How Am I Still Alive?

[Remaining survival time: 164 days and 6 hours, Life-points: 4931 (-5000).]

[44 days left until the end of the month's settlement, with an expected repayment of 1000 points for this period. Please ensure that the account balance remains positive.]

Only three days had passed, but Lu Ping'an felt like many things had changed.

When he left the forest and walked onto the bustling prairie road, there were more people coming and going, and the distance between them naturally became closer.

Now that he was safe, he had time to sort out his financial balance.

"...I might've gone a bit too hard on the Life-points... Well, whatever, as long as it doesn't exceed a thousand points, it won't affect my lifespan."

With nearly 5,000 points at his disposal, Lu Ping'an had enough to live for 20 years. What was truly dangerous, however, was the monthly "debt repayment day."

A thousand points deducted per month, simple and straightforward... That meant that as long as Lu Ping'an didn't use more than a thousand points, it wouldn't actually affect his expiration date.

On the contrary, he needed to spend money to enhance his abilities.

The reason why the next repayment day is 44 days instead of 14 is because Lu Ping'an's "installment payment" ability has a hidden weakness.

"I should have had 6,000 Life-points, but I'm left with 5,000. For all installments, you lose a third or a sixth right off the bat. Not even loan sharks are this harsh."

However, after initially being annoyed, Lu Ping'an could understand this weakness and even felt somewhat relieved.

In fact, this mechanism was designed to protect him.

Otherwise, he could indefinitely postpone his damage and pain, becoming an invincible "Undead Berserker" with endless stamina.

While that may sound powerful, one careless mistake against a strong opponent would turn it into a stable suicide technique.

He may not die on the spot, but the first installment payment would inevitably be a death sentence due to heavy injuries.

Now, as long as he didn't die on the spot after "postponing", it meant that he could bear the subsequent installment payments.

"Tomorrow at 10:20 AM, there'll be a stamina deduction, and at 12:30 PM, a Life-points deduction. My injuries are pretty severe, so I need to prepare bandages and medication, and I can't afford to take any damage around noon anymore..."

Lu Ping'an took out his notebook and noted down these times. Failing to prepare in advance could be fatal.

This was also why he had no intention of using the "installment payment" ability if it was unnecessary.

"Borrowing and spending at will can be fatal..."

This limitation of his ability was crucial, classified information that he needed to keep hidden.

Even when he had to use his ability, he only used the minimum three-day postponement, not the better long-term option.

That's because the shorter time made it easier for him to calculate and control...he didn't want to die suddenly from a burst of physical exhaustion due to a debt from months ago during a battle.

As Lu Ping'an thought about his plans for tomorrow, he and Lei Shuiyun neared the end of their journey, approaching the gateway to the outside world.

"...After leaving the Secret Realm, there's usually some extra pollution, so it's best to prepare in advance, check the status of your bracelet, and avoid overloading. A little overloading is fine, Meow, even a red light is okay, as it was designed with this degree of overload in mind, and there are emergency personnel outside. But if it's a black light, it's best to get rid of the excess pollution here..."

As a newcomer, Lu Ping'an listened to Lei Shuiyun's explanation.

He glanced at his bracelet, and his expression became somewhat subtle.

He hadn't encountered any danger nor completed any beginner quest, so why was the light yellow already when it should have taken two or three days at the 0-tier level?

Oh, he casually killed over a dozen professionals, so there's no problem.

"...Sometimes, you can get some inexplicable rewards if you're lucky. It's said that these rewards are the Secret Realm Master's gratitude for professionals helping to cleanse their realms of pollution. But you shouldn't force it, Meow. There's a rumor that continuously whispering the desired wish as you leave has a certain chance of success..."

This sounded somewhat familiar to Lu Ping'an.

He scrolled the system log to the top and found what he remembered.

[As the first to complete the Secret Realm challenge, Lu Ping'an receives an overall evaluation of 'SS' and, according to his wish to 'live happily,' he has been granted the Mother Goddess's gift, the Decree-level (quasi-divine) abnormal ability – Life's Gift and Reciprocity.]

"So, is my abnormal ability...no, are all Polluters' abnormal abilities the gifts of the Secret Realm? Or is it just that rules-based abilities are unique?"

At this time, Lu Ping'an, who was originally calmly preparing to head home and sleep, felt a spark of expectation for the faint yellow spatial gate in front of him.

"Since rule-based abilities can analyze the world, will I receive a pleasant surprise from the world's feedback?"

Meow muttered "get rich, get rich! Give me money" and quickly jumped through the gate, and then it was Lu Ping'an's turn. He didn't bother to chant anything; he just stepped forward.

"Nothing, huh?"

But before he could feel disappointed, the system prompt arrived late.

[Currently linking with the Secret Realm, preparing to analyze the rules for the realm's rewards. The host can either wait patiently or directly pass through the gate, receiving a random reward.]

Lu Ping'an retracted his half-crossed foot and started to wait patiently.

He didn't have to wait long. After about 10 seconds, the "system" presented him with choices after completing the analysis.

[First-tier Secret Realm 'Three-ring Forest' completed, Lu Ping'an's overall evaluation: 'B'.]

Huh? This evaluation seems a bit high. Didn't I do nothing? I didn't fight any monsters or pick any plants, right? Did I help the Secret Realm Master clean up pollution?

[Secret Realm Master's Gratitude Message (Virtual Personality of the Lady of the Forest): Beautifully done with the killing! Hehe, kill more next time!]

Alright, alright. I won't believe those external evaluations anymore. Who said that the Lady of the Forest hates death and is a benevolent god?

"She must hate that people can only die once..."

Shaking his head, Lu Ping'an no longer relied on so-called common knowledge.

He looked at his forthcoming reward, as the system lord actually helped him bargain with the Secret Realm master!

[Based on your overall evaluation and the Secret Realm Master's attitude, your reward from the Secret Realm is as follows. Please make a choice within 1 minute, or the Secret Realm Master will force a random selection.]

[A. Grant extra pollution to your body (After the Secret Realm Master's purification).]

[B. Random Blessing from the Lady of the Forest (Below first-tier).]

[C. Grant extra pollution to any carried personal item.]

[D. Open the Secret Realm store for a specific target purchase (Overall evaluation/insufficient authorization, cannot be selected)]

What to choose? Lu Ping'an hesitated, as he had always had difficulties making choices.