Chapter

After the seventh sluice release, Wang Chen finally emerged from the parched wasteland.

He opened his compendium to check and discovered that between the "Parched Wasteland" and the "Marsh of the Dead," there was a small transitional region. This area was relatively safe, with no strange debuffs and no savage beasts lurking about.

He no longer needed to stop every ten steps.

Wang Chen felt an unprecedented lightness in his stride, so he proceeded at a leisurely pace toward the Marsh of the Dead.

Shortly after his departure, a staggering figure burst out from the wasteland and collapsed to the ground.

"Finally made it out!"

Skinny Monkey nearly broke into sobs, but his tear ducts had long since been wrung dry. His body was severely dehydrated, the skin on his face drawn taut and protruding, making his features jut out grotesquely.

He opened his backpack, pulled out his shriveled water pouch, and upended it, hoping for even a single drop.

After a futile while, he put down the pouch and bit off the dead skin flaking from his parched lips.

Skinny Monkey desperately wanted to get up and continue tracking Wang Chen, but he couldn't even lift a finger. All he could do was comfort himself: "No rush. Beyond here lies the Marsh of the Dead. The monsters there are really tough—I refuse to believe that kid can get through so easily!"

But soon after, anxiety gnawed at him.

"No, this won't do. If I just lie here and the boss catches up, he'll skin me alive!"

"I have to get up and move!"