Matrix Survival: One random treasure chest per day

"So, you're not a deserter."

Li Zheng sat down cross-legged, trying to dispel his fear as he asked, "In that case, have you ever told anyone about that figure before?"

“I never said that.” Zui Xie Xiao said with a wry smile, “After all, if I said such a thing, it would just sound like an excuse to desert in the face of battle. Perhaps it is due to the nature of my Heavenly Dragon Clan, but after about twenty years of being infected with that emotion, the fear gradually dissipated, and I returned to a normal life.”

So it can dissipate over time?
However, even the warlike Heavenly Dragon Clan needed more than twenty years to dispel their fear. If Li Zheng didn't use some tricks, it would take even longer.

"Looking back now, those days were truly... unbearable to recall." Zui Xie Xiao said sadly, "Sometimes I really don't know whether to hate or be grateful, because of that inexplicable fear, after all my clansmen died in battle, I didn't dare to commit suicide and follow them because of the fear of death. When the fear subsided, I was past the most impulsive period, but whenever I think back, the feeling in my heart is never pleasant."

For the warlike Celestial Dragons, to retreat in the face of battle is a disgrace.

With all his clansmen killed in battle, leaving him as the sole survivor, the guilt he felt was probably unimaginably heavy.

Just like some veterans who have been on the battlefield suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, it is enough to drive a normal person crazy.

“You were able to bear everything and survive, which is what your people wanted to see, right?” Li Zheng recalled the scene he had witnessed. The general who had comforted Zui Xiexiao at the time probably never blamed him for his retreat in the face of battle. “The legacy of the Tianlong Clan must be carried on by someone.”

"And then it all benefited some shameless scoundrel!"

It would have been better if the topic of inheritance hadn't been brought up. But as soon as inheritance was mentioned, Zui Xie Xiao suddenly became furious: "I suddenly realized that the tactic you used back then was called 'retreating to advance.' On the surface, you showed disdain for the inheritance of my Heavenly Dragon Clan, which aroused my pride as a member of the Heavenly Dragon Clan, making me willingly hand over the inheritance to you!"

"No...you've misunderstood." Li Zheng didn't expect that Zui Xie Xiao would hold a grudge about this matter and start settling scores now. He scratched his head awkwardly.

He didn't know how to say it. Should he tell Zui Xie Xiao openly that he had found something better and really looked down on the things from the Heavenly Dragon Clan?

I'm afraid that the moment those words were spoken, the two of them would immediately start fighting.

Li Zheng is currently busy getting rid of his inner fears and doesn't have time to fight with others.

"It doesn't matter." Zui Xie Xiao waved his hand magnanimously: "Since I have voluntarily given you my inheritance, I will not regret it. This is also my pride as a member of the Heavenly Dragon Clan."

Li Zheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's great that you think that way."

"Yes, but we must take what you just said seriously." Zui Xiexiao said solemnly, "Even I can't quite see through your current strength. You were able to implant fear into your soul in an instant. I imagine that the twisted beast we're dealing with now is even more troublesome!"

There is no record of this in the historical records of the battle between the outer city and the emotional storm.

A terrifying thought arose in Zui Xiexiao's mind: Could it be that the emotional storm deliberately allowed the terminal to take away the survivors of all races?
The true means to annihilate all races has never actually been revealed to them.

The moment this thought crossed his mind, Zui Xiexiao felt a chill run down his spine.

If that's true, then I'm afraid all races don't have many days left to live.

"More than just difficult to deal with."

Li Zheng's face, which had been pale, suddenly turned red. He then spat out a mouthful of black blood, in which something inexplicable was wriggling.

[Discover your "inner demon," capture it, and submit it to earn 100 Fantasy Points.]

Upon hearing the system notification, Li Zheng reacted swiftly, channeling his inner energy into his hands, and grabbed the object, handing it to the system.

"What is that?" Zui Xie Xiao had already seen the wriggling thing and was horrified, as if facing a formidable enemy: "Why does it give me such a strange feeling!"

“Something tangible from fear.” Li Zheng’s expression improved considerably. Originally, fear was an intangible substance that he found difficult to eliminate.

After circulating the demonic energy within his body several times, the fear, like a wolf smelling meat, materialized and burrowed into his meridians, attempting to contact the demonic energy within Li Zheng's body. This gave him the opportunity to act. Using the unique demonic energy of this universe combined with his extraordinary mental strength, he forcefully expelled the materialized fear from his body.

The price was that Li Zheng lost some of his internal energy, which he would need to cultivate again to recover.

This thing is called "inner demon" by the system.

Li Zheng felt that this title was very fitting.

Fear is also regarded as a demonic thought by orthodox practitioners, and the demonic thought that lingers in the heart is indeed a mental demon.

"And then?" Zui Xiexiao looked at Li Zheng in shock: "Did you just grab that thing and put it into your storage space?"

The dangers of that thing are something Zui Xiexiao never wants to experience again in his life. He worries that Li Zheng might keep it and use it to harm people in the future.

"No, destroy it." Li Zheng said frankly, "This kind of rotten thing should be completely wiped out."

"You can actually eliminate fear on your own, and even kill it instantly?" Zui Xie Xiao asked incredulously, "How did you do that?"

“It’s alright to tell you.” Li Zhengnian told Zui Xiexiao the truth about the inheritances he handed over: “The things I cultivate are quite unique, and they seem to be the nemesis of these things. However, it is not yet certain whether they are safe, so I cannot promote them on a large scale.”

"It's really that amazing?"

Zui Xie Xiao was surprised but did not ask any further questions. After all, the core secrets of everyone's cultivation are not easily revealed. Even when he handed over the inheritance of the Heavenly Dragon Clan, he held back a few tricks.

"It's not magical, it's just domineering."

Li Zheng wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, stood up and felt refreshed for a moment: "I have something to do, please excuse me."

As he spoke, he looked around and finally looked up at the door above him.

[Knowing you're heading to the succubus's lair, go this way. There's a cute little creature behind the door; it's no threat to you.]

Li Zheng touched the ground with one foot, soared into the air, reached out and grabbed his long-unused ID card, swiping it by the door.

Then they went inside.

"Let's go as soon as we say we'll go." Zui Xie Xiao frowned. "I should continue searching for the Evil Eye. That guy actually dared to return to the Matrix. We must find him as soon as possible!"

He was on his way to investigate the Evil Eye when he happened to run into Li Zheng. Seeing that Li Zheng looked unwell, he stopped for a moment. Now that Li Zheng had left, he should go and take care of his business.

Looking at the three ghostly lions that jumped out in front of him, Li Zheng recalled how much trouble he had to deal with the first time he encountered this thing as a child. Now, the three ghostly lions were as harmless as house cats in his eyes. He couldn't help but chuckle and wave his hand: "Go away, go play somewhere else."

The three-headed demon lions couldn't sense Li Zheng's strength, but they could see his contemptuous attitude, so they roared and pounced.

Snapped!
A powerful slap landed squarely on the head of the middle ghost lion. Li Zheng held back his strength, only sending the three ghost lions flying without killing it outright.

After landing, the three demonic lions whimpered a few times, feeling dizzy and disoriented. They struggled to their feet, tucked their tails between their legs, and fled in a flash.

"You worthless wretch, you only behave when you're taught a lesson."

Li Zheng had no choice but to follow.

The door the ghostly lion escaped through led directly to the succubus's lair... (End of Chapter)