2: The only chance of survival is in the grave

The cave was dark and damp.

Water droplets seeped from the top of the rock wall, falling into puddles with a monotonous splash.

The air was mixed with the earthy smell of soil and the scent of decaying leaves.

Li Mo leaned against the cold rock, forcing his erratic breathing to calm.

That cold phrase, "Contract Settlement," was not an illusion.

In his mind, the light screen composed of countless golden runes still hovered, its presence even more real than the stinging pain in his chest.

With a slight thought, the information on the light screen clearly appeared.

"Host: Lu Yuan"

"Cultivation: Qi Refining Seventh Layer (Dao Foundation Damaged)"

"Lifespan: 3 hours 45 minutes"

"karma points: 10.1 points"

The blood-red "Lifespan" text burned in his eyes.

The anxiety of death transformed into a bone-chilling coldness, climbing from his tailbone all the way up his neck, raising a fine layer of goosebumps on his skin.

He survived.

But he was less than four hours away from true death.

He immediately sent an inquiry to the Exchange.

"Purchase Lifespan."

"1 Karma Point can be exchanged for 1 day of Lifespan."

The cold Exchange rate appeared.

Lu Yuan's heart plummeted.

Ten karma points could only buy ten days of life.

He had just gambled his entire Lifespan to earn these 10 "initial capital" points from Li Mo.

If he simply exchanged them like this, he would only be postponing his death date from today to ten days later.

This was not a path to survival.

At this moment, Lu Yuan's mind was exceptionally clear, wiped clean by the shadow of death.

The Exchange was not a charity.

These 10.1 karma points were not consumer vouchers to let him linger on; they were the only capital he had exchanged with his life, the only chance he had to turn the tables.

He could not be a consumer.

He had to become an investor.

Lu Yuan gave up the idea of direct Exchange.

"Market scan, range, three li nearby."

His command was clear and decisive.

Instantly, the light screen before him rippled with circles of golden light.

Countless fragmented information streams refreshed like a waterfall.

"Target: A wild rabbit will be hit in the hind leg by a falling rock in half an hour. Put option price: 0.001 karma points."

"Target: A common plant will wither in one hour. Put option price: 0.0001 karma points."

"Target: ..."

All were worthless "junk assets."

Even if these insignificant Karma changes resulted in a successful transaction, the profit would be almost zero.

Lu Yuan held his breath, forcing himself to concentrate, sifting through this sea of information for any "Opportunity" that might bring a chance of survival.

Time ticked by, minute by minute.

Just as his patience was about to run out, a piece of information, emitting a faint glow, abruptly popped up.

"Target: Three inferior 'Lifespan Extending Medicinal Pills' left by a group of tomb raiders deep within a grave in the mass burial ground."

Lifespan Extending Medicinal Pills!

Lu Yuan's breathing hitched.

He immediately clicked on the details.

"Call option details: Price: 2 karma points. Exercise condition: Obtain the token 'Soul Guiding Banner Fragment'. Strike price: None."

A typical treasure hunt quest.

A high-risk, but potentially high-reward, short-term investment.

A simple dynamic map immediately appeared on the light screen, clearly marking the location of the mass burial ground and the structure of the tomb.

The map showed that the group of tomb raiders had just been startled away by a low-level zombie a few minutes ago.

Both the Medicinal Pills and the "Soul Guiding Banner Fragment," which served as the exercise token, were left deep inside the tomb.

And that zombie had not left; it was still wandering within the tomb.

Lu Yuan looked at his personal panel again.

"Lifespan: 1 hour 13 minutes"

Just from thinking and sifting, his life had been devoured by more than two hours.

From here to the mass burial ground three li away, sneaking into the dangerous tomb, and finding the Medicinal Pills and token under the zombie's nose.

Every step had to be completed within the extreme time limit.

Time was his most fatal enemy.

He had no other choice.

"Purchase."

Lu Yuan's voice was hoarse, but it carried a decisive madness.

"karma points - 2, remaining 8.1 points."

He dragged his weak body, using Li Mo's qing feng sword as a crutch, supporting himself as he rushed out of the cave.

The cold night wind hit his face.

Without the slightest hesitation, he sprinted towards the mass burial ground on the map, which represented both death and life.