Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Kunpeng

[Note: The lifespan cost varies between traits. Please explore on your own.]

[The current simulation has ended. Countdown to the next one: 10 days]

’The next simulation in ten days is the least of my worries.’

’If I can’t find a way to survive, I might be dead within two days.’

But there was something else that stunned him...

’It consumes lifespan!’

Zhu Ge’s expression grew solemn.

’Equipping a trait consumes lifespan?’

That was a terrifying concept for any living creature.

Death is the antithesis of all living things.

’But if I’m going to die anyway, spending my lifespan at least gives me a glimmer of hope.’

’What should I do?’

’Equip!’

At his command, the system panel in his mind changed.

[Name: Zhu Ge]

[Lifespan: 43 years]

[Trait: Kunpeng]

[Inventory: Kunpeng]

His lifespan dropped from fifty-three years to forty-three!

Ten years of his life!

Ten years... A bitter smile touched Zhu Ge’s lips, but it was instantly replaced by an expression of resolve, defiance, and calm. These were the emotions imposed by the Kunpeng trait, overwriting his own chaotic feelings.

’This is no time for indecisiveness!’

’Gather information, organize information, analyze information!’

’In a way, is the Kunpeng trait a collection of many traits combined?’

Zhu Ge’s thoughts raced, cycling through logic, conjecture, and validation, quickly arriving at an answer.

The efficiency of his thoughts was worlds apart from before he equipped the trait!

’And there’s more...’

Zhu Ge scanned his surroundings.

’The cost is high, but the effects are remarkable.’

The moment he equipped it, Zhu Ge felt his body transform as an indescribably profound sensation washed over him.

’Everything is different!’

No moonlight entered the room, so there was no Tyndall effect, yet he could sense the fine dust particles suspended in the air.

His parents’ steady, deep breaths indicated they had fallen into a heavy sleep.

The beams of their old house were thick with dust, and the quilt felt damp and heavy as it lay over the three of them.

This was normal. They were in Yunjiang, part of the Da Sheng Dynasty, and the recent rainy season had left everything hot and humid, including their bedding.

In just a few short seconds, Zhu Ge felt as if he had become a scanner, perceiving everything around him!

’Perceiving the grand from the minute!’

The Kunpeng’s rise from a mere egg to the sovereign of sea and sky relied not just on its willpower, but also on this ability to discern great truths from small details, to act with meticulous caution!

The trait’s description didn’t detail its effects, only the so-called "experience" of the Kunpeng.

Zhu Ge would have to discover its specific uses for himself over time.

’A pity it only lasts a minute...’

Zhu Ge sighed.

He couldn’t keep "Kunpeng" equipped for long. Based on the feedback, the ten years of lifespan he had spent only bought him one minute of use.

Once that minute was up, equipping it again would cost another ten years of his life.

At the same time, Zhu Ge could feel that using the trait consumed not only his lifespan, but also his Spiritual Power and physical energy.

After just a moment of use, Zhu Ge was hit by a wave of exhaustion, the kind a typical two-hundred-pound office worker might feel after pulling an all-nighter and then having to climb eight flights of stairs.

But no matter how exhausted he was, the feeling was suppressed by the Kunpeng trait’s properties.

Thus, his expression remained unchanged as he turned his gaze to his father and mother on the other bed.

’Father and Mother...’

Zhu Ge’s heart sank.

’Their breathing is too deep!’

’It’s clearly a sign of someone who’s fast asleep, dead to the world—a deep, heavy slumber!’

However, his parents’ breathing was completely unchanged from when he had been speaking earlier.

This meant his parents had been in a deep sleep the entire time.

’It’s obvious their minds have been stolen!’

Normally, Zhu Ge would have felt panicked and helpless.

But with the "Kunpeng" trait equipped, he felt like a machine, emotionlessly analyzing the anomalies around him.

His parents were one anomaly. Another was...

Zhu Ge turned his head to look at the window and the door.

His family was poor, so their door and windows were full of drafty cracks.

But as he’d noted before, no moonlight seemed to be filtering in to create a Tyndall effect with the dust.

This made the room exceptionally dark; just moments ago, Zhu Ge hadn’t even been able to see his parents clearly.

’The moonlight and the dark room are another anomaly!’

At first, he had assumed he’d simply woken up naturally after transmigrating into this body.

’But now, it seems my parents in the darkness are already dead!’

’That means the original owner of this body might be dead, too!’

’Or rather... his mind was stolen!’

That must be why Zhu Ge was able to successfully occupy this body when he transmigrated.

Furthermore, now that he had the Kunpeng trait equipped, memories of the other villagers he had encountered throughout the day surfaced in Zhu Ge’s mind.

Dazed, mechanical, and numb.

’So many people have had their minds stolen...’

A chill shot through Zhu Ge, as if he’d been plunged into an icy cavern.

It wasn’t just his parents; most of the people he’d met in the village today seemed to have changed!

’It’s highly likely the entire village has had their minds stolen, and I’m the only exception!’

’No, I don’t have the full picture. I can’t jump to conclusions. I’ll observe them tomorrow morning before deciding anything...’

’Right, and the sound of the insects...’

He had woken up because the chirping was so jarring.

’What’s the source of that chirping?’

’It must be a monster!’

Zhu Ge understood that the "insect" might be some kind of monster issuing a warning.

That chirping was no ordinary summer insect’s call. It was a rhythmic sound that bored right into his skull, like the blare of a battle horn.

After all, not all monsters, Demons, and Ghosts were malicious toward the Human Race; some were actually good.

’But in any case, a chirping sound as a warning is another anomaly!’

And finally...

’That man... his bearing doesn’t seem like that of the Master’s disciple at all...’ Zhu Ge’s heart began to pound.

’That man... is he not the Master’s disciple?’

The Master’s disciple was known for being perpetually cold and stern, yet today he had been all smiles.

’Thinking about it carefully, this is clearly the biggest anomaly of all!’

At the same time, memories from the past few days flooded his mind.

The Master had been gone for three days.

The rumors of the "god’s" appearance had only started circulating recently—a little over a day ago at most—and they were spread by the Master’s disciple.

The disciple had told everyone to stay in their homes and they would be fine, warning them not to go outside under any circumstances.

This aligned with most people’s logic.

After all, home is supposed to be the safest and warmest of harbors. When trouble strikes, most people’s first instinct is to hide at home.

’So why would he do that?’

’The moonlight!’

’Sunlight harms the spirit, so why wouldn’t moonlight?’

’Of course it does!’

That’s why the disciple deceived the entire village, telling everyone to stay inside.

’Because no light can get in!’

’And with no light getting in, it’s much more convenient for that god to steal their minds!’

’Did the Master’s disciple collude with the god? Or was his mind stolen and he’s being controlled?’

’Or was the god deliberately led here?’

’Is the end goal to steal the minds of the entire village?’

Zhu Ge’s thoughts raced faster and faster, until he felt a wet trickle from his nose.

His nose was bleeding!

This meant the body’s brain and blood vessels were unaccustomed to such rapid thinking.

For a moment, they couldn’t take the strain.

Coupled with the loss of ten years of life, his entire body felt utterly exhausted.

[Name: Zhu Ge]

[Lifespan: 43 years]

[Trait: None equipped]

[Inventory: Kunpeng]

Before he knew it, the time was up, and the Kunpeng trait had returned to his inventory.

Zhu Ge’s eyes snapped open, his eyeballs webbed with blood.

Just one minute, and ten years of his life were gone.

But it had allowed him to learn a great deal and find some direction.

Casually wiping away the blood from his nose, Zhu Ge lay back down.

’Running out of the village is not an option.’

’Within the village’s borders, the monsters, Demons, and Ghosts outside will at least consider this the Master’s "territory." They won’t invade until his aura has completely dissipated.’

’But if I flee the village, I’ll be a sitting duck.’

’Right now, the best method is to lie low within the village and look for a path to survival.’

’It would be even better to wait for the Master to return.’

But before that, he needed to figure out how to survive before he was rediscovered by the "god" and it tried to steal his mind again.

’A god? I need to think this through carefully...’

’For now, I should get some sleep.’

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.