Maybe even I am part of the data.

Isn't there a brain-in-a-vat hypothesis?

Xia Ning quickly gave up on thinking about things she couldn't figure out. Whatever, she was already involved in the survival game, so why bother with materialism?

Who knows, we might have to hunt ghosts in the next dungeon.

In the novel Xia Ning was reading, the protagonist, in the later stages, would spend his days slaying zombies, his nights performing rituals to appease the ghost king, and occasionally enchanting his weapons and practicing a couple of cultivation manuals.

Wuxia, fantasy, Western fantasy, natural disasters, wasteland... it's a hodgepodge.

-

With the electric car, Xia Ning's speed increased significantly. The straight and wide road provided a wide field of vision. Xia Ning kept an eye on the treasure chests while starting to trade in the mall.

By the fourth day, the players were clearly unable to endure the hardships of life. People aged 18-50, living in peacetime, would not lack food or clothing even if their families were poor, let alone those from well-off families.

So they switched to all sorts of things: instant noodles, fruit, dairy products... soap, toothpaste, sanitary napkins...

The store has limited stock and the prices are too high, so players seem to prefer trading.

Although Xia Ning no longer has the opportunity to apply for trades and can only passively accept other people's designated trade items, her convenience store focuses on a variety of goods.

In no time, Xia Ning had obtained [Spare Tire x1], [Metal Fragment x3], [Vehicle Part x1], and [Electronic Component x1].

Just as Xia Ning was thinking that she should be seeing a new treasure chest soon, the loudspeaker suddenly blared.

—The limited-time challenge has begun.

—To create a harmonious and pleasant gaming environment, please help clean up the area around the treasure chest.

— 3 hours to go.

Xia Ning: "Oh wow."

The system didn't say what the reward was, but Xia Ning noticed that this time the game called it a "challenge" instead of a "mission".

In any case, observe first and act according to your capabilities.

Then, Xia Ning watched as a silver treasure chest suddenly appeared half a meter in front of her.

Only one-fifth of the treasure chest was located on the edge of the road, with most of it hidden by tall bushes.

Xia Ning: "..."

Isn't this obviously a scam?

Xia Ning opened the [Regional Channel], and sure enough, it was in an uproar.

...99+ historical messages

Xun Ruijin: "Damn, there are trees all around, the car can't get in at all!"

Lulu: "Even a fool would know that the game is forcing you to get out of the car and explore the dense forest. This time the challenge is by the roadside, but next time it might be inside the forest."

Flowers bloom and fade: "Who will be the first to try something new? The first challenge shouldn't be too difficult, right? There must be special rewards in the treasure chest."

"I'm not getting off the bus. Let whoever wants to go go. I don't want to end up losing everything and not even having enough survival points to buy a medical kit."

Baili Jiazhen: "I don't believe it, buddy. You think you can hold back with your hunter skills? You're trying to discourage your competitors, aren't you?"

Who cares: "Then go ahead, I won't stop you."

Li Le: "I advise everyone to be careful. My beloved bike was making a lot of noise just now, there must be something strange around the box."

Lulu: "Hearing your words is like hearing a lecture."

Puerbai: "I haven't seen you for a few days, and the wild donkeys have become quite fond of riding. I'm envious; donkeys even have a warning system. You who ride donkeys or horses can go exploring in the forest!"

Li Le: "Show some respect. What wild donkey? My beloved ride is called Iron Eater. When I was getting soaked in the rain the other day, why didn't you jump out and envy me?"

Lulu: "Iron-eating beast? Why don't you call yourself Red Hare?"

Charging forward for glory: "Red Hare is my horse."

"..."

The topic then completely veered off course.

Xia Ning had no intention of getting out of the car to explore, even if the exploration area was only one meter away from the roadside. Who knew what was hidden in the bushes or what was coiled on the branches?

However, it would be a shame to miss out on such a rare treasure chest.

Xia Ning pondered for a moment and decided not to get out of the car or leave the highway. She wanted to integrate existing resources and launch a remote attack. If she could drive, she would; if not, so be it.

First, the first round.

Xia Ning used insecticide!

—Congratulations, player Phantom Princess has killed 100 [Flies]!

—Phantom Princess gains 2 survival points

Then, the second round.

Xia Ning splashed out bath water!

The splash produced a lizard and two poisonous frogs.

—Congratulations, player Phantom Princess has defeated [Common Lizard x1] and [Poisonous Frog x2]!

—Princess Phantom has obtained [Inferior Lizard Skin x1] and [Inferior Lizard Meat x1]

—Phantom Princess obtained [Poisonous Frog Meat x2]

—Phantom Princess gains 3 survival points

Finally, the tense and exciting third round.

Xia Ning's heart was pounding, and her palms were sweating. She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself down, and wiped the sweat on her trouser legs.

Xia Ning first tied a mosquito net and a mop together to make a simple net bag, and then combined another mop with a folding knife that could not be used for self-defense to make a makeshift spear.

Then, throw the newly acquired [Poisonous Frog Meat] onto the silver treasure chest, and a sneaky trap is set.

As a complete novice, Xia Ning's traps, tools, and even hunting methods were extremely crude and full of flaws; in the wild, she would be completely at the mercy of fate. Fortunately, this was a data-driven survival game, where the monsters had their own rules of conduct and range of movement.

Xia Ning hadn't expected it, but to her surprise, she heard a rustling sound just five seconds after throwing the frog meat up.

The sound wasn't loud, but it was chilling.

Wearing only her two defensive items—a floral shirt without buttons and an outdated silk scarf—Xia Ning sat in the car, clutching a modified mop, ready to buy a first-aid kit at any moment.

Before long, the sound of rustling leaves and branches rang out again. Xia Ning looked up slightly in the direction of the sound and saw a snake's head darting down.

This snake was thicker than Xia Ning's calf, its length was unknown, and its tail was even hidden in the leaves, with only a section of its greenish-brown body showing.

Xia Ning's pupils dilated in shock. It was her first time facing a giant snake directly. She was anxious, but her hands were a step too slow. By the time she closed the net, the snake had already swallowed the frog meat and retreated back into the tree.

Xia Ning didn't have the courage to hunt it down; she only hoped the poisonous frog was truly poisonous.

As it turned out, she was lucky today; the system actually sent out a notification.

—Phantom Princess obtains [Poisonous Snake Gallbladder x1]

—Phantom Princess gains 1 survival point

Xia Ning: YES!

On a whim, Xia Ning threw the remaining piece of [poisonous frog meat] up as well.

—Phantom Princess obtains [Poisonous Snake Gallbladder x1]

—Phantom Princess gains 1 survival point

There was no more frog meat. Xia Ning wondered if the system was really going to conjure up some weird monsters, so she tentatively threw out a [poisonous snake gall]—

—Phantom Princess obtains [Poisonous Snake Gallbladder x1]

—Phantom Princess gains 1 survival point

Xia Ning: Hiss!

How many snakes are hiding in this tree?!