Vol. 4 Chapter 11: I’d Add More for You

 Chapter 11: I'd Add More for You

As the unsettling feeling once again enveloped Lu Li, he found himself transported from his cramped hideout to a picturesque mountain village. The areaZASe was lush and vibrant, a stark contrast to the polluted industrial landscape he was used to. However, all his clothes had disappeared, leaving him stark naked.

In front of him, a row of ancient simple garments hung out to dry. Lu Li frowned at the sight. Using his shadow magic, he weaved a traditional Hanfu around himself. During his time inside the shadow cocoon, Lu Li had used shadow magic to induce genetic mutations in himself. Now, although he looked human, his insides had changed. He had become a humanoid magical creature in tune with shadow magic.

This transformation had significantly increased his control over shadow magic, and his total shadow capacity had grown to four times what it once was. As a result, the game's evaluation of his body had also improved substantially:

**Body Evaluation:** 1.99 + 0.89; **Life Energy Derivative:** 0.2

**Soul Evaluation:** 3.34; **Spiritual Energy Derivative:** 2.98; **Shadow Magic:** 9.95

Looking at this assessment, Lu Li sensed that once his spiritual derivative broke through to 3 and his shadow magic to 10, he would undergo a significant life transition. Additionally, he felt a closer connection to his skill slots, allowing him to manipulate parameters directly, making skill effects more flexible without needing the panel's assistance.

At this moment, the mission for this instance appeared on his panel:

**[YZ0135, you have joined this instance.]**

**[Current game instance: Zhou Chu Eliminates Three Scourges.]**

**[Instance Type: Solo, Advancement.]**

**[Instance Description: Zhou Chu, despised and hated by many, wishes to change himself by eliminating threats that plague the people and improving his reputation...]**

**[Instance Objective: Eliminate all three scourges.]**

**[Instance Hint: Can you eliminate your own three scourges?]**

**[Instance Completion Reward: Permission upgrade, 1000 game points.]**

**[Enjoy the game!]**

"Zhou Chu Eliminates Three Scourges?" Lu Li pondered but couldn't recall relevant knowledge, so he decided to move forward. The scenery ahead was serene, with clear rivers and a warm color palette, unlike the industrially polluted modern world.

By the river, several women in simple clothes were washing clothes with wooden batons, chatting softly about neighborhood affairs. Despite the tranquility, Lu Li's attention was caught by a piece of driftwood floating towards the women. As one of them rinsed her clothes in the water, the driftwood suddenly moved, revealing itself to be an alligator that quickly dragged her into the water, mixing blood with the splashing water. The remaining women screamed and retreated, but soon returned to their chores, washing away the blood from the stones and continuing their work.

"Is that an alligator?" Lu Li thought as he watched from a distance. He observed how the women calmly returned to their chores, seemingly unfazed by their companion's death.

"It's either due to harsh living conditions or a deep-seated indifference to life," Lu Li mused.

Soon, a pale man led a five or six-year-old girl to the river. He held her tightly and jumped into the river, disappearing with a splash.

"Is this compassion or indifference?" Lu Li wondered, watching as dark mists began to gather in the river. An old witch, accompanied by a village chief, arrived at the river, throwing various items into the water while chanting eerie songs. The dark mist gradually dissipated, and the bodies of the man and his daughter floated to the surface, along with some bones forming a human shape.

Villagers, dressed in mourning clothes, lifted the bodies and buried them in the mountain. Life went on as usual, with everyone returning to their homes.

Suddenly, hoofbeats echoed in the distance. A tall, burly man rode into the village on a black horse. He wore fine Hanfu and carried hunting gear. The man, known as Zhou Gongzi, dismounted and entered a peasant's house, demanding hospitality in exchange for his game. The frightened farmer complied, and Zhou Gongzi arrogantly made himself at home.

Watching this, Lu Li shook his head and approached the house. Standing at the gate, he addressed the woman tethering the horse, "Madam, I am a traveler passing through. May I rest here for the night?"

The woman turned, revealing a skeletal figure. "You should find another place. Zhou Gongzi, the local tyrant, is staying here. It's not safe."

"That's alright. The more, the merrier," Lu Li insisted, smiling.

The skeletal woman hesitated before letting him in. As Lu Li entered, the woman transformed into a normal human, watching him warily. Lu Li smiled inwardly, intrigued by the unfolding events.