I transmigrated to a chaotic world and became the sole player.

The outline of the mud-brick city wall distorted in the scorching air, like a mirage. As the caravan of refugees staggered closer, the symbol of hope gradually faded, revealing its dilapidated true nature.

This was less a town and more a vast ruin. The city walls had collapsed in many places, the gaps resembling the gaping maws of a monster, revealing the rubble and ruins beneath. There were no guards at the city gate, only a few vultures perched on the decaying wooden door, coldly watching the uninvited guests. The air was thick with the stench of decay, even stronger than on the main road, mingled with a faint, almost imperceptible, odor of blood.

"It's a ghost town..." an elderly refugee murmured, his voice filled with despair, "It's all over, everything's over..."

The deathly silence brought on by shattered hope was more suffocating than the numbness before. Even Master Zhao's hand, which was holding a bamboo cane, trembled slightly.

Lu Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly.

In his field of vision, a very faint, almost imperceptible layer of gray mist shrouded the ruins. And when he focused his gaze on the collapsed houses and the deep alleyways, he could occasionally see one or two pale red dots flashing by in the shadows.

It wasn't the white or red of a human's health bar, nor the eerie purple of a monster, but a pale red I'd never seen before.

"There's something in there," Lu Zhao whispered, gripping the wood-chopping knife at his waist. This place was definitely not a simple abandoned site.

The refugees dared not enter the city, but instead sought shelter at the base of the crumbling walls outside the city. Some tried to search the edges of the ruins for any leftover food or valuables, but most found nothing and were instead terrified by the poisonous insects in the rubble, screaming and fleeing back.

Lu Zhao did not act rashly. He found a relatively sturdy corner of a broken wall with a wide view and settled Zhao Fuzi and several other refugees who seemed relatively calm. After the counterattack in the snake cave and the Zhang Kui incident, he had already gained an invisible voice in this temporary small group, although this power stemmed more from fear and dependence than from trust.

"This place is dangerous; we must not venture too far." Master Zhao looked at the desolate city with deep worry. "We must find a water source as soon as possible. If we find nothing, we must leave by dawn tomorrow."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Hunger can be endured, but dehydration is fatal.

Lu Zhao offered, "I'll go take a look around and find a water source." He needed an excuse to explore the ruins; the pale red lights were impossible for him to ignore.

He carefully stepped into the ruins, carrying his machete. The broken bricks and tiles beneath his feet creaked and groaned, the sound particularly jarring in the deathly silence. He tried to tread lightly, using the [Turtle Breathing Technique] to lower his aura, his sharp eyes scanning his surroundings.

[Entered the unknown area 'Abandoned Border Town', map exploration progress: 1%...]

The panel displayed a prompt. Sure enough, this area was recognized as a separate zone by the system.

Turning a corner, a skeleton half-buried under the rubble came into view. The bones were blackened, indicating that the person had been dead for some time. Lu Zhao's heart tightened, and his vigilance rose to its highest level.

Suddenly, a faint, teeth-grinding scraping sound came from a mud house with half of its roof collapsed ahead.

Lu Zhao held his breath and slowly approached, peering inside through the crack in the wall.

Inside the dimly lit room, a figure was crouching on the ground with its back to him, seemingly gnawing on something. The figure was wearing tattered Wei army uniforms, but its skin had an unnatural bluish-gray tinge, and its movements were stiff and eerie.

When Lu Zhao saw the health bar above its head, his pupils suddenly contracted!

Corrupted Soldier (Remnant Soul), Level: 3

Health Points: 100%/100%

[Status: Wandering, Life-Eating]

The health bar was a light red! Its level was 3! Two whole levels higher than the previous mutated spotted snake!

Just as Lu Zhao was observing, the "corrupted soldier" seemed to sense something and suddenly turned around!

A face, mostly rotten and with hollow eye sockets, was facing Lu Zhao. Although it had no eyeballs, Lu Zhao could feel a cold "gaze" locking onto him!

"Roar..." A low, inhuman roar was squeezed out of its rotting throat.

It was discovered!

Without a second thought, Lu Zhao turned and ran! A level 3 monster, especially one of these strange ones, he had no chance of winning!

However, the corrupt soldier was incredibly fast! It pounced on all fours like a wild beast, instantly catching up to Lu Zhao and its sharp claws, accompanied by a fierce wind, went straight for his back!

There's no escaping it!

Lu Zhao, relying on the increased agility after the upgrade, suddenly lunged forward and rolled awkwardly.

"Rip!" A chill ran down my back as my linen clothes were torn open, and a burning pain shot through me.

[Struck by claws! Health -15%! Additional status: Yin Qi Invasion (Movement speed reduced by 10%)!]

That was a powerful attack! It took away 15% of his health in one hit! And it also inflicted a negative status effect!

Lu Zhao was horrified. He scrambled to his feet and continued running. He had to lure it to open ground! In the narrow ruins, it was certain death!

The corrupted soldiers pursued relentlessly, emitting chilling howls. Their chase alerted beings deeper within the ruins; Lu Zhao caught a glimpse of two more pale red lights appearing from different directions and rapidly approaching!

more than one!

Lu Zhao felt a chill run down his spine and sprinted back the way he came with all his might. The effects of the Yin energy invading his body made his steps heavy, and the stench of blood behind him grew ever closer.

Just as he was about to rush out of the ruins and see the gap in the city wall where refugees were gathered in the distance, another corrupt soldier suddenly rushed out from behind the broken wall and blocked his way!

Blockade ahead and pursuers behind!

Another desperate situation!

Lu Zhao gritted his teeth, a fierce glint in his eyes. He couldn't die here! He raised his woodcutter's knife, aimed at the corrupt soldier blocking his way, and with all his might, unleashed the only power technique he had some mastery—a powerful split that seemed to cleave Mount Hua!

The machete, with a faint whooshing sound, slashed towards the soldier's neck!

The soldier neither dodged nor avoided, but simply raised his stiff arm to block.

With a sharp clang, sparks flew. The axe struck as if hitting iron, the impact numbing Lu Zhao's hands and instantly reducing the axe's durability significantly!

[Attack blocked! Deals minor damage to corrupted soldier! Health -2%!]

Oh no! We can't break through their defenses!

The pursuer behind him had already pounced on his back!

The chilling sensation of death instantly gripped Lu Zhao's heart.