Chapter 289

October 31st, evening.

After evening self-study ended, Lin Li rode his bike but didn't go home immediately, instead heading to the driving school registration point according to the address on his phone.

"Coach Yu?"

Seeing the middle-aged man waiting under the "Xiren Driving School" sign, Lin Li parked and locked his bike, then asked.

"Yes, that's me. Lin Li? Right." Yu Jianan turned his head upon hearing this, and immediately said after seeing Lin Li.

"Yes." Lin Li nodded.

"Come in, come in." Because they had already been in contact on the phone, Yu Jianan immediately signaled Lin Li to follow him inside.

"You brought everything, right? You also have the physical examination form?"

After leading Lin Li into an office, Yu Jianan signaled Lin Li to sit opposite him while he sat in front of the computer and asked at the same time.

"I brought everything. Everything you told me on WeChat is here." Lin Li took out a folder from his schoolbag, which contained copies of his household register and ID card, as well as the physical examination form he had just received from the Vehicle Management Office.

Taking a driving test also requires a physical examination, but the content of the examination is quite simple, just basic items like vision and height.

Although Lin Li had just had a physical examination a few days ago, the physical examination report from a private institution was not recognized.

Fortunately, it's very convenient now. In the 24-hour service area of the Nansang Vehicle Management Office, there is a self-service physical examination machine. You can go for a self-service physical examination at any time, and there is absolutely no need to go to the Vehicle Management Office or a designated hospital on a workday to test again.

Lin Li went to use this machine after school yesterday, but because manual review is only available during the day, he only received the passed report today.

"That's no problem, these are enough. I'll enter it for you now, and your system file should be out tomorrow."

Yu Jianan took the cigarette from behind his ear into his mouth, holding it without lighting it, and said while starting to operate the computer with a clatter.

"Okay, Coach. And then, I've already finished brushing the questions for Subject One. When is the earliest I can arrange the test?" Lin Li nodded and then asked.

After returning from his National Day trip, he had been brushing questions in his spare time. Plus his perfect memory, as long as it was in the question bank, Lin Li would definitely get it right.

He was already at the level of passing every test he took.

"This thing, there's no use in being anxious. If you want to sign up for Subject One, you still have to brush your study hours, but your file isn't out yet, so you can't even brush your study hours. And you can only take the test on weekends, right?" Yu Jianan leaned back in his chair and spread his hands at Lin Li.

"That's right." Lin Li nodded.

Xue Jian would most likely not approve of him asking for leave to take the driving test and would have to scold him a few times, so he would definitely only be able to take the test on weekends.

"Then this will take quite a long time. After brushing the study hours, it's also difficult to make an appointment. Weekend slots are the hardest to grab in the first place. There's definitely no chance for these two weeks. If you're unlucky, you won't even be able to make an appointment next month." Yu Jianan shook his head upon hearing this.

Lin Li frowned slightly upon hearing this.

Being stuck on Subject One for a month was a bit too long.

If it went like this, don't even talk about the New Year; he wouldn't even have his driver's license yet.

He had already bragged about it, although this wasn't his fault.

"Isn't Xiren Driving School the most expensive but also said to be the best driving school in our Xiling? Do you have no way?" Lin Li frowned and asked.

Lin Li chose this one just for convenience.

"Of course, but we are good because of our service, training grounds, and vehicles, it has nothing to do with grabbing these appointment slots,"

After finishing, Yu Jianan took the unlit cigarette from his mouth and twirled it in his hand. He glanced at Lin Li's phone, thinking he wasn't recording anything, and his voice lowered a little:

"If, Lin Li, you are really in a hurry, I personally have some connections, maybe I can help you grab a slot..."

Hearing this, Lin Li smiled.

But it wasn't a mocking smile. Lin Li nodded, even feeling a bit gratified: "No problem, Coach Yu, as long as your connections are reliable, I can absolutely pay extra."

Seeing Lin Li so sensible, Yu Jianan's eyes lit up.

"Don't worry, Lin Li, my connections are absolutely reliable!" Yu Jianan looked a bit proud, reached out and picked up his Apple phone, and shook it in front of Lin Li, "Let me tell you this, this is a phone I slashed down on Pinduoduo."

Lin Li: "?!"

Lin Li was horrified and felt admiration.

This connection was no longer just widely spread; being able to slash down a phone on Pinduoduo, this child was terrifyingly powerful, he must not be left alive.

"Then I'll leave it to the coach with peace of mind." Lin Li nodded.

Stable.

"Don't worry, you get what you pay for. When the time comes, I'll have someone squat at the Vehicle Management Office on-site. This is faster than online. Plus, with the people I know in the Vehicle Management Office, I'll pull some strings, and I'll definitely help you grab the earliest slot. If there's no early one, I won't charge a penny."

Yu Jianan patted his chest, swearing solemnly.

"Okay, my goal is to get my driver's license before the Lunar New Year." Lin Li nodded.

"Then you can be even more at ease, it's definitely no problem. With me here, as long as you don't fail the test and listen to my arrangements, you will definitely get it. Don't even talk about the New Year; normally, you can get it before New Year's Day."

Yu Jianan snapped his fingers and said confidently.

"Then I'll trouble you, Coach." Lin Li nodded politely.

"By the way, what are you in such a hurry to get a driver's license for? Can I ask?" Yu Jianan continued to type on the keyboard, and feeling bored, he asked casually.

"There's nothing bad to say, it's just that I promised to drive to pick up my classmates during the New Year."

It was indeed not a secret that needed to be hidden, Lin Li replied.

"Yo, you just turned eighteen a couple of days ago, and you contacted me yesterday. You're really in a hurry,"

After glancing at the information, Yu Jianan raised his eyebrows and teased, then shook his head, showing a little nostalgia:

"But it's understandable. An eighteen-year-old child should be like this. When the time comes, the look in your classmates' eyes when they see you driving will definitely make you feel great."

Then Yu Jianan sighed long and spoke softly:

"Sigh, if that kind of thing hadn't happened, my child should also be eighteen years old by now. It's a pity, a pity."

"What happened? Can I ask?" Lin Li asked curiously upon hearing this.

"There's nothing bad to say. Eighteen years ago, I pulled it out." It was also not a secret that needed to be hidden, Yu Jianan replied.

Lin Li: "(; o_o)?"

No?

Huh? Pull?

What the hell are you pulling?

Lin Li originally wanted to mourn for that 'child of the same age', but now that it seems there are hundreds of millions that need mourning, let's just forget it.

"Okay, now just wait for tomorrow's review to pass, and you can start brushing your study hours," Yu Jianan finally finished operating the computer, and then introduced to Lin Li:

"For classroom study hours, we can help you brush them. For online course study hours, if you need, we can also help you brush them, but you have to leave your original ID card with me for the time being."

"And then, I personally suggest you brush them yourself, because our proxy brushing still has certain risks. If you get caught, although the punishment isn't heavy, you might not be able to get it before the New Year."

"Then no need, I'll brush them myself." Lin Li shook his head upon hearing this.

"Okay, then you go to the front desk to pay, and then we'll contact on WeChat. If you have any problems, just find me."

"Okay."

Lin Li went to the front desk to pay, then rode his bike home to continue his daily refining and learning.

Waiting until midnight.

【Update complete.】

Seeing this message, Lin Li nodded. His guess was indeed correct; it would update on Monday, and it would also update at the beginning of the month.

It's just that the update at the beginning of the month doesn't give free mall refresh opportunities; it just refreshes the opportunity to go to the apocalypse.

Lin Li looked at this interface that still had no title. At this moment, it had changed again from before.

The UI, which originally only had three buttons, now had five.

The two newly appeared buttons were lit up, but like the other buttons at the beginning, they had no text.

And the original three buttons all had text now.

The one lit up was "Return".

The ones that were dark and unclickable were "Terminate" and "Current reset price: 20 system currency".

For these texts that appeared after a month's delay, Lin Li had actually guessed most of them.

Does it only take 20 system currency to refresh one more trip to the apocalypse?

Quite cheap?

However, there was also a "Current" word, maybe the price would change and rise with each reset?

But Lin Li had no more demands for the apocalyptic world. He wasn't even an 'awakened one', and that kernel with very ancient settings—even if he got a ton of it, it would be useless.

Currently, without any tasks, it was unnecessary to waste points to go there.

Just use the free weekly and monthly opportunities.

The point that attracted Lin Li relatively more now was that after going there, he could explore that world to his heart's content in his mecha.

Long live the mecha.

Putting on his protective suit and carrying the prepared supplies and food, this time also including some tools specified by Shi Dongchen, Lin Li clicked "Return" to 'return' to his hometown.

A white light flashed.

Lin Li was stunned.

Because what was in front of him was not the return location he had chosen a few days ago at all. To be precise, the scene in front of him didn't seem to be the apocalyptic world at all.

The weather was clear and the light was just right, but Lin Li didn't dare to define whether the scene in front of him could be considered the sky. It wasn't azure blue, but permeated with a warm amber light, and flocculent purple light bands swam between the clouds, like elongated auroras.

Lin Li was currently at the top of a mountain. When his gaze moved from the sky to the surroundings, there were 'mountains' everywhere.

The 'sky' didn't look like the sky, and the 'mountains' didn't look like mountains.

These mountains were almost composed of pure rock, with no vegetation on the surface, let alone any living things. A very strange point was that these mountains all presented an inverted cone style, large at the top and small at the bottom. The top of the mountain was huge and flat, while the bottom of the mountain supporting the ground only had a sharp tip.

Completely violating physics.

Each mountain was separated by thousands of meters. The ground was the same as the mountains, with no living things, all black rock.

The ears were silent, a piece of tranquility.

"..."

"..."

"Where the hell did you bring me to this time?" Lin Li came back to his senses and issued a soul-searching question.

No one answered.

Throwing the food and tools he brought on the ground... Lin Li looked down and realized that this ground was also unusual. The surface was covered with a material similar to obsidian, but every few seconds, water-like patterns would ripple.

Obviously, this was definitely not the apocalyptic world.

Lin Li's eyebrows jumped violently.

When he calmed down to think, Lin Li discovered another thing.

Spiritual energy.

There was spiritual energy in the surroundings.

With every breath he took, it was entering his body and being subtly absorbed.

His body also felt a faint sense of comfort because of this.

"The apocalyptic world doesn't have spiritual energy, so... is this the late-arriving cultivation world?" Lin Li spoke his guess.

"Boom!!!" A sudden sound appeared.

It was a purple heavenly thunder that suddenly appeared from the purple light band and fell, hitting the ground not far away, making a roar.

Lin Li: "?"

The initial bit of excitement was instantly blown away. Lin Li looked up at the sky, confirmed that there was no purple light band directly above him, and then walked carefully toward the edge on this very wide mountain top under his feet.

The 'mountain top' was hundreds of meters wide. Because Lin Li walked very carefully, it took more than ten minutes to barely reach the edge.

At the edge, several six-petaled flowers with the same texture as ice crystals actually grew. The petals were like blades. Separated by more than ten meters, he discovered that in their slight swaying, they would also produce the sound of sword ringing.

Lin Li chose to avoid it first.

Arriving at the edge of a mountain top with no abnormalities, Lin Li took out the sports camera hanging in front of his chest, then manifested the "Formless Sword" and let it possess the sports camera.

It was a bit harder to adapt to than a ballpoint pen, but after all, the volume was not large. A few minutes later, the sports camera placed on the ground flew up according to Lin Li's will.

In the case that Lin Li didn't bring a drone and now didn't dare to manifest and use armor, this was the best 'drone'.

Then Lin Li controlled it and flew out of the edge of the mountain.

No purple thunder aimed at it and fell, at least for now.

The camera slowly descended, disappearing from Lin Li's field of vision. Lin Li blindly controlled it to slowly turn three hundred and sixty degrees.

Then he let it fly back and took it into his hand.

Checking the footage just now.

What was under his feet was indeed an inverted mountain. There was nothing outside the edge of the mountain top, only rock shrinking inward.

In a sense, this mountain didn't give normal people a way to go up or down the mountain at all.

Lin Li frowned, pondered in place for a few minutes, and chose to return to the vicinity of the six-petaled flower at the edge.

The "Formless Sword" detached from the sports camera, possessed the compressed biscuits he brought, and then flew toward the six-petaled flower.

When it was still a few dozen centimeters away, with a sway of the six-petaled flower, the compressed biscuit suddenly turned into two halves, and the "Formless Sword" was forcibly detached.

"Your mom."

Looking at the biscuit corpse whose cross-section was extremely flat, and the cutting process didn't make any sound, and now it was still being continuously cut, Lin Li felt 'grass' (furious).

"Boom!" Another purple thunder.

Lin Li took a long breath and chose to return to the very middle of the mountain top for the time being.

He felt this was the safest place.

Sitting cross-legged, Lin Li looked at the system.

This time it was still a six-hour limit, no different from when he went to the apocalyptic world on Monday.

Then Lin Li began to continuously breathe and exhale spiritual energy, but didn't dare to immerse his mind, instead staring at the surroundings at all times.

An hour passed just like that.

Without absorbing with all his might, Lin Li had already absorbed at least the spiritual energy equivalent to a "low-grade spirit stone".

And the result of being distracted was getting such information: the number of lightning strikes within an hour was hard to count, 8 lightning strikes nearby, none of which fell on the mountain he was on or nearby, all fell on the ground between the mountains.

He didn't see any living things, whether human or beast, and the system didn't trigger any tasks.

The second hour.

The result was similar, just 9 lightning strikes.

Lin Li, who had sat withered for two hours, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although the statistical sample was insufficient, it could be tentatively determined that this purple thunder couldn't hit the mountain.

Lin Li now didn't dare to wear the title 【Thunder Inducer】 for even a second.

This purple thunder felt like it was more than ten meters in diameter. Lin Li really didn't think his broken 'Pure Positive Thunder-Driving Body' could drive this.

"First of all, this should be the cultivation world." Lin Li began to talk to himself, analyzing the situation.

"So, is this the system changing a 'hometown' for me to return to every month?"

"It fits the nature of this system. After all, when I'm in the modern world, it also gives me tasks for two worlds."

"But what will happen in December? Will I return to the apocalyptic world, or go to... the all-female world?"

"If I go to the all-female world... that wouldn't be very good..."

Lin Li laughed 'hehe', then shook his head to dispel the laughter.

Now he still had to focus on the present.

"The cultivation world is actually more meaningful than the apocalyptic world."

Lin Li's plan for tonight was originally just to drive the mecha to explore the apocalyptic world and see if he could trigger any tasks.

But this was actually very broad; in fact, it was just aimless wandering.

But the cultivation world was different.

Just the spiritual energy alone was a huge harvest.

If Lin Li focused on absorbing spiritual energy, the spiritual energy absorbed in one hour could be worth two or three "low-grade spirit stones".

And this was definitely not the upper limit. What limited Lin Li's absorption speed was the spiritual energy concentration in the surroundings—Lin Li still had the buff "Spiritual Energy Absorption Speed Increased by 600%" hanging on him, and his absorption speed was already different from ordinary people.

Now it was that there wasn't enough spiritual energy to absorb.

But this problem was also very simple to solve: Lin Li still had a "Spirit Gathering Heaven Array" in his hand.

The reason why Lin Li had been reluctant to manifest it, and the reason why he hadn't manifested combat armor to fly out of the mountain to explore until now, was the same—he was afraid of causing mutations.

The cultivation world represented endless resources, but at the same time, it also represented endless danger.

Although Lin Li had always considered himself a cultivator in the modern world, when he really came to the cultivation world, Lin Yanbing realized the difference between an ace company and an ordinary company.

Take the flower at the edge of the mountain top; Lin Li thought it was most likely a heavenly treasure.

But Lin Li didn't dare to have any thoughts at all.

He only dared to use the "Formless Sword" to test it from a distance, even when approaching.

And the ending of the compressed biscuit made Lin Li feel that if he rashly approached, he would see the news of the "Substitute Death Jade Buddha" shattering when he didn't feel anything at all.

For many opportunities, cultivation base is the threshold.

Without sufficient cultivation base, coveting is just wanting to die.

A dung beetle wouldn't choose to push an elephant's poop; that's the logic.

The heavenly thunder outside the mountain also made Lin Li not dare to fly out with the mecha.

For safety's sake, staying on this mountain top was the most appropriate.

But Lin Li didn't feel aggrieved.

Lin Li's mentality was very healthy; there was no discomfort of not being able to get any opportunities, and no depression of being trapped here.

On the contrary, it was a bit cool; there was inexhaustible spiritual energy here!

Just this alone was worth the price of admission!

Having lived a life of splitting one piece of spiritual energy into two in the modern world, Lin Li only felt happy now.

The area under his feet might also be a place with some reputation in the cultivation world, otherwise he wouldn't be able to see a single living thing.

But for Lin Li, this was good news. He would be worried if he really saw cultivators and spirit beasts.

After all, they could beat him as easily as he could 'hand-work'.

At the current stage, Lin Li wished that he was the only person in this world.

As long as the heavenly thunder didn't come to strike him, the mountain top was his best cultivation point. Doing what he could, stealing some spiritual energy to use in the modern world, was enough to be satisfied.

After confirming the policy of stealing spiritual energy, Lin Li spent the third hour in this world.

Safe and sound.

The purple light band in the sky had never been over the few inverted mountains.

Now, Lin Li was going to make a slightly risky attempt.

First, call up the system interface so that he could return at any time.

Then Lin Li manifested the "Spirit Gathering Heaven Array".

Just like when he manifested it at home, the array core stayed in front of Lin Li, while other materials immediately flew to the surroundings.

Lin Li held down the array core, forcibly suppressing other materials from continuing to expand, while his gaze was tightly locked on the sky.

One second, two seconds, nothing happened.

The array began to operate.

The "Spirit Gathering Heaven Array", which had no spiritual energy to absorb at home, was like a mouse falling into a rice jar at this moment. Instantly, Lin Li saw the spiritual energy in the surroundings actually appear in traces and move toward the array core.

In an instant, a drop of spiritual liquid appeared and was swaying, much faster than at home.

Lin Li didn't care about it, one hand pressed down to suppress it, while continuing to stare at the surroundings.

This stare lasted for ten minutes, and a thunderbolt fell in the distance.

"Hoo—"

Lin Li took a long breath.

Confirming that after his array appeared, there were no changes in the surroundings, which made Lin Li much more at ease.

Turning his head, on the 'obsidian' on the ground, there was already a pool of spiritual liquid, which was continuously vaporizing and liquefying in a cycle.

Lin Li simply manifested the "Duck Blood Bottle" and placed it under the array core, letting it serve as a carrier for storing spiritual liquid.

—Lin Li didn't have any liquid in the supplies he brought to the shelter this time, so he couldn't find other bottles nearby.

And at this moment, sensing the much richer spiritual energy around him, Lin Li sat cross-legged, continuing to suppress and distract himself from the surroundings while breathing and absorbing spiritual energy.

The absorption efficiency could be perceived to be much faster.

Lin Li didn't know how to truly control this "Spirit Gathering Heaven Array" yet. To be honest, suppressing it from expanding was quite strenuous, and its development and use were definitely not at the upper limit yet.

If it were developed to the extreme, how fast would the speed of gathering spiritual energy be?

Curious, but couldn't do it.

"Buzz—"

Lin Li was imagining the future, but heard a buzzing sound from directly in front of him, seemingly very far away—the compass lost its effect, and Lin Li couldn't say which direction was which.

Variable?

When this abnormality appeared, Lin Li immediately put away the array, his vigilance was pulled to the max, and he was ready to run away at any time.

But more than half an hour passed, and still nothing happened, everything around was as usual.

"It seems it wasn't caused by me."

Lin Li continued.

For the remaining two hours, no other situation occurred.

Only eleven minutes of stay time left.

Seriously counting, Lin Li had actually not slept for 26 hours, but absorbing spiritual energy itself was a comfortable thing. Although these six hours were highly focused, he was actually not more tired than when he stayed in the apocalyptic world for six hours.

His "Duck Blood Bottle" was already completely full.

With this amount of spiritual liquid, he didn't know how long it would take for a "Spirit Spring" to gather.

Put away the array and put the "Duck Blood Bottle" into the "Qiankun Ring".

Lin Li manifested combat armor, looked up at the sky, and was ready to take it back to the 【Warehouse】 and run away at any time.

After a few minutes of waiting, a heavenly thunder fell in the distance.

So the mecha disappeared, and then Lin Li disappeared.

On the inverted mountain, only a large amount of realistic supplies that Lin Li deliberately didn't take away remained.

Return.

Lin Li in the bathroom stretched, looking at the "Current reset price: 20 system currency" button that the system had already lit up.

Spending 20 system currency to stay for another six hours, to be honest, was definitely profitable.

The combination of "Random Quality Spirit Stone" + "Luck Talisman" could perhaps be removed from his consumption list—at least it could be removed for November.

Checking the backup phone, he calculated that the time flow was still 1:160.

Suddenly without spiritual energy to absorb, the drowsiness Lin Li hadn't noticed before surged up instantly.

"System, you did a good job..." After a simple wash, Lin Li threw himself onto the head of the bed and yawned.

If the apocalyptic world was a blow to the head in October, it hit the big head and knocked Lin Li dizzy.

This blow to the head in the cultivation world hit the small head, knocking Lin Li's eyes to roll back, drooling, and making a 'V' sign.

Cool!

Before going to sleep, Lin Li habitually took out his phone.

Someone shared a software with him.

Good things naturally shouldn't be kept to himself.

"Lin Li: Bufan, I just downloaded a domestic 18+ software, there are tons of people playing it in the country, do you want one?"

"Bai Bufan: 111"

"Lin Li: 'Good stuff. 666', after downloading, change the suffix to. 7z and then decompress. The decompression password is the four Chinese characters 'Software Sharing', can you do it? Don't rename and decompress online in the network disk."

"Bai Bufan: Don't worry, buddy has been looking for resources since he was a kid, not like those internet 'giant babies' who can't even eat when the food is fed to their mouths."

That's good, Lin Li slept with peace of mind.

"Bai Bufan: Voice 60s·"

"Bai Bufan: Lin Li!! I'm going to your mom's 'Driving School One-Pass'!"

"Bai Bufan: You call this a domestic 18+? I really have to control you!"

Lin Li, this bastard, in order to make him believe it, even deliberately used the same configuration as a 'butter' (erotic game), not only compressed the software twice but also specially set a Chinese decompression code.

Damn it.

At first, Bai Bufan really thought it was stable, after all, good things should be like this.

Bai Bufan was so angry he got out of bed and gave Zhou Baowei, who hadn't started snoring yet, a few punches.

"What's wrong?" Zhou Baowei opened his eyes.

"You snored, go back to sleep." Bai Bufan said gently.

Zhou Baowei sneered: "Bai Bufan, is there a possibility that I'm actually not asleep yet?"

Bai Bufan: "?"

"Wait a minute, sorry—"

Being beaten by Zhou Baowei again, Bai Bufan was even angrier. The dragon-slaying boy decided to become a dragon, so he took out his phone:

"Bai Bufan: Wang Ze, I just downloaded a domestic 18+ software, there are tons of people playing it in the country, do you want one?"

"Wang Ze: 111"

Lin Li, who woke up the next day, looked at the message on his phone and was stunned—

"Wang Ze: Lin Li, I just downloaded a domestic 18+ software, there are tons of people playing it in the country, do you want one?"

(End of this chapter)