Li Taibai: “When you encounter a crossroads while driving, you should slow down and keep going straight. The branch roads on both sides lead to mist at the end… you cannot go in.”
Blind Needle, Steady Hand: “I was just a little short. I already lost 2 points and got fined 1 gold coin.”
Rich Lady Harvester: “The person upstairs, where do we pay the fine?”
Blind Needle, Steady Hand: “The enforcement monster came over. I don’t have any gold coins, so I paid with supplies. I am out of supplies now. Would any kind soul lend me some? Once I find a wooden crate, I will definitely pay it back.”
User 4443256356: “I haven’t even set off yet. Thanks for the tips, big shot.”
User 7778965865: “I passed through slowly, and a station appeared ahead.”
User 7778965865: “Brothers, I’m about to get rich. This is a gas station.”
Rich Lady Harvester: “Can you buy it for me? @User 7778965865.”
User 7778965865: “I don’t have any gold coins, so I can’t get in. I don’t have enough supplies either. Pain. An overwhelming fortune just brushed past me.”
Village Informant: “How do you get gold coins?”
An Ant Went Out: “No idea.”
…
Blind Needle, Steady Hand looked at the “kind and amiable” crocodile monster in front of him and trembled as he handed over the only 1 bottle of mineral water and 2 large steamed buns he had on him.
The crocodile monster looked at the supplies in its hand with satisfaction. This job was actually pretty good after all. No wonder it was introduced by the cousin of its great-aunt’s younger brother’s wife’s younger sister.
Jiang Li looked at the gas station that appeared on the right and pulled over.
Although she could not use it herself, she could trade it for special supplies while everyone else still did not understand anything yet in the early game.
“Dear Squirrel Lord, may I buy some fuel packs?”
“What human are you? Do you have gold coins?”
“I’ll offset it with supplies.”
The squirrel monster looked at Jiang Li, who had driven up with a cargo bed full of supplies, and even its smile became especially sincere.
“Honored guest, 1 unit of fuel pack covers 100 kilometers for 1 gold coin, and so on for each additional unit. How many units do you need?”
Jiang Li was stunned. 1 unit only cost 1 gold coin? Was that a 90% discount?
In her previous life, even the richest people had never heard of buying it like this.
She decisively took out 3 large steamed buns, instant noodles, pickled mustard greens, and chili powder.
The squirrel monster pointed at the chili powder. “What is this?”
“This is a specialty item, a delicacy that can make you feel like you’re floating on air. This is a little extra gift from me, handsome squirrel big brother.”
The squirrel tried it and jumped straight up from the spiciness.
After a while, it could not resist trying a little more.
“This really is good stuff.” The squirrel looked approvingly at the human in front of it.
『 Squirrel monster favorability +5, current favorability value 5. 』
“Your stuff wins on freshness and how filling it is. Let’s settle at 5 gold coins. Do you want everything exchanged for fuel packs?”
Jiang Li looked at the squirrel monster in delight. This squirrel monster was so generous!
“Oh my, you truly are the most elegant and handsome Squirrel Lord I have ever met. I am so lucky.”
“You’re too kind. It is my honor to serve you!”
『 Squirrel monster favorability +3, current favorability value 8. 』
Clutching the fuel packs, Jiang Li waved goodbye happily.
Li Taibai: “1 unit of fuel pack can cover 100 kilometers. It can be exchanged for special items, blueprints, weapons, and the like. Anyone interested, DM me with your offer.”
User 7778965865: “Big shot, did you get into the gas station? So jealous.”
Rich Lady Harvester: “You want to trade a weapon for a fuel pack? That’s shameless. As a fellow man, I advise you to be a little kinder.”
Envoy of Justice: “Rich Lady is right. I suggest trading for some basic materials.”
Fairy Sister: “Brother Taibai, my car is out of power. Can you give me one?”
Village Informant: “So shameless. Big shot, don’t bother with them. I have a blueprint. I’ll trade with you.”
Rich Lady Harvester: “Anyone who trades with him is an idiot.”
…
Jiang Li watched the screen spam crazily, opened the private chat box, and began filtering the messages.
Iron-Blooded Vanguard: “I have 1 crossbow and 1 awning blueprint. Trade for 2 units of fuel pack.”
“Sure.” Jiang Li looked at the familiar ID and directly sent a trade request.
This person had also existed in her previous life, but on the sixth day his avatar seemed to go dark. She did not know what he had run into.
Jiang Li checked the road conditions ahead, confirmed there were no intersections or road signs, and then filtered the messages again.
Heavenly Master Zhang of Dragon-Tiger Mountain: “Fellow Daoist, would you trade it for 1 antidote pill?”
Jiang Li’s eyes lit up. An antidote pill was a good thing indeed. Trade successful.
After thinking for a moment, she sent a message: “If you have more medicine in the future, you can come to me and trade again.”
Heavenly Master Zhang of Dragon-Tiger Mountain: “All right.”
Jiang Li still had 2 fuel packs left. As for the rest of them, they were either freeloaders or wanted to freeload, so she simply closed the chat box.
She drank mineral water while carefully watching the road on both sides for supply crates.
A flash of white light swept by. Jiang Li quickly stopped the vehicle and ran back.
Faint white light flickered in the grass behind two beech trees. Jiang Li looked closely and realized it seemed to be a silver crate.
The whole road was utterly silent. Jiang Li’s heart was pounding. Staring at that silver crate, she felt every pore on her body stand on end, and instinctively she wanted to get back in the vehicle and hide.
A struggle raged in her mind. Hiding would be useless.
The Novice Protection Period was the best time to get supplies. She wanted to survive, and to live well.
The crate was about 8 meters from the roadside, and the vehicle was 6 meters from the roadside. During the protection period, the area within 5 meters of the vehicle was the safe zone.
Jiang Li mentally calculated the distance. If she grabbed the crate and sprinted back, as long as she got to within 1 meter of the roadside, the safe zone would be right behind her.
Jiang Li loosened up her limbs, rushed into the mist, picked up the crate, and ran back.
Feeling a chill on one side of her neck, she instinctively leaned to one side and kept running. She was finally almost back on the road.
Just then, a huge roar came from behind her.
Goosebumps covered Jiang Li’s entire body. She lunged forward violently, rolled, and tumbled onto the road.
Looking back, she saw a huge black-and-white snake.
The giant snake was unwillingly trying to move forward, but the light barrier blocked it. In the end, it crawled back into the forest in frustration.
Still shaken, Jiang Li quickly started the motorcycle and left the place.
『Attention all players: Night is approaching. Driving is prohibited after dark. Violators bear the consequences themselves.』
An Ant Went Out: “It’s only 17:52, and it’s already getting dark?”
Village Informant: “Isn’t darkness good? It’s time to sleep.”
Single Too Long, Became a Dog: “The ground is my bed, the sky is my blanket. I’m a pitiful little dog.”
…
Jiang Li immediately stopped the vehicle. She had traveled 40 kilometers today.
Setting everything else aside, in her previous life she knew that after this newbie period there would be an overall ranking, and the top 100 would all receive good rewards.
Jiang Li picked up the spatula. She had to hurry and open the crate before dark.
A centipede monster jumped out, trying to bite Jiang Li.
Jiang Li swung the spatula rapidly and smashed the centipede monster on the ground. Caught off guard, the monster was a bit dazed by the beating, and before it could react, it had already turned into a puddle of meat paste.
Without any transition at all, the sky turned black.
Jiang Li collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. She was still too weak. She hoped the silver crate would contain something that could improve her constitution.
“Congratulations! You’ve obtained a Strength Pill, a Motorcycle Upgrade Card, a Luck Fragment, a Water Purifier Blueprint, Iron ×10, Plastic ×18, Lumber ×20, mineral water 3 L ×2, and baguettes ×3.”
『Congratulations, player. You now have all the vehicle upgrade supplies. Do you wish to upgrade?』