Upgrade

Wind and snow smothered the entire frozen forest, leaving nothing but gray and white between heaven and earth. Bitter winds threaded through bare branches, sweeping up fine snow and piling it layer upon layer across the snowfield.

Each footstep sank into the snow with a muffled crunch. The snow kept falling, the wind kept blowing, and not a trace of life could be seen anywhere in the mountain forest.

Lu Heng walked across the snowfield, his boots grinding through the loose snow, his steps unusually steady.

After devouring the Black Iron-tier Spotted Leopard Core, his physique had undergone a thorough tempering.

The soreness from days of quarrying and carrying heavy loads, the exhaustion of long journeys, and the physical depletion after his fight to the death had all been washed away by a force from within. Explosive strength filled every part of his body. His stamina, cold resistance, and physical resilience had improved across the board, bringing him to his peak condition since arriving on the frozen land.

The piercing winds that once froze his fingertips numb now brushed over his body with nothing more than a slight chill, no longer able to affect him in the slightest. Even as he walked without stopping, his breathing remained deep and steady, without a hint of fatigue.

The day's quarrying work had long since ended. He had counted all the neatly cut stone and dry hardwood he needed and stored them in the bracelet's storage space. Every prerequisite material for the upgrade was ready.

Wind and snow still ravaged the wilderness, and danger lurked in every shadow across the snowfield, but Lu Heng's state of mind had long since changed.

The confidence that came with a stronger body had taken firm root in his heart.

Before long, the familiar outline of the mountain hollow emerged through the wind and snow. The Stone Cave Shelter lay quietly in its lee, his only foothold in this desperate land.

Lu Heng hurried forward, slipped sideways into the cave, and reached back to wedge the log into place again, sealing the entrance.

A solid, muffled thud rang out.

The howling blizzard, the all-pervading cold, and the unknown dangers roaming outside were all shut out beyond the stone door.

There was neither wind nor snow inside the cave, only silence and the sound of his steady breathing. The moment the clamor outside was cut off, the tension that had gripped Lu Heng's mind for days finally eased a little.

He raised his hand, and the pale blue system bracelet on his wrist lit up in response, spreading a soft, clear blue glow through the dim cave. With a light tap of his fingertip, the construction and upgrade interface slowly unfolded, bringing the stored materials list clearly into view.

There was ample hardwood, neatly cut stone, and the Black Iron-tier Water Soul Crystal he had won by fighting the Spotted Leopard to the death.

Not a single material required to upgrade to an Advanced Shelter was missing.

Lu Heng's fingertip hovered over the confirmation button, his heart beating a little faster.

Ever since arriving on this frozen land, he had stayed in this single-level stone cave with its lone entrance. It did shelter him from wind and snow, but it had always concealed a fatal vulnerability-the only front door was also his only way out alive.

If a pack of beasts attacked or frost zombies surrounded him, he would have nowhere to retreat once the entrance was blocked.

That looming vulnerability had haunted him day and night. Even when resting inside the cave, he had never truly felt at ease.

But now, the shelter was about to become stronger.

Lu Heng drew a deep breath and firmly pressed the upgrade confirmation.

Hum-

A faint, low vibration spread through the rock beneath the ground, making the entire cave tremble slightly. Pale blue system light suddenly burst forth, enveloping the whole cave. Fine stone dust sifted down as the deeper rock compressed, reassembled, and reshaped itself under the wash of energy.

Invisible channels of energy spread along the stone walls, and at the heart of this transformation was the Black Iron-tier Water Soul Crystal.

The clear crystal continuously released cool, pure energy, which seeped strand by strand into the grain of the rock, reshaping the space into an entirely new structure.

Within a few breaths, the shaking stopped and the blue light receded into the stone walls. The cave's interior had been completely transformed.

A string of system notifications refreshed on the bracelet interface:

[Special empowering material detected: Black Iron-tier Water Soul Crystal]

[Ordinary Stone Cave Shelter upgrade complete!]

[Current shelter grade: Advanced Shelter]

[Using the exclusive cold-energy empowerment of the Black Iron-tier Water Soul Crystal, unlocked an exclusive special structure for the Advanced Shelter: Constant-Temperature Refrigerated Ice Cellar]

[Constant-Temperature Refrigerated Ice Cellar: permanently stable temperature control, constant temperature range of 2°C-6°C]

[Function description: simulates a standard real-world refrigerated food-storage environment, greatly slowing oxidation, drying, and spoilage of ingredients such as meat, fruit, vegetables, and wild fruit, significantly extending storage life]

[Note: only slows spoilage and cannot completely stop ingredients from deteriorating. Items stored for extremely long periods will still slowly spoil and become unusable]

Lu Heng's gaze lingered on the bracelet's entries. After a moment, he walked toward the back of the cave.

A brand-new, separate, sealed compartment stood quietly completed.

There was neither wind nor dust inside the compartment, and no refrigeration equipment, yet a faint, cool mist lingered within it. Lu Heng reached inside. It felt pleasantly cool, unlike the bone-piercing chill of the blizzard outside-the temperature was just right for keeping food fresh.

The constant temperature of 2°C to 6°C perfectly replicated the refrigerated compartment of a real-world refrigerator.

On this frozen land where supplies were desperately scarce, it meant he no longer had to rush to finish the meat he hunted, and the wild fruit and roots he gathered could now be stored as well.

Lu Heng withdrew his hand, a trace of coolness still lingering on his fingertips.

He turned and climbed the gentle steps naturally formed from the rock, entering the newly remodeled second level.

The second level was dry and sheltered from the wind, completely isolated from the smoke of fires below, clean and quiet. In the rock wall facing the mountain forest, a concealed slanting opening had formed, narrow outside and wide within. Its outer end was well hidden and difficult to find, so it would not attract wild beasts' attention. Inside, it was broad and open, providing daylight and ventilation while also serving as a secret escape passage in an emergency.

One main entrance and one hidden opening, one for defense and one for escape, gave him freedom to advance or retreat.

The change lay plainly before him: a crude stone cave where he could be trapped at any moment had become a well-laid-out Advanced Shelter with its own refrigerated ice cellar.

Lu Heng did not linger over it for long. He immediately lit up the bracelet again, opened the shelter advancement panel, and checked the requirements for the next upgrade.

[Current grade: Advanced Shelter]

[Next-stage grade: Black Iron-tier Shelter]

[Materials required to upgrade to a Black Iron-tier Shelter: 250 units of general building materials (stone blocks or hardwood accepted), Black Iron-tier special material ×1]

The materials list was brief and clear.

His current stockpile was nowhere near enough to attempt an upgrade to a Black Iron-tier Shelter. He could eventually gather 250 units of general building materials by saving them up slowly. What would truly be hard to find was that one Black Iron-tier special material.

Before the upgrade, seeing requirements like these would only have made him feel pressured.

But now that his body had been tempered by the Leopard core, his combat strength, endurance, and cold resistance had all improved. He had ample confidence to venture out, gather supplies, and hunt for rare materials. Rather than trouble him, this goal kindled his fighting spirit.

He had a clear advancement goal ahead, strength that had undergone a complete transformation, and a secure dwelling behind him that offered defense, escape, and food storage.

Lu Heng walked briskly down the steps, brimming with energy and without a trace of fatigue. The bone dagger ruined in his earlier fight to the death was no longer usable. He went to the workbench and placed the hard, dense Spotted Leopard bones from his Storage Slot into the processing slot one by one.

The bracelet glimmered again. A soft halo enveloped the leopard bones, automatically grinding, shaping, finely polishing, and sharpening them.

A moment later, the light faded. A brand-new, sharp bone dagger lay quietly on the workbench, its edge gleaming coldly and its grip fitting snugly in his palm.

With a suitable weapon replenished, Lu Heng took out the fresh leopard meat he had carefully stored, set it on the rack over the stove, and lit the dry firewood.

The crackle of burning wood rang through the quiet cave. Orange-red tongues of flame danced and flickered, and warmth slowly spread, filling the entire Advanced Shelter.

The flames roasted the firm, fresh meat, the heat slowly drawing fat from its fibers. Tiny beads of oil continually seeped out and dripped onto the coals, producing a pleasing, unbroken sizzle.

The rich, full aroma of meat slowly rose, filling the entire cave.

Outside, the blizzard raged. Inside, warmth abounded.

Leaning against the stone wall, Lu Heng watched the dancing flames and the roasting meat sizzling with fat, then looked toward the Constant-Temperature Refrigerated Ice Cellar and the brand-new second-level layout.

Firelight played across his face as fat dripped into the coals with a sizzle. He tore off a piece of fragrant, charred leopard meat and took a bite. Piping-hot juices burst across his tongue.

Lu Heng chewed slowly, the corners of his mouth lifting without his realizing it.

Outside, the wind and snow wailed without end. Inside, warmth rose.

This frozen land was still cruel, but he was no longer a survivor who could only hide from the blizzards and fight for his life.

He had a home, a way out, reserves, and a goal.

And all of this had only just begun.