From their messages, Cao Xing learned that quite a few people had already died.
Most had died from the freezing weather, while a small number had encountered monster attacks in the wilderness.
Humanity as a whole was gripped by panic and unease.
There were also some relatively calm survivors in the world channel, sharing their experiences there.
Zhang Huaiyun: "Brothers, make sure to build your Lord's Cabin as soon as possible. Only after building it can you unlock other structures!"
Ed Stafford: "I suggest you gather the stones and wood around your territory first, then upgrade your bonfire."
Wang Sheng: "If you encounter monsters in the wilderness, don't try to attack them. Remember to run back immediately. Once you get within the bonfire's range, those monsters won't attack you!"
Just as Cao Xing had predicted, among the more than seven billion people worldwide, there was no shortage of those with decent adaptability.
However, compared to Cao Xing, they were still a step behind.
Not only had they not played this game in advance like Cao Xing had, they also did not possess an SSS-rank hidden talent.
Within these four hours, Cao Xing had not only built a Lord's Cabin and a Polar People Cabin, but also structures such as a lumber mill and market, while upgrading his bonfire to Level 3.
Moreover, after two battles, the resources in Cao Xing's hands had become quite abundant.
After thinking for a moment, Cao Xing added a message of his own.
Cao Xing: "The nighttime low will reach -60°C. Do not go outside casually. If you don't have time to build a Lord's Cabin, you can first use planks and stones to build a simple shelter. It can barely withstand the first night's freezing temperatures."
After saying that, Cao Xing closed the world channel.
He did not know how many people would see his message.
Nor did he know whether anyone would use his method to survive the first night.
But regardless, he considered it a well-intentioned warning.
Then, he opened the regional channel.
According to the system description, this was a square region measuring 500 kilometers by 500 kilometers.
It displayed:
Region 174 Channel Online: 38,224/4,017,317
Cao Xing fell silent for a moment.
Clearly, on the very first day after arriving, many people had already died.
In his region alone, nearly two thousand people had perished.
One could imagine how high the death rate was among survivors worldwide.
But there was nothing to be done about it. In a survival game, many people were bound to be eliminated.
Besides, as long as they made it through the first day and gradually adapted afterward, the death rate would not remain so high.
Of course, once the beginner protection period ended, the monsters wandering outside might actively attack the camps. When that happened, the death rate might soar again.
So it was not just the other survivors.
Even Cao Xing had to cherish the time afforded by the beginner protection period and develop his territory as quickly as possible.
The moment he opened the regional channel, countless messages flashed past.
Wang Wenjie: "Brothers, are you all from Hong Kong?"
Gu Boren: "I'm not from Hong Kong, but I'm from neighboring Shenzhen-Hong Kong City."
Qiao Pingwei: "I'm from Hong Kong."
Pan Fei: "Me too. I'm from Hong Kong."
After reading the chat above, Cao Xing nodded in realization.
This regional division probably randomly grouped together people from several neighboring cities.
At that moment, Wang Wenjie continued, "Compatriots, I've run into trouble. My younger sister suddenly fainted from the cold, and her fever won't go down. Does anyone have cold medicine or antibiotics? Please save my sister!"
Qi Qiang: "My family is sick too. My parents have both collapsed, and only my younger brother and I are left. What are we supposed to do?"
Lu Jizhong: "This is bad. After tonight, there won't be enough food tomorrow, and we don't even have warm clothing..."
Fang Long: "I'm Fang Long of the Three Heroes Association. Other guild brothers, contact me as soon as possible."
Many people in the chat channel were describing the difficulties they currently faced, hoping to receive help from others.
Of course, some survivors in this region had already begun to develop.
Chen Tianhao: "Haha, what a bunch of cowards. Just keep cowering by your bonfires. I already found a treasure chest in the snow and got an iron sword and a pile of food from it."
Ji Wenlong: "I opened a treasure chest too and got a medical kit that can treat colds and fevers. Anyone who wants it can trade food or weapons with me!"
Cheng Lei: "Cold-resistant coats for sale. Need food—lots of food!"
It was clear from these messages that everyone was severely lacking supplies.
Cao Xing closed the regional channel. It was time for him to trade for some supplies at the market as well.
Cao Xing opened the market interface for his territory structures.
The moment he opened it, he saw numerous trade listings.
The author, as the first person to build a market, you should probably collect taxes, right? In this region, whenever people trade—for example, if a market is required—they should prioritize trading through the highest-level market, and then tens of thousands of people would pay taxes there. That is how it could generate profits. Otherwise, what is the point of building that market? There should also be factors like combat power, prosperity, and happiness to determine market ownership. That is how LifeAfter works. You've played basic games like that, right?
Consigned Item: Stone ×20
Requested Item: Food ×10 or Medical Kit ×1.
Consignor: Zhao Jiaxing (Seller's Note: Basic materials. Price negotiable.)
Consigned Item: Rusty Spear (White) ×1
Requested Item: Food ×20.
Consignor: Anonymous (Seller's Note: An iron spear. Though rusty, its attack power is still stronger than the starter weapon provided by the system. Need food! Food!)
Consigned Item: Opened Bronze Treasure Chest ×1.
Requested Item: Warm clothing.
Consignor: Wang Wen (Seller's Note: Although I've already opened the treasure chest, it can be dismantled into copper, a rare material. Get me a piece of warm clothing—I'm freezing to death!)
Clearly, this was the first day of the global descent.
In a world with such an extreme environment, the most scarce resources were naturally food, warm clothing, and medicine.
Everyone was trading with the limited resources they had on hand.
Cao Xing only had one medical kit himself, and he was short on warm clothing too.
So naturally, he could not use those items for trading.
He continued browsing to see whether there was anything he needed.
At that moment, he saw a listing.
Consigned Item: Ice Armor Technique Skill Book (White) ×1
Requested Item: Food ×50, or Medical Kit ×5.
Consignor: Mai Les e (Seller's Note: An early-game skill book for Frost Mages. Price can be bargained down a little. First come, first served!)
Cao Xing's gaze shifted slightly.
It was actually the Frost Mage's Ice Armor Technique!
This skill could increase a certain amount of armor based on the user's mental strength. Its effect lasted twenty seconds, but its consumption was fairly high.
For other Frost Mages, this might be a useless skill, but for Cao Xing, it was a god-tier skill!
That was because this skill could work with his talent and become a permanent enhancement skill.
Then, when stacked with Ilena's Scale Armor, Cao Xing's defense would reach a terrifying level!
At that moment, Cao Xing even wanted to buy the skill book outright.
But clearly, this guy was asking an outrageous price, demanding fifty units of food right from the start.
Fortunately, the seller's note said bargaining was allowed, which meant there was still room for negotiation.
So Cao Xing opened the private chat window for the listing.
Cao Xing: "Ten food for the Ice Armor Technique Skill Book."
A few seconds later, Mai Les e sent back a speechless emoji.
Mai Les e: "I said you could bargain, not rob me. You want to trade ten food for a skill book? Why don't you just go rob someone?"
"Get lost. Go play somewhere else!"
Cao Xing replied, "I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush. What if I told you this isn't ordinary food, but meat?"
Mai Les e: "Meat? You got meat that quickly?"
The other party's tone was filled with intense surprise.
Cao Xing knew the other party did not believe him. At this stage, food like meat could only be obtained from those wild monsters.
Clearly, almost no one could defeat those wild monsters on the first day.
Cao Xing directly posted the item information in the private chat window, though he sent the information for snake meat.
Only then did Mai Les e finally believe that Cao Xing really had meat.
"Not bad, brother! You actually got snake meat."
Cao Xing asked directly, "So, are you selling or not?"
Mai Les e: "Of course I'm selling, but that's way too fucking little! At least forty food—that's eight pieces of snake meat—or there's no deal!"
Cao Xing said, "What are you thinking? I don't even have eight pieces of snake meat myself. Three pieces at most."
However, Mai Les e insisted that the minimum was six pieces of snake meat.
After hearing that, Cao Xing replied directly, "Then forget it. Keep it yourself."
"The Ice Armor Technique is only an early-game skill, and its drop rate isn't low. After tomorrow, you won't be able to trade it for food even if you want to."
Hearing that, the person on the other end seemed somewhat hesitant.
Mai Les e asked doubtfully, "Is that true?"
Before you continue