Brrr!
Freezing. Not just the usual cool air that makes fine hairs stand on end for a moment like an AC blast in a convenience store, but a biting cold, piercing to the very core of my bones.
It felt as if every cell in my body was screaming to be covered by a thousand layers of thick blankets.
The air on this mountain peak was far more freezing than I had imagined, gnawing at my skin without a single thread, only covered by half-dry leaves that were almost useless.
I shivered violently, my whole body trembling like a leaf in a snowstorm. My fine hairs stood on end from head to toe, and my teeth chattered incessantly, like a broken antique typewriter, emitting a panicked rhythm.
I rubbed my arms against my body, rubbing my palms against my arms, trying to generate a little warmth, all in vain. The cold seemed to laugh at me, mocking my every effort.
"System, are you serious about that mission?!" I asked, my voice trembling violently, not just from the freezing cold, but also from the despair that began to creep in, choking every hope.
"Survive one day in this cursed place?! I don't even have proper clothes! I could die of cold and become an ice pop before that dragon even glances at me, let alone devours me whole! Is this the worst fate you could give me?!"
The transparent screen flickered before me, its dim glow reflecting in my eyes, which were still slightly swollen from shock and lack of sleep. Its response was neutral, without a hint of emotion, as if I were just data to be processed.
[Mission: Survive on Golden Dragon Peak for 1 day. Status: Incomplete. Time Remaining: 23 hours 57 minutes 42 seconds.]
[Suggestion: Seeking shelter from the elements and a source of warmth is the top priority for User's survival. Failure may be fatal.]
"Shelter? Warmth?" I snorted, a white puff of breath curling from my mouth, forming a cloud of vapor that instantly vanished in the cold air. My eyes swept around, staring at this terrifying landscape.
There were only sharp rocks towering like giant teeth ready to tear the sky, a bottomless abyss shrouded in dense darkness, gaping open like the mouth of an ancient monster, and a thick shroud of mist rolling lazily, swallowing all directions, hiding unseen threats.
"Do you think I'm in a children's playground with complete facilities, System?! This is a mountain peak! There's nothing here but... rocks, dry leaves that can't even cover my shame, and maybe some monsters ready to devour me whole!"
I pointed at the leaves clinging to my body, which now felt even more useless, even embarrassing. My "beautiful" face might freeze and crack like antique porcelain if I didn't find something to protect me soon.
[Detection: User Frustration Level reached 70%. Gathering Strangeness Points...]
[+5 Strangeness Points.]
"What?! Even my frustration counts as points?!" I glared at the screen, as if I could burn it with my gaze. My anger flared, yet it was mixed with an unbearable amusement.
"This is so absurd! My life was already ridiculous enough with a chewing gum choking death, now my death has to be a joke for this strange system?! Does the universe really enjoy seeing human suffering? Or am I just the subject of the most pathetic yet comical cosmic prank?!"
[Current Strangeness Points: 15.]
[Suggestion: User may try opening the System Shop to view available items. Using Strangeness Points can significantly increase chances of survival.]
System Shop? My eyes gleamed slightly, a glimmer of hope appearing amidst the storm of confusion and despair. Maybe there were clothes there! Or at least, something that could keep me from being naked and freezing to death.
I focused my mind on the word "Shop" on the screen, an action that felt odd but somehow worked.
Instantly, the interface changed, displaying a long list of items, scrolling down like an old parchment scroll, each line glowing with a faint luster.
Most of the items were dull gray, inaccessible, with "Insufficient Strangeness Points" written below them, as if mocking my inadequacy. However, a few shone faintly with a green color, indicating that I could buy them.
[Beginner Clothes (Simple)]
- 10 Strangeness Points
Description: A basic set of clothes made of coarse material, enough to cover the body and provide a little warmth. Not fashionable, but functional. Suitable for covering initial reincarnation shame and preventing hypothermia. Don't expect style.
[Emergency Rations (3 Days)]
- 5 Strangeness Points
Description: Nutritious snacks that can stave off hunger for three days. Tastes... like dried grass mixed with dust. Don't expect deliciousness, this is just for survival.
[Minor Wound Medicine]
- 3 Strangeness Points
Description: Herbal ointment for small cuts and bruises. Won't heal a broken heart, but decent for physical injuries. Effective for scratches and contusions.
My eyes immediately fixated on the Beginner Clothes. 10 Strangeness Points! I had 15! This was a valuable opportunity, a blessing amidst misfortune, to save myself from hypothermia and, more importantly, from the eternal shame that would continue to haunt me.
"I'll buy Beginner Clothes!" I said quickly, without a moment's hesitation, as if my life depended on this decision—and it did.
[Purchase Confirmation: Beginner Clothes (Simple) for 10 Strangeness Points? Yes/No.]
"Yes, yes, YES! A thousand times yes! Hurry up, I'm freezing here!"
Instantly, my 10 Strangeness Points decreased to 5. And before me, in the cold, empty space, appeared a neatly folded set of clothes, as if just taken out of a wardrobe. A simple dark gray robe, loose pants, and a pair of cloth sandals.
Not luxurious items, no dragon embroidery or shimmering pearl decorations, but these were precious to me right now, more valuable than diamonds and gems.
I immediately grabbed the clothes, hastily putting them on, my stiff fingers barely able to fasten the robe.
The fabric felt coarse against my skin, like rubbed burlap, but the warmth it provided felt like an oasis in the icy desert I had just been in. At least, I was no longer naked and freezing to death.
I didn't even care how ugly the clothes looked on my "beautiful" body. Maybe it would even look stranger, which means... more points? An absurd thought that made me smile wryly.
"Phew... at least I won't die ridiculously from cold again," I muttered with relief, letting out a long breath, a white puff of vapor curling from my mouth.
"A second death from hypothermia would be a record I don't want to break."
[Detection: User Satisfaction Level increased. Gathering Strangeness Points...]
[+2 Strangeness Points.]
"Huh? Even happiness counts as points?" I shook my head, a faint smile, a mix of amusement and resignation, etched on my new face.
This system was truly strange, as if designed by a bored, mischievous entity seeking entertainment from the comical suffering of mortal beings.
My Strangeness Points were now 7.
Dressed, I began to look around more calmly, although the cold still crept into every inch of my body. The shroud of mist was still dense, but occasionally strong winds blew it away, revealing glimpses of the scenery.
I saw strange rock formations, some of them looking like towering natural sculptures, piercing the clouds, their surfaces covered with thin moss and glittering frost.
The air here felt incredibly dense with spiritual power, much thicker than the air on Earth, as if every particle contained life. I could feel it flowing in through my pores, like fresh dew, although I didn't know what it meant, or how to utilize it.
"So, this is Tian Xuan Continent," I mumbled to myself, staring at the mist-shrouded horizon, a new and mysterious world.
"A cultivation world... where spiritual power flows freely, and people can fly, shatter mountains with a single punch, or even achieve immortality. And I, a former high school student who died from chewing gum, am now here, naked (before) and with a beautiful face.
What kind of mockery of fate is this? Will I become the strangest cultivator in history?"
Grrrrummm!
Suddenly, a faint roar sounded, closer than before. Not the howling of the wind, but a deeper, heavier sound, like distant thunder, yet feeling very close, shaking the earth beneath my feet to its core.
The vibration crawled up my spine, triggering primitive instincts I never knew I possessed, a warning of an approaching threat. I swallowed, my eyes wide with horror. That must be...
[Notification: Golden Dragon energy detected. It is advised to remain calm and not provoke attention. User's current existence is very vulnerable. Fleeing is a wise option.]
"Remain calm?!" I mumbled, my voice almost inaudible, trembling violently.
"How can I be calm when there's a dragon here?! A real dragon! Not one on a screen or in a game! This is no longer 'life is like a box of chocolates,' this is more like 'life is like being trapped in a dragon's lair after choking on chewing gum'!"
I immediately crawled, taking cover behind a large boulder whose surface was cold and rough, peering towards the roaring sound.
The shroud of mist in the distance thinned slightly, and I could see a gigantic shadow moving within it. An enormous, glittering golden, and scaly form, radiating a formidable oppressive aura, as if the entire peak trembled before it.
My heart pounded like a racehorse just released from its stable, beating so fast it felt painful.