Chapter Summaries

After killing a Black Iron Cold Stiff, Lu Heng carefully returned to his cave Shelter and treated his wounds while planning how to improve his defenses and combat skills. His brief safety ended when a group of Cold Stiffs tracked his scent to the entrance.

• Lu Heng killed a Black Iron Cold Stiff, then evaded hunting and wandering Cold Stiffs as he made his way back to the cave.
• Lu Heng sealed the cave entrance with stones and checked his injuries on the Survival Bracelet.
• Lu Heng treated his torn palm and frostbitten forearm with crushed herbs, then reviewed his mistakes in the fight.
• Lu Heng decided to reinforce the entrance, install the Black Iron Water Purifier, practice the Flowing Water Saber Technique, and gather crystal cores.
• The Survival Bracelet warned Lu Heng as a group of Cold Stiffs reached the cave entrance, following his scent.

Lu Heng recovered in his cave after escaping the Cold Stiffs, then set out through the worsening snowfall to gather stone and reinforce his Shelter. He reached the Dry River, where exposed rocks lay scattered along the banks.

• Lu Heng barricaded the cave entrance, tended his graze by practicing the Basic Breath Cultivation Method, and reviewed his shortcomings in combat while the Cold Stiffs pounded outside.
• The Cold Stiffs eventually fell silent, and Lu Heng spent a restless night guarding the entrance before waking to heavy snowfall.
• Lu Heng decided to gather stone before the blizzard worsened and carved high notches into trees so he could find his way back through the snow.
• Lu Heng carefully followed the tree markers toward the Dry River, using its dead trees as landmarks through the obscured forest.
• Lu Heng reached the snow-filled river channel and spotted exposed rocks along its edges.

Lu Heng searched the Dry River for stones to upgrade the Shelter but encountered two territorial Coldrock Bears upstream and retreated. He found a safer rocky shoal downstream and began prying stones free.

• Lu Heng struggled to pry three usable stones from the frozen riverbank before giving up on the inefficient stretch.
• He spotted a Coldrock Bear feeding in an icy pool and hid when a second, larger Coldrock Bear arrived, leaving the two beasts facing off across the river.
• Lu Heng retreated downstream along his marked route to avoid provoking the bears.
• He found a broad, quiet shoal covered with suitable stones, checked the area for danger, and began prying a large rock loose with his Bronze Hunting Blade.

Lu Heng uncovered lightning-struck wood and two treasure chests while collecting stone, gaining supplies and equipment that improved his survival prospects. When a bluestone block collapsed and crashed down the slope, the tremendous noise left him tense about what it might attract.

• Lu Heng struggled to pry rocks from the frozen ground until he uncovered lightning-struck wood that eased his chill and could ward off cold corruption.
• He found two buried treasure chests and wondered whether their flood marks meant the land had existed long before the survivors arrived.
• Lu Heng opened the chests and collected food, a spy bug, a portable growing box, protective gloves, and an anti-inflammatory pill.
• He put on the gloves and resumed quarrying, working more efficiently as he gathered stone for the cave walls.
• The ground beneath a large bluestone block collapsed, sending it crashing down the slope and making a loud rumble that put Lu Heng on alert.

After a boulder crash drew a Spotted Leopard from Frost Forest’s middle layer, Lu Heng tried to flee toward the outskirts but was attacked. He wounded the leopard with his Bronze Hunting Blade and realized he would have to fight it to the death.

• Lu Heng stored the fallen slab of bluestone and hurried away, fearing the noise might attract the Coldrock Bears upstream.
• A Spotted Leopard emerged from the woods and began herding Lu Heng toward the denser middle-layer forest.
• Lu Heng ignored the leopard’s attempt to block his route and ran toward the outskirts.
• The Spotted Leopard leaped onto Lu Heng and pinned him in the snow.
• Lu Heng slashed the leopard’s muzzle, escaped its weight, and decided he had no choice but to fight.

Lu Heng fought the Spotted Leopard at close quarters, using his blade and leather armor to survive its attacks before wounding its hind leg and pinning it with a throw. The chapter ended with both of them exhausted, Lu Heng still locking the leopard’s head in place.

• The Spotted Leopard attacked Lu Heng in a fury, biting his blade and striking his armored chest against a tree.
• Lu Heng identified the leopard’s exposed lower body and cut its left hind thigh as it pounced.
• The wounded leopard struck Lu Heng’s wrist with its tail, knocking the Bronze Hunting Blade into the snow.
• Lu Heng wrapped his arms around the leopard’s neck and pinned it as it struggled and clawed at him.
• Lu Heng used the leopard’s attempt to roll over to throw it onto its back, then locked its head with his arms and legs.
• Both Lu Heng and the Spotted Leopard were left exhausted, with Lu Heng still holding the leopard down.

Lu Heng struggled to keep the Spotted Leopard pinned while his strength failed, then used the Everyday Bone Dagger to inflict a fatal wound. The dagger shattered, but the wounded leopard lost its ability to fight, leaving Lu Heng holding it down in the snow.

• Lu Heng realized he could not reach the Bronze Hunting Blade or use the Iron Axe without releasing his hold on the Spotted Leopard.
• As the leopard gathered strength to break free, Lu Heng deliberately loosened his grip to make it twist and expose its flank.
• Lu Heng retrieved the Everyday Bone Dagger from his Tattoo Space and drove it into the leopard's abdomen.
• The bone dagger snapped under the force, but Lu Heng pushed the broken tip deeper and twisted it through the leopard's internal organs.
• The Spotted Leopard collapsed, unable to counterattack, while Lu Heng kept his arms locked around it in the falling snow.

After killing a Spotted Leopard, Lu Heng concealed his trail and returned to the Shelter, where he collapsed from his injuries and exhaustion. Once awake, he checked his supplies and dismantled the leopard, gaining its core, hide, bones, meat, and fangs.

• Lu Heng confirmed the Spotted Leopard was dead, stored its corpse, and hurried back through Frost Forest while concealing his footprints.
• Lu Heng reached the Shelter as Cold Stiffs battered its door, barricaded himself inside, and fell asleep from exhaustion.
• Lu Heng woke chilled and weak, lit a fire, ate and drank to recover, and checked that he had 35 units of stone, one short of the next Shelter upgrade.
• Lu Heng moved the Spotted Leopard corpse into the ventilated main chamber and dismantled it, obtaining its core, hide, bones, meat, and fangs.

Lu Heng swallowed a Leopard core and woke with improved attributes, healed wounds, and greater strength. After killing a Cold Stiff at the cave entrance, he gathered the stone and firewood he needed and returned to upgrade his Shelter.

• Lu Heng swallowed the Leopard core, fell into a deep sleep, and woke feeling refreshed as his strength, agility, and stamina rose from eight to ten.
• Lu Heng opened the cave door and killed a Cold Stiff with one slash, then stored its remains.
• Lu Heng found Coldrock Bear tracks at the riverbank and realized the bears had followed the scent of his battle before heavy snow covered it and drove them away.
• Lu Heng carefully quarried the last of the stone needed for his Shelter upgrade and gathered dry branches for firewood.
• Lu Heng confirmed that no fresh bear tracks remained and headed back to the cave to upgrade his Shelter.

After his body was strengthened by the Spotted Leopard Core, Lu Heng upgraded his Stone Cave Shelter into an Advanced Shelter with a refrigerated cellar and a hidden escape passage. With a secure home and a new goal of reaching Black Iron-tier, he prepared for the next stage of survival.

• Lu Heng returned to the Stone Cave Shelter with all the materials needed for its upgrade.
• Lu Heng used the Black Iron-tier Water Soul Crystal to upgrade the shelter, unlocking a Constant-Temperature Refrigerated Ice Cellar and reshaping the second level with a concealed escape passage.
• Lu Heng checked the requirements for a Black Iron-tier Shelter and resolved to gather the materials, including a Black Iron-tier special material.
• Lu Heng crafted a new bone dagger from Spotted Leopard bones and roasted stored leopard meat inside his upgraded shelter.