C8 Exercise

After a busy morning, Lee Yuanhong collapsed into his chair in his humble abode, feeling an overwhelming soreness throughout his body. It was clear that a lack of exercise coupled with his demanding job had taken a toll; his strength was waning. If he were to embark on prolonged adventures outside, his body would surely fail him—a troubling thought indeed.

With this realization, Yuanhong turned his attention to Yiling. He lifted his wrist and inquired, "Yiling, are you there?"

Materializing from thin air, Yiling appeared before him, bleary-eyed and yawning incessantly, her expression one of reluctance. "What do you want? You're interrupting my beautiful dream," she complained.

"Do you actually need to sleep? In other stories, cheat elves never seem to need rest," Yuanhong remarked with curiosity.

Yiling sighed, "Earth's barrenness is to blame. The energy here is so scant that if I don't sleep, the system's automatic energy absorption is hardly sustainable. Had I not absorbed some electrical energy upon my arrival on Earth, I'd struggle to even power up."

"Electrical energy, of course! There's no blackout right now. Do you have a charger? It's the perfect time to recharge you."

"That could work as a stopgap," Yiling conceded.

Instantly, a luminous thread emerged from the right side of the watch, stretching forward until it hovered above an electrical socket. At the end of the thread, a plug formed and inserted itself into the outlet. A surge of light traveled up the thread and into the watch. Revitalized, Yiling perked up and asked contentedly, "So, what do you need from me?"

"You know, other systems offer a welcome gift or some potion to enhance one's physique. Don't you have any gifts for me?" Yuanhong prodded.

Yiling scoffed, her face twisting with scorn. "Those are mere trinkets. True strength comes from within, and that's what will carry you far. Sure, there are body-strengthening potions and gift packs, but you'll need a Crystal Core to unlock the storage space."

"Crystal Core? Storage space?" Yuanhong echoed, puzzled.

"A Crystal Core is an energy crystal found within zombies or evolved beings. The more advanced the creature, the greater the energy stored within its Crystal Core. Zombies must be at least level one to form a crystal, typically located in their heads, while evolved creatures have crystals scattered throughout their bodies, though the exact location varies."

"Storage space? It was created by my master using spatial magic. They stored many items capable of defeating the Undead within. Once you've gathered enough Crystal Cores, you'll be able to access the space and receive assistance."

Lee Yuanhong, eyes alight with anticipation, asked, "How many Crystal Cores are needed to open this space?"

"Just a single Level One Crystal Core is required for the first level of the space."

Brimming with confidence, Lee Yuanhong bellowed, "Time to hunt zombies. Yiling, point me to the Level One zombies."

Yiling responded with a sneer, "At your current level, you'd be nothing more than an appetizer for a Level One zombie."

"No way, I've taken down several zombies today."

"The ones you took out were merely Level Zero zombies. Without your little tricks, they wouldn't have been so easy to dispatch. A Level One zombie has the physique of an athlete; even with your cunning, they're several times tougher to beat. Face them head-on, and you're signing your own death warrant." Yiling delivered the harsh truth without sugarcoating it.

Lee Yuanhong sighed, his face the picture of frustration, "What am I supposed to do now?"

By chance, his gaze fell upon the bloodied dumbbells. That's right, training was essential, especially while there was still plenty of food. With a resolute look, Lee Yuanhong steeled himself for the task ahead.

Thus began Lee Yuanhong's workout regimen. Sit-ups, 50 at a time? That was laughable. In his current state, he'd struggle to complete even 20 sit-ups or 10 push-ups. But as they say, the first step is always the hardest. And so, Lee Yuanhong's first day in this post-apocalyptic world passed in exhaustion, akin to a dog worn out from overwork.

The following morning, Lee Yuanhong opened his eyes reluctantly to find Yiling, the disruptor of his rest, and grumbled, "It's the apocalypse, and you still won't let a man sleep?"

Yiling retorted out of habit, "Sleep any longer and you'll be zombie food. Haven't you heard that zombies are evolving by the minute? Give it another couple of days, and they'll be strong enough to break down a wooden door."

"That can't be. How are zombies evolving?" Lee Yuanhong asked, a hint of panic in his voice as he lifted his sore arm to grab his clothes and hastily dressed.

"Zombies can evolve by feasting and drawing energy from the air. The fast-evolving ones can reach Level One within three to five days, while the slower ones take up to half a month."

"What kind of zombies evolve quickly?" Lee Yuanhong inquired with a childlike curiosity.

"Duh, obviously the ones that eat humans evolve faster," Yiling responded with a mix of exasperation and disappointment.

Lee Yuanhong didn't retort and focused on preparing breakfast instead. He whipped up a meal with eggs, noodles, and pickled vegetables—all victories from the previous day's scavenging. After a hasty breakfast, he donned his makeshift paper armor, grabbed his homemade spear, and noticed the blade was beginning to curl at the tip—a worrying sign of its impending demise.

Yesterday, he had only managed to clear the upper floors. The remaining rooms and the lower floors still posed potential threats. Thankfully, for the time being, the zombies lacked the ability to break through doors. Clearing the immediate area of zombies would ensure the corridor's safety for a while. Thus, today's agenda was clear: secure the lower floors and continue his training regimen.

From the third floor down to the first, no doors were ajar, which meant no zombies roamed the halls—for now, the passageway remained secure. Yet, behind each sealed door lay the unknown: human or zombie? In the early days of the apocalypse, most people clung to the old rules of survival, so the darker aspects of human nature had yet to fully surface. But as time marched on, with dwindling food supplies and strengthening zombies, the safety of these corridors would be far from certain. Until then, Lee Yuanhong's only option was to grow stronger and brace for the challenges ahead.

Over the next three days, Lee Yuanhong dedicated himself to rigorous training. As he worked on fortifying his physique, he was also biding his time for the emergence of the Level One zombies, the key to unlocking his extraordinary new chapter of life.