fork, there will be a total of four nodes on the first level, and the last node must be the strange merchant.

Xia Ling has already passed the three nodes of Moss Hand, Sami's Language and Ursus on this level. Further ahead is the mysterious traveling merchant used for supplies. Before reaching the second level, it can be said that she is completely safe.

Soon, after crossing the ice lake that ran through the entire first layer, a small tent that seemed out of place with the surrounding environment appeared on the ice field.

"Neither an ally nor an enemy, some people like to stand in the middle." Xia Ling read the words on the wooden sign: "It seems that this is Cannot's store."

"Yes, this friend!"

At this time, a man wearing a strange iron bucket hat and a black coat came out of the small tent.

“Welcome to Cannaught’s little shop!”

"System, are you controlling this guy?" Xia Ling asked in a low voice.

[Of course not. I can't possibly act out this feeling no matter how hard I try.]

The system's energetic voice carried a hint of dissatisfaction.

[This guy is a program simulated by the reinforcement system. His memory will be reset after each trial. Don't worry, just treat him as an NPC. ]

"Is that so? Then I won't have any psychological burden when I rob a store in the future." Xia Ling nodded seriously: "I was also worried that it would be difficult to start with someone I know."

"Hey, miss, it's not right to discuss how to rob my store in front of me. You have to stay away from me first." A helpless and low male voice came from under the tin can.

"Hehehe, it's not that I don't have that ability now. If I really want to snatch you away, I will definitely not say it in front of you." Xia Ling tilted her head and stuck out her tongue, revealing a cute smirk.

"Okay, okay, Cannot, come and show me if you have anything good."

Xia Ling narrowed her eyes and pinched her index finger and thumb together with her right hand.

"What good thing would the young lady like?" asked Cannot.

"Do you have a cipher board?" Xia Ling approached mysteriously, "I want one that can skip levels."

"It's true, but it depends on your luck." Cannot pulled open the tent, revealing the merchandise counter inside.

[Support explosion-proof pile], [Medical recruitment voucher], [Vision invitation], [Iron Guard-Classic Training], [Canned green leafy vegetables], [Topographic map-β], [Vanilla root beer soda], [Heavy music selection]

"It seems that Miss's luck is not very good." Cannot's voice was flat: "However, there is still one chance, or is there something Miss wants in here?"

"System, there's a problem." Xia Ling stared at the canned green vegetables in the merchandise: "Is my shooting considered a skill or a normal attack?"

[Without a doubt, it is a normal attack. Even though it is very difficult for you to shoot. ]

The system saw Xia Ling's thoughts at a glance.

[You don't think your shooting can be considered a powerful attack skill. ]

"It's a pity. If it really counts, with the explosion-proof piles, it might have some combat effectiveness." Xia Ling shook her head regretfully: "Refresh it, Cannot."

"Okay." Cannot closed the tent and opened it again, only to see that the goods on the counter had been replaced with another batch.

[Support Mine Team], [Warlock Recruitment Ticket], [Rainbow Urn], [Frozen Shell], [Blunt Claw - Training], [Healer - Breakthrough], [Triumphal Horn]

And, [Crypt Board-Reproduction].

"Great!" Xia Ling jumped up excitedly: "Sure enough, luck is on my side!"

"It seems that this lady has found the product she wants." Cannot smiled: "Then, sincere discount 8 Originium ingots."

Xia Ling opened her backpack and counted them. There were a total of eighteen Originium ingots.

Then she handed them all to Cannot: "Here, just save the remaining Originium ingots."

"Uh, no, system, you should remove the setting of the investment system failure."

[Don't worry, host, I will definitely remove things that affect the gaming experience. ]

"That's good. If it breaks down, I'll have to go on the road with the money I haven't spent yet. That's such a waste."

"This young lady's mentality... is really open-minded." Kannott broke out in a cold sweat after hearing this. He quickly accepted the Originium ingot and handed the [Secret Board - Reproduction] to Xia Ling.

"Since the deal is done, I won't stay any longer. I wish you a safe journey, Miss. Maybe we'll have a chance to meet again next time."

After leaving these words, Cannot waved his sleeves, and the next second, he and his shop disappeared from the academy without leaving a trace.

With the disappearance of Kannot, the map on the detector was also updated, and at the same time, the second-level vision prompt appeared.

[After clearing this level, you will get the cipher board: tree crown. ]

"Well, does this mean that I should move forward?"

Xia Ling zoomed in on the map, but all she could see was a lush green area.

"Silent Forest? However, the first node ahead is still unexpected." Xia Ling studied the map: "The second node seems to be a battle level, and the third node... seems to be invisible on the map, but there is no danger warning for the battle node, so there shouldn't be any big problems."

[It's okay. To be on the safe side, host, you can just use the cipher board when the time comes.]

"Okay, let me see... There are two forks on the left branch behind the battle node. You can try this one. It would be great if you can find someone interesting. You can directly pass a node steadily."

"Well, let's keep going."

Carrying the backpack which was much lighter due to the lack of the weight of the Originium ingot, Xia Ling set out on the journey to the snowfield again.

This unexpected encounter seemed to go very smoothly. There was no sudden peeling of bark and no enemies in the cave. Xia Ling walked for more than ten minutes in fear. However, in the dense forest, there was only the rustling of leaves and the low roar of horned beasts. Apart from that, nothing seemed to have happened.

"No, definitely not." After walking around for more than ten minutes, Xia Ling stopped and said, "Based on previous experience, if we go any further, we should exceed the range of this node. Has the event not been triggered yet?"

[Uh, host, did you take the wrong path? 】

"How is that possible? This is a one-way street!" Xia Ling argued, but she still honestly opened the detector with her hand.

"Let me see......"

"Huh? No, why did the detector freeze?"

[Ah? This shouldn't be the case. How can this thing malfunction? ]

The system's voice was even more surprised than Xia Ling.

"I remember that I started by pressing this button. If I press and hold it, it should shut down and restart."

Xia Ling found a button on the back of the detector. After pressing it for a while, the words "Restarting" appeared on the detector's screen.

Chapter 8: First time to skip (first two levels), perfect clearance!

After a while, part of the map reappeared on the detector, and at the same time a prompt popped up: "The detector is undergoing self-maintenance, please be patient."

"Ah, I see." Xia Ling suddenly realized: "This is the regular maintenance of that node."

Unexpected Encounter - Regular maintenance, a welfare node that can give a lot of hope in the early stage. Under normal circumstances, you can get two hopes. If you hold the collection "Anma's Love", you can even directly get fifteen hopes.

Xia Ling sat down slowly and observed the scenery in the distance. On the distant snowfield, the cubs of the Rifthorn Beast were playing with their prey, and the herd of the Rockhorn Beast were migrating.

Xia Ling was amazed by the strange ecology of the Sami Snowfield. After a while, the detector made a beeping sound. Xia Ling opened it and saw that the map on it had completely returned to normal.

At the same time, there are two more hopes added to the panel.

"Huh..." Xia Ling breathed a sigh of relief. Now, there were four cipher boards in her backpack, namely [Love], [Warrior], [Tree], and [Reproduction].

Among them, the combination declaration of [Warrior] and [Love] can turn two battle nodes into unexpected encounters.

However, [Tree] and [Reproduction] can turn any node into a step ahead.

As long as the next unexpected node that is replaced is not a mandatory battle node, she can pass the second level stably.

Xia Ling's fingers trembled slightly as she took out [Warrior] and [Love].

"It would be nice if there was a natural code board. The love that triggers the coordination language can be replaced with a desired one."

Xia Ling sighed and pressed the two cipher boards together.

"Come on, this is a big gamble, my friend!"

The system also cooperated and said:

【Win it all, or nothing! 】

Along with the light generated by the fusion of the cipherboard, the system prompt sounded at the right time:

【Beginning Announcement】

[The mountains are built of high walls of solid stone, and the horned helmets are covered with cold ice. The body is accompanied by the vast frozen earth, and the heart is as hot as fire. ]

Then, the terrain on the detector changed.

The buildings in front were directly wiped off the map, and replaced by unexpected encounters without any signs.

……

ten minutes later.

A strange man appeared in front of Xia Ling.

It was a sunny day, but the man was hanging out all the equipment he was carrying on a pile of luggage on the ground, muttering to himself.

Xia Ling moved closer and was able to hear clearly what the man was saying.