Matrix Survival: I Get A Random Chest Every Day

After more than an hour of continuous intense practice, the 'sense of venting' was finally satisfied, and Li Zheng was soaked in sweat.

He checked the time; it was almost noon, just the right time for lunch.

After preparing the ingredients and setting the dishes to be cooked on the stove, Li Zheng took a quick shower.

By the time he finished his shower, the meal was just ready to serve.

He delivered Zhan Zhouzhou's portion and sat at the entrance with Sakura to dine.

As the time struck noon.

The Terminal issued a long-awaited new announcement:

[Attention all players, from today the Matrix will host its first large-scale event, lasting seven days.]

[The event is called "Hunt Mutant Creatures".]

[Event content: Kill the unknown "Mutant Creatures" within the Matrix.

A total of forty-three mutant creatures exist, very powerful and extremely dangerous. It is recommended that players participate in teams. (Team size is limited to five-person squads)]

[The player team that kills the most "Mutant Creatures" during the event will receive generous rewards from the Terminal.

Rewards include, but are not limited to: Extraordinary-level finished weapons, Extraordinary-level blueprints, Extraordinary-level materials.]

[Players wishing to participate in the event can register in the regional channel, registration deadline is five minutes.]

[Successfully registered players will receive a special transport device to teleport near the "Mutant Creatures" for hunting.]

[Note: Each use of the special transportation device permanently consumes one daily exploration opportunity.]

...

The announcement looped three times in the world channel to ensure all players saw it, then stopped.

Every time an announcement appeared, the world channel would erupt in noise.

Today was no exception.

A multitude of players sent broadcasts after the announcement ended, discussing this new trick by the Terminal.

"Large-scale event, isn't this just a world boss?"

"Feels like Matrix Realm is becoming more game-like. Will there be player-versus-player PK events in the future?"

"Since there are events now, when will daily and weekly dungeons be updated?"

"I must say, the Terminal is really being generous this time; winners can actually get Extraordinary Artifacts!"

"Extraordinary-level! My best equipment right now is Gold; can someone explain how many tiers above Gold Extraordinary items are?"

"Above Gold is Platinum, then Diamond, and only then Extraordinary."

"Three tiers?! Then I won't participate. I'm afraid I might join, but not survive to win!"

"Fortune comes with risk. I'm going for those Extraordinary rewards!"

"I'm forty-nine and just want to know when the next relocation is. I can't hold on any longer; I always exhaust the full forty-eight hours before transferring to the next room."

"With your abilities, your toughest enemies should be Black Iron and Bronze, right? Should be a piece of cake?"

"Exactly! Black Iron and Bronze monsters are mostly just lions, wolves, tigers, and leopards, typical animals. Any gun can easily overpower them. I can't understand why some are still too scared to explore."

...

Li Zheng chewed on a piece of braised pork as he watched the lively scene in the world channel, full of emotion.

If he hadn't gotten the Treasure Chest System on the first day, he'd probably be like those forty-nine-year-old players, slowly biding his time...

In fact, for the first couple of days, some kind players had shared rudimentary strategies in the world channel.

Most players initially encountered wild dogs or cats in their first dangerous room, which could be dealt with with some effort.

However, many were used to a pampered city life, and without weapons, numerous people couldn't even fend off a wild dog.

Some timid individuals would freeze in terror when faced with danger, standing immobilized until wild dogs tore their throats, dying.

Some even cried for help in the world channel when at death's door, scaring many others.

It's safe to say that period was chaotic; many who could have survived allowed external pressures to destabilize their mentality, resulting in tragic deaths.

Now, half a month into the game, some still refrain from exploring freely, which Li Zheng hadn't anticipated.

But those who've reached the qualifying age are just waiting for the Terminal to open the exit safely, which is understandable if they don't want to take risks.

Compared to them, the players only forty-eight years old are in quite a predicament...

"Mutant Creatures, huh?" Li Zheng reread the announcement twice, forming some guesses in his mind.

If his suppositions were correct, the event's difficulty would be beyond what average players could handle.

With this in mind, he registered and sent Xiao Siyuan a private message: "Tell players ranked below fifty in 879 to register but not rush into the hunt."

Xiao Siyuan quickly responded, inquiring, "Do you have inside information?"

"Not confirmed yet," Li Zheng replied earnestly, "but I'm about ninety percent sure. If these so-called Mutant Creatures are what I think they are... I almost died there yesterday."

Upon receiving this message, Xiao Siyuan wasted no time forwarding Li Zheng's message to the 879 regional channel, advising the players, charged with enthusiasm due to the rewards, to cool down.

"Explain in detail in the group chat." Xiao Siyuan forwarded the message, prompting Li Zheng to share the specifics with everyone.

The registration window was short, but the players moved quickly.

Li Zheng recounted his encounter with the Divine Power in the group chat, leaving everyone stunned.

Ye Yuan couldn't quite believe it: "Are there truly such strong monsters on Fudao Island? Even old Li can't handle them?"

Chu Xiao, ever logical: "Aren't they supposed to be players too? Why would the Terminal have us hunt them?"

Ye Kai also questioned, "If we kill them, will we end up with red names?"

Zhan Zhouzhou remarked: "I doubt Li Zheng knows the answers to these questions."

"I really don't know the Terminal's intentions," Li Zheng replied in the group, "but I can irresponsibly speculate that the existence of Fudao Island players evidently disrupts game balance. If they're allowed to explore freely, they have more chances at high-tier items. Getting artifacts like the Star Thief would be catastrophic for average players."

(The following content will be modified, those who understand will understand.)

"What the heck is happening...!!!!!!!"

In a dark jungle, a small brown-black insect was thrashing on the ground while a soul that didn't belong was in turmoil within its body.

Li Zheng was on the brink of insanity. It was just an ordinary cold, just a 39.5-degree fever; why did he wake up here after dozing off while on a drip in the hospital?

And...

Why did I turn into a bug!!!!

Struggling in the bug's body for a long time, Li Zheng eventually became exhausted and had to accept his fate.

...

"Nine years of compulsory education for everyone, why's my situation like this?" Li Zheng awkwardly moved his six legs, wandering aimlessly in the dark jungle.

Having suddenly turned from four limbs to six, Li Zheng felt uncomfortably awkward, as if any moment they'd get tangled.

"Six legs are so annoying!"

Li Zheng complained heavily yet had no choice but to try to adapt to his state.

The jungle was vast, and after crawling for a long time, Li Zheng finally began to adapt to his new insect body.

At least he could now maneuver his six limbs seamlessly without worrying about them tangling.

Once he overcame the inconvenience of movement, his travel speed increased significantly.

As he crawled forward, he started observing the surroundings.

This jungle's size was still unknown.

Towering trees were everywhere; Li Zheng hadn't figured out their height yet, but when he compared them to himself, he realized.

If he began climbing now, it might take him three days just to reach the lowest branch.

Besides the colossal trees, there were various vines, shrubs, and weeds here.

Some plants were familiar to Li Zheng, while others were entirely alien.

In over twenty years of life, he never imagined there could be so many types of plants in the world!

He wanted to quote some fitting poetry to express his inner amazement but, scratching his head, could only internally exclaim, "Whoa, these trees are tall!"