Another World: When a Necromancer Possesses the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls

The lobby was bustling with people, yet not noisy. Groups of guests were present, some students in Tianshui No. 3 Middle School uniforms excitedly discussing their upcoming adventures in the virtual zone; soldiers in crisp uniforms, their expressions stern and imposing, strode steadily toward the deep physiotherapy area.

Meanwhile, the free mercenaries, dressed in various styles and with their equipment bearing signs of wear and tear and smudges of undried mud, mostly gathered in the medical recovery pod area or went to the more private medical consultation rooms. This place was like a miniature society, where people of different identities and professions all shared a common goal at this moment—relaxation and recovery.

Find the "666" eco-therapy room on the third floor, and upon opening the door, a richer tropical rainforest atmosphere mixed with warm, moist air greets you. This room is designed as a small ecosystem, with the temperature and humidity perfectly regulated.

The tall, artificial plants are lush and verdant, and there's even a small artificial waterfall with the babbling sound of flowing water that soothes the soul.

Chen Hao and Zhang Meng were lying on two luxurious massage beds, grimacing in pain. Two streamlined, silver-white multi-functional massage robots were extending precision probes of various shapes to perform deep fascia relaxation and acupoint stimulation on them.

Sun Xiaoling sat on a comfortable rattan chair to the side, her fingertips dancing with gentle white light as she carefully nourished a potted green foliage plant on the coffee table whose leaves were wilting.

"Xingyao! You're finally here!" Chen Hao howled, his head tilted to the side, his face buried in the ventilation holes of the massage bed, his voice muffled. "These machines are really ruthless! I feel like my kidneys are about to be kneaded into dough! This 'deep meridian massage' is simply inhuman!"

Looking at his miserable state, Li Xingyao couldn't help but chuckle. He took off his training jacket and lay down on the empty massage bed next to him. The robot's cold sensor probes were placed against his back, quickly performing a full-body scan.

[Scan complete. Target: Li Xingyao.]

[Main muscle groups: Overworked (levator scapulae, trapezius, erector spinae, etc.)]

[Fascial tension: Moderate.]

[Minor localized injuries: 3 locations.]

[Recommended treatment plan: Deep fascia manipulation + localized high-frequency vibration relaxation + low-temperature drug infiltration.]

[Start?]

Li Xingyao confirmed. The next moment, an indescribable, extremely sour yet intensely comfortable feeling exploded from his back! The robot's probe seemed to transform into countless nimble and powerful fingers, precisely locating every tight nodule and strain point, rubbing, pinching, vibrating at high frequency, or applying deep electrostatic stimulation.

The feeling was like taking apart, polishing, oiling, and reassembling rusty parts—the process was painful, but the result was incredibly soothing. It was as if the stellar energy within the body was also working in tandem with the massage, further calming the deep-seated fatigue in the muscles.

"Ouch... be gentle... um... it hurts here..." Chen Hao was still yelling over there.

Zhang Meng spoke in a muffled voice, his tone distorted by the massage bed: "I...I think it's alright...much more comfortable than being hit by 'Warrior'..."

Sun Xiaoling chuckled and said softly, "You guys really need to react like that... Li, how do you feel?"

"Very...professional." Li Xingyao squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth. He could feel the stubborn tension deep in his muscles being forcibly dissolved.

After a while, Chen Hao seemed to have adjusted a bit and became lively again: "How was your private date with Goddess Lin? I heard you two managed to burn a hole through the special alloy target in the training ground during your date! You actually managed to hold your own? Tell me!"

"Stop talking nonsense. We barely managed to hold on with all our might," Li Xingyao said succinctly, omitting the perilous details.

"Awesome!" Chen Hao gave a thumbs-up with some difficulty. "You're getting better and better! My archery skills have also improved recently! I've broken the 'Jungle Gale Shot' record and broken into the top fifty! When the time comes, I'll show you what it truly means to hit the bullseye every time!"

Zhang Meng also said in a muffled voice, "My... my newly mastered 'Solidified Rock Armor' should be able to withstand the attacks of star beasts..."

Sun Xiaoling added softly, "I've prepared a lot of general antidotes, hemostatic gel, and high-grade treatment bandages... I even asked my teacher for a recipe for a potent insect repellent powder... I'm planning to earn some extra money."

The four of them lay on the massage beds or sat beside each other, chatting and relaxing their long-tense nerves. They talked about everything from exam preparation tips to the types of star beasts they might encounter in the gray rock hills and how to deal with them, to vague aspirations about their future career paths. The atmosphere was relaxed and harmonious.

As Li Xingyao experienced the robot's precise and powerful physical therapy, the deep soreness in his muscles was gradually replaced by a warm and comfortable sensation, and the fatigue of the past few days was being dispelled little by little. He listened to Chen Hao's gossip, watched Zhang Meng's honest agreement, and listened to Sun Xiaoling's careful corrections, and a rare sense of peace welled up within him.

Li Xingyao was slightly lost in thought. This was the leisure time he deserved after arduous training and fierce battles, a relaxing time with like-minded companions.

All his efforts seemed aimed at enjoying this moment more at ease and having the confidence to face the broader and more dangerous challenges ahead. His gaze swept over the simulated tropical rainforest night scene on the walls of the private room, and his heart was filled with intense anticipation for the upcoming hunt.

With strength, resources, and supplies already in place, we are just waiting for the final exams to end before heading to that wilderness full of opportunities and dangers.

The physiotherapy robot completed the final round of soothing medication, and a gentle warmth, like spring rain, seeped into Li Xingyao's limbs and bones, completely dispelling the last bit of stubborn soreness.

He slowly sat up, stretched his shoulders and neck, and felt lighter than ever before, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his body. His mind was also in a clear and relaxed state.

"Awesome!" Chen Hao finished his massage, jumped off the bed with a somersault, and exaggeratedly twisted his waist. "I feel like I've lost three pounds! This money was well spent!" He glanced at the virtual clock on the wall. "It's still early, shall we go play in the virtual area?"

I heard there's a new survival challenge instance called "Dark Forest," which simulates the environment of the Gray Rock Hills. Perfect for practicing!

Zhang Meng clumsily climbed off the bed and nodded憨厚ly, "Okay... let's practice..."

Li Xingyao thought for a moment and nodded: "Alright. It can't hurt to get familiar with the environment in advance." He wasn't very interested in virtual dungeons, but considering the dangers of the Gray Rock Hills, he shouldn't miss any opportunity to increase his combat experience.

The four agreed to leave the private eco-room and followed the signs to the virtual reality area on the fifth floor of the central building. The atmosphere here was completely different from the physiotherapy area, filled with the unique energy and hustle of young people. The huge circular space was divided into countless independent spherical cabins, each with indicator lights flashing different colors to show its usage status.

They chose a four-person shared cabin. The door slid open, revealing four luxurious reclining chairs side by side, equipped with immersive neural-connected helmets and full-body sensory suits. After lying down, the helmets automatically fitted their heads, and everything went black before their eyes, immediately drawing their consciousness into an incredibly realistic world.

Before me lay a dense, almost impenetrable jungle, where the branches of towering trees intertwined like the arms of giants, and the ground was covered with a thick layer of humus and slippery moss.

The air was humid and stuffy, filled with the mixed scents of soil, decaying leaves, and some unknown flower. In the distance came the eerie cries and flapping wings of an unknown creature.

Welcome to the "Dark Forest - Gray Rock Hills Simulation Area" survival challenge instance.

Objective: Survive in the simulated environment for 24 hours and collect as many resources as possible.

[Difficulty: Intermediate (Recommended for beginner to intermediate level professionals to team up).]

[WARNING: Simulated injuries will produce realistic pain feedback. Please be careful.]

"Wow! This environment!" Chen Hao's voice rang out in the team channel. He was currently depicted as a ranger wielding a longbow and wearing light leather armor. "Starshine, quickly summon your undead to scout ahead!"

With a thought, Li Xingyao simulated a summoning in the virtual space.

"Zhang Meng, activate your shield and hold the front! Xiao Ling, watch out for the rear and flanks!" Chen Hao quickly got into character, becoming the squad commander.

Zhang Meng let out a low roar, and a thick, rock-textured energy shield instantly covered his entire body. Holding a huge tower shield, he walked at the forefront like a mobile fortress. Sun Xiaoling followed closely in the middle of the group, her fingertips surrounded by soft white light, ready to cast healing spells at any moment.

Led by the skeleton warriors, the group cautiously ventured deeper into the jungle. The virtual environment was incredibly realistic; the humus beneath their feet varied in texture, the slippery moss made walking difficult, and the dense vines required frequent hacking and slashing to get through. An invisible pressure hung in the air.

Suddenly, the two skeleton warriors at the front stopped abruptly, their soul flames flickering violently! Almost simultaneously, a chilling rustling sound came from the bushes on the left!

"Enemy attack!" Chen Hao shouted in a low voice, instantly drawing his bow and nocking an arrow!

puff!puff!puff!

Several slender, slimy, dark green vines shot out from the bushes like venomous snakes, heading straight for the group! The tips of the vines split open, revealing mouthparts covered with sharp teeth!

"Rock Armor!" Zhang Meng roared, slamming the tower shield into the ground. The thick rock shield expanded instantly, blocking most of the vines! The vines crashed against the rocks with dull thuds, their mandibles frantically gnawing at the rocks, producing a piercing scraping sound!

"Arrows of Death!" Li Xingyao reacted extremely quickly, raising his hand and firing three gray-black energy arrows, accurately hitting several vines that were bypassing the shield! The vines were corroded by the death energy, quickly withering and breaking!