Chapter 3

Wu Xiaode felt as if his brain was being pricked by needles, causing intense pain.

Fortunately, the pain only lasted for a moment before vanishing without a trace.

Indeed, his mind was now filled with new knowledge, all related to mechanical engineering.

"So that's how it is," Wu Xiaode thought to himself.

In the Death Pit, the spirits had acknowledged him, and the Book of the Dead had gained power, helping him escape.

Now, Xia Huilan had acknowledged him, and he had gained her knowledge.

It seemed that whenever he earned someone's recognition and praise, the Book of the Dead could extract benefits from them!

While Wu Xiaode was deep in thought, Xia Huilan seemed to have made a decision.

"Xiao Wu, follow me," she called out.

The two of them walked through the alley, entered the residential building, and climbed to the fifth floor.

Xia Huilan took out her keys, opened the door, and led Wu Xiaode inside.

"Sit anywhere, I'll get something for you," Xia Huilan said.

"Lan Jie, don't be so formal. I'm working now and earning my own money; I can't take anything from you," Wu Xiaode quickly refused.

"It's not about money."

Xia Huilan rummaged through a cabinet and pulled out a small USB drive, placing it solemnly in front of Wu Xiaode.

"What is this?" Wu Xiaode asked curiously.

"I work at a design institute and have access to things that ordinary people don't. This is something I designed, and I'm giving it to you," Xia Huilan explained.

"But, Lan Jie, this is your work, why are you giving it to me?" Wu Xiaode tried to decline.

Xia Huilan looked at him deeply and said seriously, "Your parents passed away in that accident years ago, leaving you with no wealth, which is why you've had such a hard life—"

Wu Xiaode interrupted her, "There's no need to bring up the past, Lan Jie. I'm doing fine."

"I know you've always loved fighting, but you've just finished the college entrance exam and are about to go to university. I have to say, don't fight anymore. Fighting can easily ruin your life," Xia Huilan said.

"Don't worry, Lan Jie. Who wants trouble? I don't either," Wu Xiaode sighed.

If only someone had been there to take care of him, those people wouldn't have dared to bully him.

After his parents passed away, he was alone in the world. If he didn't fight back, he would be bullied endlessly.

He was destined not to tolerate being bullied.

In junior high, whenever those bullies dared to provoke him, he would show no reaction on the spot.

But later, when they let their guard down, he would strike back.

During a school cultural performance, a tall boy was doused with feces from behind just before he went on stage.

Another time, when going down the stairs, almost every bully who had picked on Wu Xiaode ended up rolling down the stairs and being beaten.

A group of boys blocked Wu Xiaode after school.

He went straight to the principal's office or the dean's office.

If that didn't work, he would call the police.

Later, those boys found some thugs to beat him up severely.

Wu Xiaode remained silent for a day.

The next day, he spent the afternoon in a bookstore.

He read about criminal law and various crime cases.

The third day, he went to school with the last bit of money he had, intentionally letting the thugs see it.

The thugs, of course, didn't let it go.

But according to what he read—

"Robbery is a crime of action. The Criminal Law does not specify any amount or circumstances for constituting robbery. As long as the perpetrator uses violence, coercion, or other methods to rob public or private property, regardless of whether they obtain any money or how much, they are generally considered to have committed robbery."

Robbery is a serious crime, with a minimum sentence of three years.

This time, the amount involved was not small.

The police took the matter seriously, and it was quickly resolved.

The thugs confessed to a few students who enjoyed bullying others, saying they had been the ones to instigate it.

The aftermath was a mess, and even the school was penalized.

But for Wu Xiaode—

He was safe.

These experiences left a reputation, which also drew attention and affected his studies.

But Lan Jie was a top student, always busy with her studies, and didn't know about these things.

Her words were well-intentioned.

Wu Xiaode naturally smiled and agreed.

"You're about to go to university. The designs on this USB drive are the knowledge I've accumulated. I'll leave it all to you. If you don't study mechanical engineering, you can sell it for some money," Xia Huilan said.

Wu Xiaode realized something and asked, "Lan Jie, is this your research成果?"

Xia Huilan nodded.

"You're giving up your research成果? What do you plan to do?" Wu Xiaode asked.

"I'm planning to quit my job and go back to the countryside to live," Xia Huilan said.

"But the job at the company is good, and I heard you were going to get a promotion," Wu Xiaode said.

"Promotion... what's the point? I've been living too hard. It's time to give up and live a peaceful life in the countryside," Xia Huilan sighed.

As she spoke, the black Book of the Dead, floating in mid-air, slowly opened, revealing rows of icy small characters:

"Special Notice:"

"Xia Huilan's fate was already predetermined, but you have changed her circumstances, making her reassess her life."

"Her fate is about to change."

"Many chain reactions will soon be in an uncertain state."

The Book of the Dead suddenly trembled.

The icy small characters on the pages paused, then suddenly turned into burning flames, as if something had been activated.

These flames rearranged themselves into new characters:

"In a situation where death was certain, you found a glimmer of hope, intertwining your fate with others, influencing the world and all living beings, making everything uncertain."

"The power of the Book of the Dead is beginning to take shape."

"Do you wish to activate this power?"

Do I even need to ask?

Wu Xiaode thought to himself, "Activate!"

As he spoke, another row of icy small characters quickly appeared before his eyes:

"Operation executed according to your will."

"One hour later, the Book of the Dead will activate deeper powers:"

"Wall of Wishes."

...

Wu Xiaode returned home.

He turned on his computer, inserted the USB drive, and read the data.

Dense mechanical design drawings appeared on the screen, numbering in the hundreds.

There were also some of Xia Huilan's personal insights and notes.

Wu Xiaode had just received her "92025 Type Advanced Humanoid Combat Robot Curved Bearing Design Style - Revised" and the prerequisite knowledge, so he could understand these drawings.

"Such advanced technology, has our science really developed to this level?"

Wu Xiaode found it hard to believe.

The designs were groundbreaking, completely beyond his usual understanding.

If he had to describe these mechanical designs in simpler terms, he could use a concept from anime.

Humanoid combat armor.

So, we could already make combat armor!

But there was a problem.

Why has combat armor never appeared in the world?

What are the governments of various countries hiding?

Wu Xiaode immediately realized the importance of this knowledge.

He couldn't help but recall the earlier scene.

When they parted, Xia Huilan had said something rather cryptic.

"Xiao Hai, remember to always have some rice and oil on hand, and store some drinking water and medicines, like fever reducers, cold medicines, blood stoppers, and anti-diarrheal medicines. These are useful in daily life."

"If one day I call you, you must come to the countryside to find me."

...Is a war about to break out?

Or is something else happening?

Xia Huilan didn't answer him on the spot, only saying it was all speculation.

Wu Xiaode shook his head, closed his eyes, and recalled all the mechanical knowledge—

For some reason, the knowledge he had just gained was firmly etched in his mind, as if it had always been his own memory.

If he forgot anything, the Book of the Dead would automatically open and show the relevant content.

Data storage function?

—That's very useful.

Since that's the case...

Wu Xiaode pulled out the USB drive, burned it on the kitchen stove, chopped it into pieces, and flushed it down the drain.

Alright, let this knowledge stay in my head.

After doing all this, he subconsciously looked at the black book floating in mid-air.

It was almost an hour later.

Sure enough, as he gazed at the Book of the Dead, the pages automatically flipped open and enveloped him in a mist.

Wu Xiaode looked around in confusion.

The mist was vast and boundless, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Everything was silent, like a dead world.

"Is anyone there? Where am I?" Wu Xiaode shouted.

In the endless mist, whispers of female voices echoed.

Wu Xiaode could see many blurry figures, but when he tried to look closely, they disappeared.

He instinctively understood something.

A mysterious ritual was beginning, and he must not interrupt it.

The Book of the Dead gradually floated in front of him, emitting a glow of ice and fire.

Under this brilliant light, the female voices began to sing softly:

"The sky is about to fall, and the darkness is intense."

"Friend, you must save yourself from danger time and time again, without hesitation, for only by living can there be hope;"

"Friend, in the surging tide of darkness, ignite the fire of anger in your heart;"

"This red heart fire will erase the blood and tears of all living beings;"

"This blazing flame will illuminate your path, revealing all evil;"

"Friend, holding the Book of the Dead, you must walk to the end of your fate, reach the highest position, and become the master of countless spirits;"

"Friend, we come from a distant, tranquil place, and we bless you here."

"May you always be a valiant warrior."

The voices slowly faded, and everything returned to silence.

Wu Xiaode wiped his eyes, feeling a bit lost.

Tears?

He didn't understand what they were singing, but he was crying?

At that moment, an old, broken wall appeared, standing in the endless mist.

The wall was covered with colorful notes.

Wu Xiaode swore the notes were full of writing, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't read them.

Suddenly, one note fell off the wall and drifted into his hand.

Wu Xiaode looked at the note and saw:

"What a pity, my successor has fallen to such a state, about to die."

"If anyone can take my successor's place and help him avoid this deadly calamity, I will offer a generous reward."

The surroundings were very quiet.

Wu Xiaode looked at the note, and the Book of the Dead quietly displayed a few small characters:

"Do you accept this mission?"

"If you accept, you will immediately learn the details."

"Note: This is the most suitable mission for you now. Other missions are either too far away or beyond your capabilities."

"If you miss this mission, you will have no other way to gain soul power for a day."

What else could he say?

If nothing went wrong, in seven days, he would be in a giant's mouth, and then—

Snap!

The giant would only need to close its mouth, and he would be dead.

Now, he had to take a chance and fight for survival!

"I accept this mission," Wu Xiaode said.

The note immediately scattered in his hand, splitting into two.

One half turned into a light yellow badge with a lifelike dragon carved on it, and the other half turned into a cluster of light, circling him and then disappearing into his forehead.

Scenes flashed through Wu Xiaode's mind.

"I didn't expect... the mission to be like this..."

He muttered to himself.