The Max-Level Sacred Mountain Begs Me to Save the Interstellar [Apocalypse] - Chapter 8

Zhang Hao took the initiative to show his call interface to the live stream. Hundreds of calls to the rescue team were all in a “failed to connect” state.

[Did the streamer offend someone?]

[This doesn’t look like a screenshot.]

[My cousin just called the rescue team, and the call went through fine.]

[There is heavy factionalism within the rescue team.]

[Is there tea? Tell us more.]

[Does the streamer have no friends? Not a single person to ask for help?]

“Friends? They have already blacklisted me,” Zhang Hao said with a bitter smile. “This matter involves the Agricultural Alliance. I cannot blame them for choosing self-preservation.”

“I have already stored all the evidence and reporting materials in this backpack. If something happens to me in the Ghost Mist, I ask everyone in the live stream to find it and hand it over to Captain Xie Songnian.”

“My dear friends, I am heading out.”

Zhang Hao hoisted his father onto his back, gripped the Cymbidium—his only hope—and bravely pushed open the door.

[Crap, that scared me. This mist is way too thick.]

[Quick, tell me this is a new AR game. I’m so scared, Mommy!]

[The streamer has no weapons. I bet he won’t make it past 10 meters.]

[10 meters? Did you guys not see the thing on the far left of the screen?]

Zhang Hao rotated the camera to the left, capturing exactly what the netizen was talking about.

[Ahhhh! A giant spider!]

[A Ten-Eyed Thousand-Legged Spider. Bloodthirsty and brutal, with a 360-degree field of vision. It’s incredibly hard to deal with. The streamer is probably…]

[Lighting a candle for the streamer.]

[Lighting a candle +1.]

The hand Zhang Hao used to grip the Cymbidium trembled slightly. He had never faced such a terrifying aberration head-on. However, the protective plants around the village were about to wither; this step had to be taken sooner or later.

[Ahhh! It moved, it moved! The spider moved!]

[Streamer, run!]

[Ahhhh! It’s too close! You’re scaring the baby!]

“Huff, huff, huff!” Zhang Hao carried his father and ran forward desperately, having no time to even look at the live stream comments.

He ran until he was exhausted, his legs losing strength and becoming nearly impossible to lift.

“Dad, I really can’t run anymore,” Zhang Hao’s voice choked as he collapsed to the ground. He blamed himself for not exercising more in his daily life; only now, while fleeing for his life, did he feel regret.

Suddenly, Zhang Hao felt his father gently patting his head and making noises to direct him to look behind.

“Ahhhh!” Zhang Hao jumped in fright again.

Behind him, besides the spider, was a headless wolf. Both stood three meters away, staring directly at Zhang Hao.

Motionless.

The aberrations didn’t move, so Zhang Hao didn’t dare move either. The two sides were in a deadlock. Meanwhile, the live stream had reached over 100,000 viewers, and the atmosphere was incredibly strange.

[Boring. I told you this was AI.]

[First time seeing aberrations that are afraid to get close to a human.]

[If I didn’t know better, I’d think they were escorting the streamer back to the base.]

[Don’t you see? If the streamer takes a step forward, the monsters take a step forward. If the streamer retreats, they retreat.]

[Must be a modeling bug. The models are linked.]

[Is it possible the aberrations are afraid of the orchid?]

…

Zhang Hao looked at the bullet comments, then at the distant monsters, and a bold idea suddenly formed. He charged toward the monsters like a madman!

[Holy crap, is the streamer brain-dead?]

[Ahhh! Too close, too close! I can see the spider’s fuzz!]

[Amen. Praying for the streamer. Closing my eyes and shivering.]

However, the next scene completely overturned everyone’s understanding. The two monsters turned tail and ran! The headless wolf even tripped over itself, as if Zhang Hao were the terrifying predator!

[…Insane. Too insane.]

[That’s actually amazing.]

[Someone send the streamer a firework. This really gave me the monster’s perspective.]

Long Spear Dipped in Sh*t gifted Fireworks x3.

[So this is what it feels like to hunt monsters. Feels damn good!]

Nezha Squad gifted Porsche x1.

[Streamer, keep chasing! I’m recording a video to flex.]

[I said I wanted to save humanity and my mom called me a dreamer. She really needs to see this stream.]

[The streamer is the streamer; that doesn’t stop you from getting scolded.]

Just moments ago, Zhang Hao was gasping for air like a pile of mud. After discovering the aberrations dared not approach him, he was instantly rejuvenated, evolving from a dying dog into a lively monkey.

He held the Cymbidium with one arm, drooling like Pigsy seeing Change’e.

“Friends, I’ve hit the jackpot!” Zhang Hao proudly surveyed the Ghost Mist, but a very bold thought quietly grew in his mind.

He was going to advertise for his “Golden Boss”!

As the popularity of the live stream grew, more and more viewers flooded in, each newcomer completely confused.

[? What kind of stream is this?]

[Can’t you new people read? This is a monster-chase game stream.]

[Huh?]

[Shh! Newbies be quiet. Streamer, go North 35°. There seems to be something with red eyes over there. Go check it out.]

Zhang Hao strolled through this land of death at his leisure. He encountered over a dozen monsters along the way, but none dared come within three meters of him. Stimulated to the point of numbness, Zhang Hao was now able to face the monsters directly and even critique them.

“This one is covered in tumors. Too ugly!”

“Eh? Why is this one’s butt on its face? What? Go look? No, no, I’m heading back to the base.”

After dark, Lord-level aberrations would come out to feed; they might not necessarily fear a single plant. Zhang Hao was no fool.

[Don’t get cocky. People from the base are already waiting for you at the gate.]

[Streamer, maybe don’t go back to the Central Base. Plants can protect you from aberrations, but they can’t protect you from human hearts.]

[Amen. Praying for you…]

Zhang Hao’s live stream ended there.

Shen Ye also saw the warnings from the netizens and felt worried about Zhang Hao’s situation. After all, a good businessman wouldn’t let his customers suffer.

Shen Ye clicked on Xie Songnian’s avatar. He was about to affect a high-pitched, sweet voice to call out a syrupy “Brother-in-law.”

But suddenly,

“Hmm?” Shen Ye uttered a confused sound.

Crimson prompt text abruptly filled his vision: Sorry, network functionality is restricted. Please contact your local base station technician for maintenance.

Shen Ye: “Eh? The internet is down?”

Click.

It was the sound of a lock opening. Shen Ye sat up straight and looked at the newcomer.

Cheng Fang was wearing the same full-coverage protective suit as the cleanup squad. She spoke warmly, “Xiao Shen, can you do me a favor?”

“Sister Fang?” Shen Ye was hesitant.

Cheng Fang stood at the door and reached out to him. “The network base station was attacked by something unknown. Captain Xie told me to get you to help with repairs.”

“Sure.” Shen Ye grabbed his backpack and walked toward the door, but he froze the moment he stepped out.

[Fragrant! Sniff, sniff]

…Shen Ye remembered that the last thing Mount Buzhou described as “fragrant” was a massive mantis aberration. He quickly pulled his leg back, patting his chest with lingering fear. “Close, just a little bit closer!”

“But Sister Fang, have you ever tasted a ‘closed-door soup’ (the cold shoulder)?”

He slammed the door shut, certain that the aberration wouldn’t dare touch a door coated in plant juice.

“Ow! What are you doing!”

Cheng Fang was quick enough to block the door from closing and roared, “Closed-door soup? I think you want a flick to the forehead!”

“Ah? It didn’t… corrode? Sister Fang, I’m sorry! I thought you were an aberration in disguise!”

“What is that pretty little head of yours thinking all day? Get out here!”

“Hehe.” Shen Ye quickly grabbed his backpack and stepped out of the room.

But Cheng Fang suddenly called him. “Shen Ye.”

“What is it, Sister Fang?”

“Xiao Ye, look at my hand.”

Cheng Fang pulled back her protective suit. Her hand, which had been soft and youthful just moments ago, was now melting away like solid lard. Without hesitation, Shen Ye turned and ran!

But a sharp pain shot through his neck, and Shen Ye plummeted into a dreamless abyss.

When Shen Ye regained consciousness, he was lying alone in the Ghost Mist. An off-road vehicle drove up from a distance, and three bags of compressed biscuits were tossed out the window.

A woman with short hair leaned coolly against the window with one hand, saying things Shen Ye didn’t understand.

Zhou Hui said, “In consideration of the cenotaph you set up for Changfeng, I’ll leave you some food. What a cute boy; I really didn’t want to hurt you. If you want to blame someone, blame your sister for marrying the wrong man.”

Zhou Hui finished speaking and drove away, leaving Shen Ye bewildered in the mist. What a beautiful woman, but what a wicked heart! If she really wanted Shen Ye to survive, she should have returned his Star Ring or at least left him a flashlight. This place was pitch black—as black as Zhou Hui’s heart.

“Zhou Zhou, do you have any plants that can glow?” Shen Ye stood alone, looking quite pathetic, but at least he had Mount Buzhou for company.

[Mhm, ugh, eh… yes, have glow-glow.]

Shen Ye: “Give it to me!”

[…]

Shen Ye: “Don’t be so stingy! Let me see… you’ve eaten a Stalker, a Butcher, a slime monster, and a Veiled Guest these past few days. Haven’t you recovered any energy? Fine, don’t give it to me. We’ll just sit here and wait to be eaten alive.”

He was giving up. This stupid world.

[Then, mushy-mushy (mushroom), turn into monster-monster. Be careful.]

A small mushroom appeared in Shen Ye’s left hand. The cap had adorable white spots, but it emitted a faint green glow, as eerie as phosphorus fire.

“This is the first time I’ve seen an edible plant! I’ve been eating compressed biscuits every day; I’m about to vomit!” Shen Ye held the mushroom against his cheek and asked, “Zhou Zhou, does my pale green face look like a monster’s?”

[Ugly-ugly.]

Shen Ye: “Tch! Actually, I don’t even need this mushroom. I could just stand there and my beauty would glow.”

[…]

Shen Ye wanted to joke with Mount Buzhou to boost his courage, but today Zhou Zhou seemed exceptionally quiet.

“Wait, Zhou Zhou, look to my left! What on earth is that!”

To Shen Ye’s left stood a stretched, skeletal male figure. Its joints were reversed, and it was crawling toward Shen Ye at an alarming speed.

Three meters, two meters, one meter, half a meter.

“Holy crap!”

Shen Ye bolted! The aberration, the Inverted Walker had effortlessly broken through the mushroom’s protective range! It could survive in an environment without Ghost Mist!

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