The Path of Eternal Strangeness

Chapter 1: The Descent into the Weird

I never imagined that something like transmigration would happen to me.

One moment I was working overtime, and the next, I found myself standing in this desolate graveyard. A cold wind carrying the stench of decay hit me, and I shivered involuntarily. Only then did I notice that I was now dressed in coarse hemp clothing.

In the distance, the cawing of crows pierced the eerie silence. I looked around and saw countless tombstones glowing faintly under the moonlight. Some were tilted, revealing dark holes beneath them.

"Ding—"

A crisp notification sound suddenly rang in my mind.

"Host detected entering a strange world. Eternal Life System activating..."

I froze. The voice was as clear as if it were speaking directly into my brain, impossible to ignore.

"System loading complete. Current world: Strange Cultivation Realm. Main Quest: Unravel the Mystery of Eternal Life. Newbie package has been issued. Please check."

Before I could process this, a chilling wind swept up from behind. I spun around and saw a hunched figure slowly approaching. It was an old man dressed in tattered burial clothes, his face wrinkled, but the most unsettling part was his eyes—no pupils, just pure white.

"Young man..." The old man's voice was raspy, like sandpaper grinding, "Why are you here so late..."

My back was already drenched in cold sweat. The old man's steps seemed slow, but in the blink of an eye, he was just a few paces away. Under the moonlight, I noticed his shadow twisting unnaturally, completely inhuman.

"Ding! Low-level anomaly detected: Corpse Puppet. Host is advised to use the 'Exorcism Talisman' from the newbie package immediately."

I remembered the newbie package the system mentioned and willed it to appear. A yellowed talisman materialized in my hand. The old man seemed to sense something and suddenly quickened his pace, his withered hand reaching out to grab me.

I fumbled with the talisman and thrust it forward. The talisman ignited on its own, transforming into a beam of golden light. The old man let out a piercing shriek, his body contorting in the light before dissolving into a wisp of black smoke.

"Congratulations, host, on your first anomaly elimination. 10 Strangeness Points obtained. Current Strangeness Points: 10/100."

I let out a long breath, my legs nearly giving out beneath me. Then I noticed something left behind where the old man had disappeared—a blackened copper coin. I picked it up, feeling its icy coldness. Strange symbols were etched into its surface.

"Ding! Special item obtained: Yin Coin. Can be used for transactions in the Strange Market."

I was about to examine the coin more closely when I heard footsteps approaching from the distance. Looking up, I saw a young man in a blue Daoist robe walking toward me, holding a bronze lantern that emitted an eerie green light.

"Fellow Daoist," the young man stopped a few steps away, "Was it you who performed the exorcism just now?"

I eyed him warily, not answering immediately. Under the moonlight, I noticed his shadow was also slightly distorted, though not as severely as the old man's.

"I am Lin Mo, a disciple of Qingyun Temple," he smiled faintly, "Your technique seems unpolished. Are you new to this path?"

I noted his use of "this path" rather than "this place," which piqued my interest. It seemed the people of this world were no strangers to the strange and supernatural.

"That's right," I replied cautiously, "Do you have any advice, Fellow Daoist Lin?"

"Advice is too strong a word," Lin Mo's smile faded, "But I must warn you, this graveyard has been restless lately. That Corpse Puppet was the seventh one this month."

My heart skipped a beat: "What do you mean?"

Lin Mo was about to answer when his expression suddenly changed. I followed his gaze and saw dozens of hunched figures emerging from between the tombstones in the distance. Their movements were stiff, but they were closing in at an alarming speed.

"This is bad," Lin Mo whispered, "A Corpse Puppet horde! Fellow Daoist, follow me!"

I turned to follow, but then the system's notification sounded again:

"Ding! Side quest triggered: Investigate the Graveyard Anomaly. Quest reward: 50 Strangeness Points, random magical artifact."

I hesitated. Lin Mo had already taken a few steps and turned back to urge me: "Fellow Daoist, what are you waiting for?"

I glanced at the approaching horde, gritted my teeth, and said, "Fellow Daoist Lin, go ahead! I have something to take care of!"

"Are you mad?" Lin Mo looked at me in disbelief, "These Corpse Puppets—"

Before he could finish, the nearest Corpse Puppet lunged at me. I fumbled for another Exorcism Talisman, but this time, the talisman only forced the creature back a few steps without destroying it.

"Ding! Warning: Exorcism Talisman's effectiveness is reduced against grouped anomalies. Host is advised to retreat immediately!"

I realized I might have made a foolish decision, but it was too late. The horde had surrounded me. The stench of decay filled my nostrils, and their pale eyes glowed ominously in the dark...