Matrix Survival: One random treasure chest per day

Chapter 644: The Realm of Sin (Part 2)
"They couldn't save him."

Li Zheng glanced at the inscription cards in Aida's hand and found that all three were for the wounded people Aida had brought back, but the two he had brought back were not among them.

"Thank goodness, at least two were saved..."

The wooden cabin door opened, and Yao Lian'er came out, coldly tossing two inscription cards to Aida Xi: "Return these two to the family as well."

Li Zheng: "..."

This time, Yao Lian'er didn't go straight back to her house. Instead, she paused and said coldly, "I've said it before: don't let those who are too weak into the depths of the Sin Domain. Why don't you learn from Block 51 and just lie low in the outer city?"

If you're not strong enough, why insist on venturing into the deepest part of the Sinful Domain? Isn't that just increasing your losses?

Fortunately, they were able to pull through with sheer willpower. If they hadn't, the monsters in the Sinful Realm would have gained five more allies.

“It’s not that simple,” Aida said bitterly. “It’s precisely because they’re not strong enough that we have to encourage them to enter the Sin Domain and obtain Twisted Magic Crystals so that they can continue to improve their strength.”

In those neglected neighborhoods, apart from the slightly famous masters, the average strength of the rest is much weaker than that of the top fifty neighborhoods.

And why are the top 50 neighborhoods ranked in the top 50?

Isn't it because the people here actively improve themselves and frequently enter the realm of sin?
Enter the Sinful Domain—Slay Twisted Creatures—Obtain Twisted Magic Crystals—Absorb Magic Crystal Energy—Enhance Your Strength—Enter the Deeper Parts of the Sinful Domain—Slay Higher-Level Twisted Creatures—Obtain Higher-Level Twisted Magic Crystals.

This was originally a virtuous cycle, but because the number of the weakest twisted creatures in the Sin Domain was insufficient to support the large number of residents in the outer city to hunt them, many newly grown residents had to face more powerful twisted creatures from the very beginning.

As a result, the number of deaths and injuries has increased significantly compared to before.

"I don't care if you're willing to send people to their deaths. Anyway, I'll do my best to save the injured people who come to me. If they can't be saved, it's not my fault." Yao Lian'er turned and went into the house: "Remember to pay the medical fees for the five of them later."

boom!
The wooden cabin door was tightly closed, leaving Li Zheng and his companion outside.

Li Zheng was stunned, while Aida Xi gave a wry smile.

“She wasn’t like this before.” Aida sighed and said, “It’s only after coming to the Sinful Domain as a physician and experiencing so many life-and-death situations that she gradually became this cold and inhumane. In her words, everyone is living for the moment, and being too emotional will make you sad if the people around you are no longer there one day.”

Li Zheng did not quite agree with Aida's statement: "I know a friend who is also a doctor. He has experienced countless life and death incidents and personally sent countless patients to their deaths, but he still loves life, loves this world, and loves everything he loves."

It would be perfect if patients could be given some anesthesia during surgery.

“This…” Aida opened her mouth, and finally said, “Perhaps this is what they mean by different fates for the same people.”

Everyone is different; even those doing the same job can have vastly different mindsets.

Arguing about this is pointless. Li Zheng said calmly, "Since I'm no longer needed here, I should continue my journey to the deeper parts of the Sin Domain."

"You still want to go?" Aida looked Li Zheng up and down. He couldn't sense any great strength from Li Zheng. "You don't think that you can run rampant in the Sin Domain just because you can use your mental power to erase the evil aura emitted by a few infected people, do you?"

Didn't you hear what Yao Lian'er said just now?
"Take my advice. The Sin Realm is very complex, and your current strength isn't enough to handle it. Go back and spend a few more years learning before exploring the Sin Realm again."

“Your suggestion is very pertinent.” Li Zheng turned around and said, “But I refuse to accept your suggestion. I must go and experience what the depths of the Sin Domain are like today.”

We've already paid for the portal; if we don't gain anything tangible, wouldn't we be losing money?
"Oh, right." He remembered something, turned around and took out the two inscription cards from before, and asked, "Don't we need to return these two to their families?"

Aida shook his head: "No need. The legacy left behind by those infected by evil thoughts belongs to the people who disposed of them. If there is no benefit in disposing of infected individuals, then no one will be willing to respond to the call if infected individuals appear again in the future."

“That makes sense.” Li Zheng nodded, accepting the inscription card with a clear conscience, and waved his hand, “Goodbye.”

He did not feign magnanimity by offering to return the inscription card to the victim's family; he had heard the story of Zigong redeeming people.

Aida watched Li Zheng walk away with a complicated expression, then turned to look at the wooden house again, and finally let out a long sigh.

He supported the outer city residents' active exploration of the realm of sin, but in the end, he found that Yao Lian'er's attitude seemed better.

At least some of the weaker residents of the outer city were able to save their lives.

For example, these five people who died today.

Aida remembered them; a few days ago, the five-person team passed through Gathering Site No. 3, and he personally guided them into the Sin Domain.

Unexpectedly, just a few days later, when the five people were seen again, they had all died from their serious injuries.

Even though he had witnessed many life-and-death situations, he couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Aida quickly caught up with Li Zheng and said, "If you insist on going deep into the Sin Domain, then I'll see you off."

The two quickly arrived at the place where they had met the wounded earlier. Aidashi pointed to the dark and gloomy environment in the distance and said, "Go straight ahead from here, and you will soon enter Settlement No. 4. It is the settlement that has advanced the furthest in the Fourth Sin Domain. People who can stay there for a long time are more solid in strength than those in Settlement No. 3."

"However, there is a lack of healers there. If you are injured, you should get back as fast as you can and seek help from Yao Lian'er."

The group of five we just saw was passing through Gathering Area 4 on their way back when the person in charge there spotted them and relayed the message to Aida.

"Number Four?" Li Zheng was immediately confused. "Why aren't there gathering areas Number One and Number Two?"

He had this question before: why is the closest gathering area to the portal number three, and not number one?
“It happened before,” Aida said, “but it was destroyed in previous battles against emotional storms.”

“Every generation of players must undergo the final baptism of an emotional storm. During this period, the Seven Sins Realms will experience a riot, and both the twisted creatures and the environment here will become more powerful and dangerous.”

“Gathering areas number one and number two were completely destroyed during the battle between a previous generation of players and the emotional storm.”

Aida recalled, "It was an unprecedented war. The Matrix was too close to the emotional storm, which greatly increased the difficulty of the battle and resulted in extremely heavy casualties."

"Not only was there only one player left from that generation, but the settlements established in the Seven Great Sin Domains were also completely wiped out."

"The settlement you see now is a new settlement that was gradually cleared out and rebuilt after that."

"Only one person survived?!" Li Zheng was shocked: "There are such fearless races?"

“Yes…” Aida sighed with regret: “The Celestial Dragon Clan is the most civilized and united race I have ever seen. That time, the terminal opened the live broadcast to the outer city for the first time in history, which allowed us to see the style of the Celestial Dragon Clan.”

"None of them ever backed down when faced with the emotional storm. They rushed to meet the countless twisted creatures brought by the emotional storm, fighting fiercely until the sky darkened and blood flowed everywhere."

"What's most impressive is that during the battle, not a single member of the Celestial Dragon Clan was transformed into a twisted creature by negative emotions. Every single one of them fought honorably to the death!"

"I still remember the survivor that the Celestial Dragon Clan fought so hard to save at the very end, his name was something like..."

Aida thought for a moment: "Xiao."

"Xiao?!" Li Zheng exclaimed in surprise, "Is the Heavenly Dragon Clan a race with light blue skin, big eyes, and an extremely shrewd business sense?"

“…The first two characteristics do match, but I’ve never done business with the Celestial Dragon Clan, so I don’t know anything about them.” Aida looked at Li Zheng curiously: “Have you met Xiao?”

"I've seen him!" Li Zheng gritted his teeth. "That unscrupulous merchant, I'll remember him for the rest of my life!"

"A shrewd businessman?" Aida tilted his head. "When did Xiao become a businessman? Wasn't he always working for the Evil Mercenary Group?"

"The Evil Mercenary Group?" Li Zheng was slightly taken aback. He felt like he had heard the name somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.

【Wind Demon Cat.】

When the Eye of Preys suddenly gave a name, Li Zheng suddenly remembered that it was Feng Xie Mao who had taken him there and introduced him to Le Jia on the day he met him.

Feng Xiemao had said at the time that he belonged to the Evil Intent Mercenary Group.

Aida explained to him, "The Evil Mercenary Group is a civilian organization that has existed for a very long time. It is said that the leader has changed no less than three hundred times."

Those who join the Evil Mercenary Group are all top experts from the major streets of the outer city, possessing formidable strength. Back when the gathering areas of the Seven Sin Domains were destroyed, it was the Evil Mercenary Group that led the clearing of the area near the Sin Domain teleportation portal, making enough space to establish a new gathering area. "Xiao also joined the Evil Mercenary Group around that time."

Aida thought for a moment, then said, "What's interesting is that everyone who joins the Evil Mercenary Group has to give themselves a name that fits the group's style. After Xiao joined, he changed his name to Evil Xiao, but since his surname is Zui, he's called Zui Evil Xiao."

After listening quietly, Li Zheng felt that something was amiss.

"You just said that every member of the Evil Mercenary Group is one of the top experts in each district?" Li Zheng asked doubtfully, "And they even led the sweep of the entrance area of ​​the Sin Domain, making room to build a gathering area?"

"Yes."

Aida nodded.

Li Zheng fell into deep thought: "That's not right... Back then, when Le Jia was infected by the evil thoughts in the Twisted Magic Crystal, even a trace of evil energy leaked out was enough to overwhelm the Wind Evil Cat. That doesn't match what Aida Xi described at all."

Have you ever considered that he might have done it on purpose?

Old Pu couldn't stand it anymore and couldn't help but offer a hint.

"on purpose?"

Li Zheng had a sudden realization: perhaps Le Jia's infection wasn't entirely his fault, but rather that the Twisted Magic Crystal that Feng Xie Mao had taken out was problematic.
"But why would he do that?"

"It is a major taboo to be suspected of creating infected bodies in the outer city. If we are discovered, the reputation of the Evil Mercenary Group will be ruined."

"Furthermore, this doesn't align with their usual behavior. What good would it do them?"

"Or is it... that the so-called Sin Domain Sweeping Vanguard is just their cover, and they are secretly creating infected beings to cause chaos?"

Li Zheng hates using his brain the most because there are many things he can't figure out even if he tries.

Thinking too much can give you a headache.

……

Deep within the color field, a five-person team was gathered around a campfire, resting.

"Cat, have you seen that person?" one of them asked the figure opposite him, putting a piece of stewed meat into his mouth.

"Hmm." A pair of claw spikes lay at the cat's feet. It warily turned its head from time to time to observe its surroundings, in case any twisted creatures emerged from the darkness and launched a surprise attack.

"What was the result?" the man asked again after a while.

The cat turned its head, seemingly staring at him: "Dog, didn't you never believe in so-called prophecies? Why are you suddenly interested in this today?"

A huge bone club leaned against the dog's paws. The club, of unknown origin, gleamed with a grayish luster and was pitted and uneven, clearly having withstood many battles.

He stroked the bone club: "They say felines are naturally curious, and after spending so much time with you, it's understandable that I'm curious, so I asked. Also, I call you 'dog,' not 'dog.' If you call me 'dog' again, I'll smash your brain full of dried fish!"

The cat sneered, stroking the spikes on its paws: "You can try and see if I castrate you first, or if you smash my head in first!"

The dog flew into a rage, threw down its food, and grabbed a bone stick from the side: "You think I wouldn't dare?"

The cat also brandished its claws, responding defiantly: "Come on!"

"Come on!" the dog refused to budge.

"Come!"

"Come!"

"Come!"

"..."

The two of them were like fighting cocks, going on and on about the same old things, neither of them making a move. The three people standing nearby couldn't stand it anymore, and one of them said, "Can you two shut up? Don't act like enemies every time you meet..."

"Aren't cats and dogs sworn enemies?" another person next to him quipped. "It's just that every time they yell at each other, neither of them dares to make a move. It's really boring."

The third person egged them on, saying, "I don't think those two will actually fight. Why don't you go up and try taking on both of them?"

"Come!"

"Come!"

Upon hearing this, the cat and dog turned around and roared simultaneously, their fighting spirit instantly soaring several times over. It seemed that the one called "Rat" had actually brought them to the same side.

"A double flight?" The mouse shrank its neck: "I can't take it, I can't take it. My little body will be torn apart by the two of them!"

"Then shut up!" The cat was still angry. It glared at him and the dog, threw down its claws, and sat back down. "Something interesting happened when I was in contact with that person a few days ago."

The dog sat back down in its original spot, the bone still leaning against its feet. It picked up the food it had just thrown down, dusted off the dirt, and put it in its mouth, saying as it ate, "What's so interesting?"

The cat gave the dog a disgusted look, utterly disgusted by his actions: "You couldn't even bear to part with that one bite of meat? You actually picked it up and ate it! How disgusting!"

"What do you know?" the dog said dismissively. "Have you ever been hungry? Have you ever tried to survive for three months on nothing but grass roots and tree bark? Have you ever tried eating pebbles to relieve hunger? If you have, you'll know how precious food is."

"Then why did you throw it on the ground?" the cat muttered under its breath.

“Cat, you’re not as good as the dog at this,” said the one who had tried to mediate earlier. “In the wild, we can encounter unexpected situations at any time. The dog was right. When faced with a sudden battle, who has the time to find a container to put the food down? Of course, the most correct choice is to pick up a weapon and fight as quickly as possible.”

"Hey Old Ox, why do you always side with the dog?" the cat grumbled, dissatisfied. "Of course I know that's the right thing to do..."

It's just a habitual retort.

"Alright, stop interrupting me, I'm getting down to business!" He changed the subject and continued, "Remember the Twisted Magic Crystal we got from that wastelander?"

Old Niu nodded: "I remember, the captain asked you to take it to the magic crystal shop for purification. What? Was there something wrong with that magic crystal?"

"Problems?" The cat sneered, "Problems? It's more than just problems! The evil aura hidden within those two magic crystals almost made me a sinner in the outer city!"

"Isn't the Twisted Magic Crystal inherently filled with evil energy?" The dog felt confused and looked at the old ox: "Haven't it always been like this?"

Old Niu shook his head and said, "What the cat is talking about is not the original evil aura, but something that has been tampered with."

“That’s right!” Cat nodded. “You know those optimistic people in the city. If they’re prepared, they can manage to erase and purify the evil energy in the magic crystal. But once they encounter that kind of evil energy that has leaked out and begun to infect the target, they’re all terrified of dying.”

That magic crystal almost infected the optimist I frequented; it was that guy who stepped in and resolved the problem.

"That guy?" Old Niu was moved. "The prophecy didn't mention the target being the Optimist Clan, did it? How did he resolve the problem?"

"Using mental power!" The cat recalled the situation and exhaled softly, "Using only pure mental power, we forcefully extinguished the evil aura leaking from the scene!"

"Impossible!" the rat exclaimed. "How powerful would that require? Even the captain isn't that strong, is he?"

“No, the captain can do it too.” The remaining person said, “Our captain’s mental strength ranks among the top 100 in the entire outer city. He can certainly erase some of the evil thoughts in the white magic crystals.”

The cat glanced at him and uttered, "But what that guy erased was the evil aura contained within the red magic crystal! It was at least ten times more concentrated than the white magic crystal!"

For Li Zheng, the "weak" evil aura within the Red Demon Crystal, which was almost negligible, was an extremely troublesome thing in the eyes of others.

He paused for a moment, then added, "And it's the kind that's been tampered with!"

(End of this chapter)