With the Great Purge in effect, slackers were swiftly weeded out, while a surge of ambition ignited in others, pushing them to claw their way to the top.
Even those who had been lying low the day before found themselves compelled to train and take on dungeons the moment they heard about the purge.
However, judging by the reactions of those in the know, newcomers likely struggled to even learn about the Great Purge.
By the time they did, the golden window for improvement would have already passed.
Having cleared up his doubts, Zuo Chengan thanked Wang Guangfei and was about to close the interface when he noticed new friend requests.
Opening them, he found they were from Zheng Ren and Li Yueqiu, whom he had met in the novice dungeon Night of Screams.
As for the veteran duo, He Jinmei and Zhao Chengyuan, neither had sent a request.
Fair enough. They weren't from the same generation, nor did they share much common ground for conversation.
After accepting the requests, a message from Li Yueqiu popped up immediately. Its contents, distilled into plain words, essentially amounted to: Carry me! Please carry me! Please, please, please!
Zheng Ren, on the other hand, remained silent, his status indicating he was currently in a dungeon.
"Running another one already? Pretty diligent," Zuo Chengan mused.
His friend list displayed each player's rank. Under Li Yueqiu's avatar, the label Unranked stood out starkly.
She had undoubtedly noticed the prestigious 1st Heavenly Ascension badge under his name, which likely explained her eager plea for assistance.
Thinking of Li Yueqiu, Zuo Chengan recalled her Double Kick skill. By now, she should've allocated enough points to meet the skill's minimum Constitution requirement of 7.
It was a decent ability, and she was... well, a bit dim... No, pure, kind, and obedient—easy to direct.
The memory of being left stranded in the farm dungeon still lingered in Zuo Chengan's mind. Fortunately, that particular dungeon hadn't involved team competition or rivalries.
In others, NPCs were notorious for splitting players into groups and egging them into mutual annihilation.
For a lone player caught in such scenarios, elimination was almost inevitable.
In dungeons with fewer than ten participants, Zuo Chengan wasn't worried about being singled out. But what about larger-scale dungeons with fifty or even a hundred players?
What if 99 of them belonged to the same guild—united and coordinated? What chance would the remaining lone players have?
Even with extraordinary skills and strategies, there were situations where cooperation was non-negotiable.
Joining a guild wasn't mandatory, but having reliable teammates—or at least temporary ones—was essential.
Considering all this, Li Yueqiu seemed like a solid pick.
She was a known quantity, competent in battle, and most importantly, kind-hearted and compliant.
As for whether she harbored ulterior motives... Zuo Chengan thought of her wide, innocent eyes—eyes so guileless they seemed untouched by the harshness of the world.
Everyone had selfish desires; that was human nature. But she wasn't someone who would cause major harm.
Having made up his mind, Zuo Chengan agreed to bring her along on his next dungeon run.
Li Yueqiu, assuming he meant a slightly newer Level 1 dungeon, was overjoyed. Her flattery flowed so thick and fast that it practically painted rainbows in the air.
Little did she know that Zuo Chengan's idea of bringing her along meant tackling a Level 2 dungeon instead—one that offered the highest rewards and had only been cleared a handful of times.
…
After ending the private chat, Zuo Chengan returned to his rented apartment.
Mo Dou eagerly tore open a pack of hay and vegetables, munching alternately on crunchy radishes and soft blades of grass, washing it all down with water, visibly enjoying itself.
Meanwhile, Zuo Chengan grabbed an empty bowl, opened his personal interface, and attempted to craft a batch of Mu Zhou's Tomato Sauce.
According to its description, it was a beloved, long-standing brand from the Heavenly Tower, often chosen as a gift.
Translated into gamer terms, it could be traded with NPCs. But its culinary effects remained to be tested.
The jar he had salvaged from the farm's storage was long expired, its effects nullified, so it wasn't a reliable reference.
Following the recipe, Zuo Chengan placed Fragrant Tomatoes x1, White Sugar x1, Electro Honey x1, and other ingredients together. The system immediately prompted:
[Start crafting?]
[Yes]
A flash of golden light transformed the ingredients into a pile of glossy, orange-red tomato sauce. Its hue, likely due to the honey, was lighter than typical tomato sauces, resembling a sweet-and-sour glaze but with a richer red undertone.
[Mu Zhou Brand Tomato Sauce]
[Type: Food]
[Effect: Restores injuries; enhances healing properties of dishes when used in cooking.]
[Limit: Overuse may cause adverse effects. Consume in moderation.]
[Description: Try it with brisket, and you will feel holier than ever!]
Curious, Zuo Chengan scooped up a spoonful and tasted it.
The moment the sauce touched his tongue, the rich tomato flavor exploded on his palate. Its texture had a faintly fibrous quality. It began with a sharp tang but quickly mellowed into sweetness. Once accustomed, the balance between sweet and sour was perfect.
Even someone like Zuo Chengan, who wasn't fond of sugary foods, found it irresistible.
This sauce could elevate even the plainest meal. Paired with bread or added to stir-fried dishes, it would instantly enhance the flavor.
With this recipe, Zuo Chengan joked to himself, he could ditch dungeon runs and make a fortune selling pancakes on the roadside.
But, of course, he wasn't focused on its culinary potential.
The sauce's restorative effects intrigued him far more than its taste.
If it was potent enough to replace healing items, he could package it into small portions as consumables.
Maybe he could sell the sauce at the market...
Wait. Why did this keep leading back to the idea of selling the crimson condiment?
…
Excited by the thought, Zuo Chengan drew the Swift Rat Dagger and slashed a shallow cut across his arm. The blade's sharpness made the act almost painless, though the sight and scent of fresh blood soon triggered a fiery sting.
In the real world, such a wound would require four or five stitches. But in the game…
Zuo Chengan promptly scooped another spoonful of tomato sauce.
The tangy sweetness hadn't fully faded from his mouth when the bleeding wound scabbed over, and the stinging pain vanished.
By the time the flavor dissipated, the scab had turned dark brown. With a light flick, it fell away, revealing fresh, tender skin underneath.
Even the blood that had dripped onto the table hadn't yet dried.
"What a treasure! This is absolutely top-notch!" Zuo Chengan exclaimed, staring at the remaining half-bowl of sauce as though it were liquid gold.
One spoonful—no larger than a ketchup packet—had produced such potent results. The remaining sauce could easily be portioned into ten packets.
The only downside was the scarcity of ingredients—items like Electro Honey were both expensive and limited in stock.
He had bought out all the Electro Honey on the shelves, and it was barely enough for one batch of sauce.
He still had two Fragrant Tomatoes left, along with some meat, which he decided to use for dinner.
A game-inspired Tomato Brisket seemed like the perfect choice.