Indeed, as Xie Li had mentioned, Chen Du initially assumed that leveling up would merely result in significant stat boosts—powerful enough to seem like game-breaking enhancements.
But in reality, it wasn't that simple.
When he reached level ten, a skill popped up directly!
Arriving in this zombie-infested apocalyptic world made the survivors feel like characters in an RPG, gaining levels and unlocking new abilities.
Chen Du couldn't quite grasp the system—or whoever orchestrated their arrival in this zombie-ridden world—and what their intentions might be.
He shook his head, deciding not to dwell on such distant matters.
After all, even if he uncovered the truth behind the scenes, there was little he could do about it.
Focusing on the present seemed far more practical.
Chen Du turned to Xie Li and said, "Lili, let's test out this Concealment skill and see what makes it so special."
Naturally, mastering a new skill took priority.
Moreover, he couldn't just casually discuss it in the chat channel.
He wasn't sure whether this skill was unique to him.
Without knowing what others possessed, this skill could serve as a trump card.
If he carelessly revealed his information in the chat, it could invite life-threatening dangers.
He couldn't imagine waking up one day to find himself at odds with the entire world.
For now, he had to experiment with the skill himself and fully understand its mechanics.
Xie Li nodded in agreement.
"Alright, let's figure out this Concealment skill together."
After an afternoon of experimentation, the two summarized the uses and limitations of the Concealment skill.
The Concealment skill completely concealed the user, even erasing their shadow.
However, it did not mask sound.
During their tests, Xie Li pinpointed Chen Du's approximate location several times based on his breathing and footsteps.
It was crucial to note that zombies had highly sensitive senses of smell.
Both agreed that the Concealment skill was perfectly suited for assassination or as an absolute advantage in noisy environments.
Especially when infiltrating enemy territory.
Survivors lacked the acute hearing and sense of smell that zombies possessed.
For Chen Du, obtaining the Concealment skill was no less valuable than acquiring a gold-tier supply crate.
He was thoroughly satisfied.
The day after Chen Du reached level ten and mastered the Concealment skill, the world's climate underwent its second major change since the last torrential downpour.
Early that morning, Chen Du and Xie Li woke up drenched in sweat.
According to the calendar, it should have been a crisp autumn day, far from the kind of weather that would make them wake up feeling like they'd been boiled alive.
Yet, the reality was that they were both soaked in sweat, their backs drenched.
Even in the early morning, the sun blazed fiercely in the sky.
The intense ultraviolet rays didn't directly hit Chen Du, but the room facing the sun felt like an oven.
Chen Du got out of bed, shielding his eyes with his hand as he looked out the window.
The street outside seemed to warp under the scorching heat.
Chen Du was speechless.
This kind of extreme weather rivaled the harshest conditions of the Sahara Desert.
He touched the iron bars of the window, and the heat was so intense that his hand still felt a burning sensation several minutes later.
"Looks like we're not going out today. In this kind of weather, we'd probably get heatstroke or die of thirst," Chen Du said with a hint of resignation.
He had planned to take Xie Li out today to help her reach level ten and verify whether the skill was unique to him.
But now, they had no choice but to stay in the villa and rest.
He might as well browse the trading platform while he was at it.
If he was lucky, he might stumble upon some good deals.
Even if he didn't find anything worthwhile, Chen Du still had some items to sell.
The infinite supplies he had acquired over the past few days were mostly daily necessities—shampoo, body wash, laundry detergent, and the like.
He figured some people might still need them.
Even though taking a bath was a luxury these days, there were bound to be those who couldn't resist.
Going so many days without a shower could turn anyone into a vagrant.
If he could trade these infinite supplies for some of the scarce resources he needed, like steel sheets, lime, alum, or other hardware and chemical materials, it would definitely be worth it.
With the air conditioning on full blast and a homemade cola popsicle in hand, Chen Du opened the chat channel, intending to promote his products in the public chat.
However, it seemed like everyone was complaining about the extreme weather.
ID 546234: "It's way too hot today! I was sleeping in a tent on a mountain, and I thought someone had thrown me into a crematorium… Now I'm lying on a tree trying to cool off, but it's still scorching."
ID 142753: "Who's worse off than me? I got up early planning to cross a plain on foot, but now I'm stuck under the blazing sun with nowhere to take shelter! I've already drunk three bottles of water, and it's still not enough. I feel like I'm going to die out here (crying emoji)!!"
ID 54127: "The temperature today is insane, way beyond what we're used to. Try not to go out if you can help it. If you're already outside, make sure to wear long sleeves and protect yourself from the sun, or you'll really get roasted."
ID 421751: "Exactly, even the Middle Eastern deserts aren't this hot. This kind of heat could literally kill you."
ID 514774: "First acid rain, now this heatwave… What's next, a hailstorm?"
ID 807412: "Shut your mouth, you jinx! But you're not wrong… Next thing you know, it'll be raining knives, haha!"
ID 1945: "Not too bad here. I've got the AC set to 20 degrees, and it's actually a bit chilly (attached a photo of the AC display). I'm even thinking of grabbing a blanket…"
Many survivors typing in the chat froze when they saw Chen Du's message.
That annoying ID 1945 was back at it again.
The usual barrage of criticism followed.
ID 54321: "1945, here to stir up envy again, huh? Well, I'm not jealous—I'm sitting in a bathtub right now, refreshingly cool!"
ID 123321: "You're just here to show off, aren't you? Who would've thought you'd turn out to be a traitor to the cause!"
ID 417523: "Wait… Shouldn't we be asking how 1945 is running an AC? Does he have electricity? Good grief!"
ID 417527: "No way! I can't accept this! I'm still struggling to get enough food, and someone's already living the high life!"
ID 4712: "Seriously, bro? It's been over a week, and you're still stuck on two meals a day (crying emoji)?"
ID 894759: "Damn, that's rough. I'm doing a bit better, but not by much…"
ID 1945: "Ahem, I've had electricity for a few days now. Keep at it, folks. Bread and milk will come your way eventually."
ID 93749: "Never thought I'd be struggling this much in an apocalypse."
ID 1945: "Oh, almost forgot—I've listed some shampoo, body wash, and laundry detergent for sale. If anyone's interested, they're cheap and fair. No tricks here…"