Comprehensive Network: Starting with Martial Artists to Stack Passive Skills

Chapter 68, I'm in!

[Dungeon teleportation complete!]

[The normalized perception modification has been initiated! Your identity in this world is: Wandering Sorcerer]

[Character appearance has been automatically updated with costume (500 Disaster Coins costume cost has been automatically deducted)]

【Outfit Name: Wandering Sorcerer】

[Attribute Bonus: None]

【Fashion Effect: None】

[Description: Aside from changing appearance, it's useless, but it can be surprisingly effective in certain Eastern-themed dungeons.]

P.S.: Clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse—perfectly tailored.

eighty!

The familiar dizziness returned, and Lu Qingfeng felt as if he had been hit on the back of the head with a hammer, suddenly finding himself in a new instance.

Before the dizziness from the teleportation had completely dissipated, a fresh otherworldly aura rushed towards him.

Lu Qingfeng stopped and looked around. He was now standing on a path paved with bluestone slabs.

As indicated by the online prompt, I switched to a wandering Taoist outfit, but there's something wrong with this outfit.

Lu Qingfeng pinched the fabric of the clothes. It was fine plain silk. Was this something a wandering sorcerer like him should wear?

And who gave you the right to put your hand in my wallet? My money!

[The normal cost of the costume will be automatically awarded upon clearing the dungeon, and the deposited Disaster Coins will also be refunded.]

Stopping complaining about the fashion, Lu Qingfeng released his senses and continued to observe the surrounding environment. The path in front of him wound its way forward, leading to an ancient town built against the mountain.

At the entrance to the town stands an ancient stone archway with the three large characters "■■■ (Qingshi Town)" written on it, but the characters are already somewhat mottled.

Beneath the archway, two or three strong young men dressed in coarse cloth short jackets and carrying rusty waist knives were looking around nervously.

One of them was startled when he saw Lu Qingfeng appear, and then his face showed a mixture of vigilance and anticipation.

"But...but Mr. Lu?" Another slightly older man with a scar on his face tentatively spoke, his voice carrying a heavy local accent, but it was understood by the automatic translation of the web interface.

Lu Qingfeng nodded. Based on the background setting of the invitation and the mandatory purchase of the fashion, his current identity was that of a wandering gentleman who had come to the town seeking help from the townspeople.

A thought flashed through his mind about basic Eastern etiquette, and he gave a slight bow: "Indeed, I received a letter and learned that evil spirits were causing trouble in your town, so I came to offer my assistance."

The two men exchanged a glance and visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

The scarred man quickly stepped forward and said eagerly, "Mr. Lu, you've finally arrived! I'm Zhao Tiezhu, the town's patrol captain, and this is Deputy Captain Wang Meng. The town mayor and the villagers are waiting at the town office. Please come with us."

Town mayor? Town government office? Isn't this ancient times? How come your era is both modern and ancient?

Because his world didn't have a place called a town hall, Lu Qingfeng's brain froze for a moment. Fortunately, he had previously purchased the Complete Guide to the Eastern Side, which was about the modern era of another world.

Oh dear, I was so busy looking up the monster strategies that I didn't really delve into the background story of this dungeon.

...I'll have to kill a few more zombies to replenish my supplies later.

While feeling annoyed, Lu Qingfeng followed the two into the town, his senses continuing to work.

Qingshi Town is quite large, with rows of wooden and stone houses lining both sides of the street. Most of them are decorated with lanterns, but even during the day, the lights are on, and the dim yellow light seems weak and powerless in the gray fog.

The streets were sparsely populated, and those who were there were all in a hurry, their faces filled with fear. When they saw Zhao Tiezhu with a stranger, they only glanced at him briefly before lowering their heads and walking away quickly.

The atmosphere in the whole town was oppressive and uneasy.

"How is the situation?" Lu Qingfeng asked as he walked.

Zhao Tiezhu's face darkened, and he lowered his voice: "It's very bad. Mr. Lu, to be honest, it started when the chickens and ducks of a few families at the foot of the mountain on the west side of the town were drained of blood overnight, their bodies shriveled. Everyone thought it was wild animals from the mountains and didn't pay much attention. But later... livestock started dying, cattle and sheep, all dying in the same way."

"Then," Wang Meng continued, his voice trembling slightly, "seven days ago, the night watchman, Li Laosi, disappeared, leaving only a pool of black blood and a few pieces of cloth beside his clapper. Three days ago, Widow Zhang from the east end of town and her five-year-old son... also disappeared, leaving only... only half-eaten bones in the house..."

He swallowed hard, the color draining from his face. "Yesterday evening, two brothers from the patrol team were attacked while patrolling the edge of the western forest. Only one escaped, with a broken arm. They said... they said they saw 'The Shadow Walker'! It had a blue face and fangs, long fingernails, and immense strength; when you slashed at it, it only produced sparks!"

"Shadow Walker?" Lu Qingfeng understood immediately, and the monster-hunting strategy in his mind immediately matched up; this referred to zombies.

But since the guide wasn't very comprehensive, he continued, "Where did the attack happen? In the mountains near the town?"

"Yes, mainly the old forests to the west and north, and... and the mass graves behind the mountain."

Zhao Tiezhu pointed to the mountains behind the town where the fog was even thicker, "Especially at night, when the fog rolls in, those things dare to approach the edge of the town. We've organized able-bodied men to patrol day and night, banging gongs and drums, lighting torches, which can temporarily drive them away, but this isn't a long-term solution... People are panicking, and many are already planning to flee with their families."

During their conversation, the three arrived at the town hall in the center of town.

This was a relatively spacious courtyard made of blue bricks. At the entrance stood more young men carrying simple weapons, all of them looking tense.

Upon entering the main hall, one finds a dozen or so people already gathered inside.

The leader was an elderly man with white hair and beard, wearing a long silk robe; he was the town mayor.

Several village elders sat beside him, as well as a gaunt old Taoist priest wearing a faded robe and carrying a peach wood sword.

As soon as Lu Qingfeng entered, everyone's eyes turned to him.

The town mayor quickly rose to greet him: "This must be Mr. Lu? I am Zhou Fu'an, the mayor of Qingshi Town. I am so sorry for not welcoming you sooner! You must have had a long journey!"

"Mayor Zhou, you're too kind." Lu Qingfeng returned the greeting, his gaze sweeping over the old Taoist priest.

"Mr. Lu, this is Master Xuanchen from Qingxu Temple in town," Mayor Zhou introduced. "The Master heard that the town was in trouble and came to help."

Master Xuanchen nodded slightly as a greeting, his voice dry: "I have cultivated here for over twenty years, and it is my duty to suppress evil and exorcise demons. But I wonder, Mr. Lu, who your master is? And what methods do you possess to deal with this calamity of corpses?"

There was a hint of testing in his words.

Lu Qingfeng said calmly, "I am a man from the mountains. I once accidentally entered the Yinxuan Temple and learned some basics."

This old Taoist priest had a side quest behind him, but he was too lazy to fabricate a lineage, so he brought up the Hidden Mystery Pass instead.

Actually, anything you say here will be acceptable, since Lu Qingfeng has accumulated merit.

[Eastern faction tilt determination, initial favorability increased, special event determination bonus]

A hint of surprise flashed in Master Xuanchen's eyes. He had never heard of the Yinxuan Temple lineage before, but by simply observing its aura, he could tell that the lineage described by the wandering gentleman in front of him was genuine.

"I've been disrespectful; it turns out you're a fellow Daoist."