Chapter 1

Lan Qingshan encountered a strange event—while playing a game called *Wasteland*, he actually managed to take out one of the items from the game.

It was a wooden stick.

Thicker than a thumb, with a dark brown surface, it emitted a pleasant scent of grass and wood, and its tip was as sharp as a spear point.

His eyes swept over the stick, and a line of attributes flashed through his mind.

[Wooden Stick]: Level 0 item. It can be used to make a torch or a trap. This item has been unsealed; additional extraction requires 2 unlock points per stick.

Lan Qingshan was bewildered.

The first part of the attributes was exactly the same as in the game, but what was the second part?

What were "unlock points"?

Just as Lan Qingshan's worldview was about to collapse, more information appeared:

"System storage has been set up, the specific list is as follows..."

A flood of data surged, making Lan Qingshan's head ache.

The items in the storage were all from the *Wasteland* save files, numbering in the millions.

This wasn't surprising.

Lan Qingshan had a collection obsession and had played the game for over 8 years, creating nearly a hundred save files, thus accumulating such a vast number of items.

He also understood what unlock points were.

In short, most items were sealed and required a large number of unlock points to unseal before they could be extracted.

These items were divided into six levels: "Level 0," "Level 1," "Level 2," "Level 3," and the higher "Lord Level" and "King Level."

Lan Qingshan looked at a large number of high-level items and felt he had struck it rich.

For example, the "Death Gaze Badge" at the Lord Level, which, when worn, could make anyone die just by looking at them, was extremely impressive.

For example, the "Fire God Staff" at the King Level, which could summon a series of fiery meteors, had a power that could be described as earth-shattering. If brought to the real world, it would surely shock the entire world.

More information flashed: "Every 24 hours, the host can extract one unsealed item from the 'System Storage' for free. Today, [Wooden Stick] has been extracted, and the free extraction is used up. Additional extraction requires payment of unlock points."

"The host has obtained a 'Portable Storage Space,' currently with a volume of 25 cubic meters. Living organisms cannot be stored in the space, and it has a strong preservation effect, with food decay rate being 1/1000 of the normal temperature..."

Lan Qingshan subconsciously moved his wrist, and the wooden stick disappeared into thin air.

A light screen unfolded, showing the appearance of the portable storage, which contained only one long item—the wooden stick.

He blinked, suddenly feeling an urge to start a moving company.

With this skill, he could move ten households a day, earn a hundred thousand a month, and buy a house and a car in a year!

Well, perhaps he could think bigger.

If he went into road freight, he could even save on tolls, which would be another source of income!

Unfortunately, the next message dashed his plans.

"The Catastrophe System is initializing, and the host is about to enter a new world..."

Lan Qingshan was shocked and shouted, "I want to stay on Earth!"

But it was useless.

Everything around him gradually became blurry, as if covered in a mosaic.

It seemed to pass in an instant, or perhaps it was an extremely long time, but the blurriness eventually cleared.

Lan Qingshan appeared in a new world.

It was a small garden by the street.

The grass was lush.

The flowers were in full bloom.

Strangely, it felt like he had lived in this world for many years, with all his memories from childhood to the present.

Lan Qingshan looked around and muttered, "Cyan Star... Wei Yang Empire... interesting..."

This planet, called "Cyan Star," was larger than Earth, with a population of 11.85 billion, and its technological development was slightly more advanced than Earth's.

His current identity was a commoner in the Wei Yang Empire.

The empire had a vast territory of 44.86 million square kilometers, with an extremely prosperous economy and highly advanced technology, making it the strongest country in the world.

On the surface, this transmigration seemed to be a good deal.

At that moment, a new system prompt appeared: "The first stage of the *Wasteland* catastrophe has been active for 145 days, with 220 days remaining until the next stage. Please improve your personal strength as soon as possible!"

Lan Qingshan was stunned.

What the hell?

Could the disasters from *Wasteland* have already appeared on Cyan Star?

A hurried footsteps interrupted his thoughts.

"Thud! Thud!"

A figure suddenly rushed out from a side path and collided with him.

"Bang!"

Lan Qingshan felt a pain in his right shoulder and almost fell to the ground.

He turned to look at the "culprit" and felt a chill.

The other party was a tall, muscular Caucasian with eyes so red they seemed to be dripping blood, a sight that was terrifying.

By the way, the people in this world were divided into three races based on skin color: yellow, white, and brown.

The total population of the Wei Yang Empire was 1.96 billion, with over 99.5% being yellow-skinned. The empire's prosperity had attracted over 30 million foreign workers, so foreigners were common in the country.

The red-eyed Caucasian's tone was provocative, "Hey, do you have eyes in your head?"

Lan Qingshan frowned, feeling a bad premonition.

The system had just warned about the catastrophe, and the red-eyed Caucasian appeared. He felt this was no coincidence.

The red-eyed Caucasian licked his lips, his tone filled with a sense of greed, "If I peel off your skin and wear it, I can become a genuine citizen of the empire..."

Lan Qingshan felt a chill run down his spine.

Damn!

Is this guy crazy?

Without hesitation, he turned and ran, grabbing his phone to call the empire's emergency number—111.

However, the red-eyed Caucasian was faster.

Lan Qingshan had only taken two steps when he felt his back being grabbed, and a strong force pulled him.

"Rip!"

His clothes were torn.

Lan Qingshan was pulled to the ground, gritting his teeth in pain, and his phone flew somewhere.

The red-eyed Caucasian pounced, grabbing his neck with both hands and growling, "I'll kill you first, then peel off your skin!"

Lan Qingshan felt intense pain in his neck, struggling to breathe, but unable to get any air.

He tried to pry the other's hands apart, but the red-eyed Caucasian was not only strong but had an incredible grip, making it impossible to move him.

"Heaven!"

"What's happening over there?"

Shouts came from a distance, followed by footsteps as a few passersby rushed to help.

"Snap!"

Lan Qingshan heard a crack in his neck.

He realized that in a few seconds, his neck would be crushed.

It's over!

At the critical moment, Lan Qingshan remembered his savior—the wooden stick in his portable storage.

He focused, and a wooden stick instantly appeared in his right hand, its sharp tip pointing at the red-eyed Caucasian's neck.

The distance was less than 1 centimeter.

Everything happened so fast.

The red-eyed Caucasian couldn't react.

Lan Qingshan simply moved his wrist, and the stick easily pierced the other's skin.

"Ah~"

The red-eyed Caucasian screamed in pain, his hands instinctively loosening.

Lan Qingshan seized the opportunity, thrusting the stick deeply into the other's neck, the tip even protruding from the other side.

Blood gushed out, splattering his face and staining his white shirt red.

The red-eyed Caucasian raised his hands, trying to pull out the stick, but the intense pain made him give up after a single attempt.

"Huff! Huff!"

Lan Qingshan panted heavily.

The pain in his neck eased slightly but was still intense.

The red-eyed Caucasian fell to the ground, making strange sounds.

"Grunt! Grunt!"

It was clear that his trachea had been punctured, and the blood had blocked it, causing him to suffocate.

The red-eyed Caucasian's bloodshot eyes looked at Lan Qingshan, his consciousness seemingly returning to normal, and he mumbled, "Save... me... grunt grunt..."

Lan Qingshan struggled to stand, watching coldly.

About 6 to 7 meters away, a few passersby who had come to help were shocked by the bloody scene and stopped, with some calling the police.

Two minutes later, the red-eyed Caucasian lay motionless on the ground, his bloodshot eyes wide open.

Perhaps due to the transmigration, Lan Qingshan's mindset was different from his previous life. After this near-death experience and personally killing the other, he didn't feel much fear.

His eyes swept over the wooden stick, and he decided not to retrieve it.

Forget it!

This incident would definitely attract official attention. The stick was a key piece of evidence and had been seen by many passersby. Losing it would be impossible to explain.

Lan Qingshan looked at the corpse, his thoughts turning to the system's earlier prompt.

The first stage of the catastrophe had been active for 145 days, with 220 days remaining until the next stage, indicating that each stage would last a full year.

According to the main plot of *Wasteland*, the "first stage catastrophe" was just an appetizer. Subsequent catastrophes would be increasingly dangerous, and the system's advice to "improve personal strength as soon as possible" was sound.

Five minutes later, a strange horn sound came from a distance.

"Whoo... Whoo..."

The Wei Yang Empire's law enforcement department was called the "Patrol Bureau."

Lan Qingshan knew the Patrol Bureau's vehicles had arrived.

Soon, two brightly red-painted light armored vehicles stopped by the road.

This looked exaggerated.

However, the Wei Yang Empire was not short of money, so the Patrol Bureau was equipped with sturdy light armored vehicles.

The doors opened, and a group of men quickly jumped out and rushed over.

Lan Qingshan observed that their equipment was top-notch.

Everyone wore steel helmets, bulletproof vests, and knee and elbow pads. Some held pistols, while others carried assault rifles, looking extremely intimidating.

They were the "Patrol Officers."

Commonly known as "Patrol Inspectors."

"Raise your hands!"

"Stay where you are, or we will shoot!"

The Patrol Officers shouted, aiming their guns at Lan Qingshan.

After all, he was covered in blood, looking quite terrifying, which naturally made people cautious.

Lan Qingshan, not being a fool, obediently raised his hands.

A passerby, emboldened, shouted, "Patrol Officers, I can testify that this gentleman is not a murderer; he is the victim..."

The Patrol Officers ignored him.

One Patrol Officer cautiously approached, glanced at the corpse, and immediately cursed, "Damn, another red-eyed freak?!"

Lan Qingshan's heart skipped a beat.

What did "another" mean?

Had the catastrophe, which had been active for nearly five months, already caused many mutations?

He suddenly thought of an important concept in *Wasteland*—Shadow Energy.

This was a malignant energy from another dimension that could induce various mutations in living beings. Although *Wasteland* did not have "red eye disease," the real world was not a game, and differences were normal.

Another Patrol Officer's eyes swept over the large bruise on Lan Qingshan's neck, his tone tinged with sympathy, "This guy was probably attacked by a red-eyed freak and almost strangled to death."

Lan Qingshan, his voice hoarse from the slight damage to his vocal cords, interjected, "Patrol Officer, if I hadn't reacted quickly and picked up a stick to stab this guy, I would be the one lying dead now."

The first Patrol Officer's tone softened, "Kid, are you seriously injured? Do you need to go to the hospital for a check-up?"

Lan Qingshan was about to answer "yes" when he noticed the corpse's right little finger twitch slightly.

He felt a chill run down his spine.

How could a dead person move?

Was it a zombie?

A moment later, a message flashed: "Please note, a 'Level 1 Mutated Creature' is about to appear. Successfully hunting the monster will earn you a certain amount of 'unlock points,' which can be used for additional item extraction or unsealing sealed items."

Lan Qingshan was so shocked he almost jumped.

Damn!

It really was a zombie!