But Lin Yiran will soon find out why the system said that.

A sharp pain shot through her head, and Lin Yiran received information about this world.

Unlike the apocalypse,

This is a wasteland world in the interstellar era.

The so-called wasteland world refers to a place where, due to the devastation caused by nuclear war and various biological and chemical weapons, the land is almost barren, the human living environment is severely damaged, and the survivors struggle to survive in an extreme environment no less than the apocalypse.

In the post-apocalyptic world, mutated plants and animals proliferate at a rate almost ten times faster than human reproduction. However, the advantage is that these plants and animals are edible and non-toxic, so even though land and resources are scarce, humans still don't starve. As long as they don't starve, there is hope; as long as there is hope, they can survive; and as long as they survive, they can reproduce. This is why humanity continues to thrive.

But the world is different now. The earth is almost entirely polluted and turned blackish-brown. No plant can grow in the ground. Unpurified water is undrinkable. Even food that is painstakingly grown is still contaminated with excessive chemical toxins and is inedible. People who eat it will get all sorts of genetic diseases, die from skin ulcers, or mutate into deformed monsters. Having an extra hand or foot is normal. Then they die from organ failure.

In short, they can't escape death!

"Then what's the point of living? Just wait to die!" Lin Yiran couldn't help but mutter.

However, humans are very resilient. They extracted nutrients from various plants and created something called a nutrient solution, which saved the lives of most people and allowed them to meet their survival needs without having to eat.

However, high-quality nutritional supplements are only provided to the upper class. Currently, the lower class not only doesn't have enough to eat, but also consumes all sorts of substitute nutritional supplements, which not only provide little nutrition but also barely fill their stomachs.

Therefore, most people on the Ninth Federation Star System are sallow-faced, thin, and malnourished, except for the wealthy area in the center.

Just like Lin Yiran.

His eyes, which were like those of a deer, had turned grayish due to malnutrition. His once round face was now gaunt and sunken, his hair was dry, his complexion was sallow, and he was thin and small, looking even smaller than his peers, like a monkey that had been abused for a long time.

A light rain began to fall, stinging her face. Lin Yiran suddenly opened her eyes and got up from the ground.

The rain in this world is poisonous. The system just warned her that it's about to rain heavily, and she can't spend the night in the rain. She'll either freeze to death or die from infection.

Looking around, there was an abandoned bridge in the distance. There was no water under the bridge, only a few small houses made of scrap metal, which looked like they had been abandoned for a long time.

With no other option, Lin Yiran gritted her teeth and ran towards the bottom of the bridge.

Once she was under the shade of the bridge, Lin Yiran felt less stinging on her body and face, but she was soaked to the bone. She wanted to change her clothes, but she had none left; her clothes were still at the orphanage.

She was only wearing a thin jacket when she was thrown over.

Forget it, let's stop making a fuss and find a place to rest for a while.

Looking back, there are several small houses made of old sheet metal under the bridge piers. They are irregularly shaped, with some protruding and some letting in drafts. The space is not large, and only one person can fit inside, with no room to stretch out their legs.

Fortunately, we can still find shelter from the rain.

Lin Yiran is very adaptable and doesn't mind at all. She immediately crouched down and crawled inside.

Then turn around and face the door...exit.

"This start... is a bit tragic!" It's even worse than the apocalypse. At least after the apocalypse, her house was still intact, so she didn't have to sleep on the streets without even a clean change of clothes.

I couldn't help but look down and sniff the smell on my clothes, and I almost choked on my breath.

It has a very sour smell, which is understandable, as the rainwater contains excessive levels of chemical toxins due to biochemical pollution, so it smells sour and is also corrosive and pathogenic.

Hold your breath, don't listen or look.

'Gurgle,' her stomach rumbled, and she was hungry again. Lin Yiran was mortified. The system had only given her the energy to survive, but there was no food to eat, so even if she didn't starve to death, she would still be hungry.

"No, system, what was the task you just issued again?"

[Please suggest a name for your stall. You'll receive a popularity point as a reward. Note: Popularity points can be redeemed for items in the system shop, including crystal cores!]

"Oh, then let's call it Yiran Food City."

The superpower was useful, absolutely useful. Lin Yiran now understood that in this cannibalistic wasteland, there was always a place that held life and hadn't driven humanity to the brink of extinction.

That is the primeval forest beyond the wasteland on the outskirts of the slums.

It is filled with all sorts of mutated plants and animals and ferocious beasts, somewhat similar to the Cretaceous period on Earth, where the animals are brave and tall, and the plants are towering and huge, blocking out the sun.

It's a paradise for plants and animals, a treasure trove where even animal droppings and the roots and leaves of low-level plants can be sold for money. You can easily find 'gold' inside. But this auspicious place is also hell for the Federation's people. Ordinary citizens rarely go there to die; only those with spiritual power can go there to search for treasure and take on missions.

Moreover, the mutated plants and animals inside maintain a strange boundary with humans. They don't bother each other unless provoked, consciously drawing a line around the edge of the primeval forest. As long as humans don't cross the line, they won't come out to attack. However, if you're impulsive enough to provoke a mutated plant, it can swing a meter-long leaf and whip you to death. Animals, on the other hand, will bite anyone they see if their territory is invaded.

So, the system says Lin Yiran needs to find the ingredients herself?

Wouldn't that mean she'd be fighting with mutated plants and animals?

[That's right! So the host needs to accumulate popularity points to exchange for crystal cores or other weapons to protect you from mutated plants and animals while you're searching for ingredients.]

Lin Yiran recalled the plant sample information transmitted to her mind.

The lowest-level, first-tier plant is two meters tall!

One pill can last a week!

How does she pick it?

[Ding! Naming task complete. One point awarded, credited to your account.]

Lin Yiran opened her personal page and, sure enough, saw a "single" profile.

[Due to the unique nature of the world the host inhabits, a limited-time newbie benefit is available: the ability to block the senses of plants and animals. For the first month, as long as the host does not actively attack while gathering food, they will not be detected by mutated plants and animals and can freely enter and exit the primeval forest! This benefit will be automatically disabled after one month, and the system shop will only be used to purchase goods.]

[Ding! Rewards have been issued. Host, please embark on your culinary journey as soon as possible and strive to accumulate experience for opening shops and food courts later. Our motto is: Promote interstellar cuisine and create a better future together!]

Ugh, what a corny slogan!