Chapter 183: Secret Base

Shi Zhile had no choice but to say she had earned the Sea God’s favor and was practicing a Cultivation Technique. She added that she thought highly of the others, so they had also learned a move or two.

Of course, the players from the base didn’t believe her, but the tribespeople of the Primitive Forest did.

They had already lit a bonfire and were jumping and dancing around the tall flames, celebrating Master Witch reaching a new level of power.

Once everything was packed up and night began to fall, the tribespeople roasted the day’s hunt over the fire, sharing some with the players.

Shi Zhile took out sweet potatoes and potatoes to share as well.

The night passed quietly. At the crack of dawn, under the reluctant gazes of the tribespeople, everyone stepped through the Teleportation Gate.

The small, deserted village of earthen houses gave off an initial impression of utter desolation.

The sound of conversation drifted from the woods. Shi Zhile shouted toward the trees, “Seniors, we’re back!”

A reply quickly came from the woods. “We’re busy! Cutting down some trees for you to make furniture. Go on and do what you need to do.”

“Oh, and if you have a moment, head over to the Sacrificial Platform and get rid of those stone pillars. They’re an eyesore.”

Shi Zhile called out in acknowledgment and headed for the Sacrificial Platform, shouldering her axe.

Worried she couldn’t handle it alone, the base leader sent Jiang Jing and Luo Chuan to help.

The others stayed behind to clean the rooms and expand the houses. Unlike the islands in the game world, this place was under the seniors’ protection and was truly safe.

The two base leaders decided to use the area as a secret base for developing and researching the game’s energy.

On the Sacrificial Platform, Shi Zhile gripped her axe and swung at a stone pillar.

The stone pillar shattered on impact. As she wielded her axe, it took only a moment for all ten pillars to be smashed to pieces.

By the time Jiang Jing and Luo Chuan arrived, Shi Zhile had already demolished not just the pillars but the entire tall Sacrificial Platform.

Without the energy suppression that existed outside the instance, her backpack and spaces could be used normally.

Shi Zhile pulled the two of them into her Planting Space.

Having gone without water for only two or three days, the black soil was completely dry. The corn stalks, which were half a person tall, drooped listlessly, and the leaves of the leafy greens had turned yellow from dehydration.

Shi Zhile immediately had the two of them collect spring water in their backpacks and start watering everything.

After collecting some spring water herself, she entered the Breeding Space.

She fed the chickens, ducks, cows, and rabbits as usual, then began collecting eggs. Including today, she had harvested 139 chicken eggs and 107 duck eggs over the past three days.

She set the fertilized eggs aside for incubation and stored the unfertilized ones in her backpack.

After a moment’s thought, she went to check on the rabbit population.

Because space was limited, the rabbits in the Breeding Space were raised free-range. The original pair had already produced several litters, and the rabbits from the first litter had also matured and begun to breed.

Shi Zhile had expected the inbred rabbits wouldn’t survive for long, but thanks to the effects of the Breeding Space, they just kept multiplying and growing larger.

Including the newest litters, the number of adult rabbits had now reached over fifty.

She grabbed a pair of rabbits and carried them out of the space.

There were no land animals on the island, so food had to be sourced from the sea. If the rabbits could survive here, breeding them would provide an additional food source.

When Shi Zhile returned to the village, she found everyone already busy at work.

The base leader had assigned tasks: some players were busy repairing the houses, while others were out at sea fishing.

Mr. Wen had also taken a group of young people to survey the island. He planned to lead the players in clearing the land for farming.

Although the Planting Space could grow crops, relying on it entirely was not a sustainable long-term solution.

Seeing that everyone was occupied, Shi Zhile released the two who had been watering the crops in the Planting Space. After saying her goodbyes, she carried Wen Yuchu’s body through the Teleportation Gate and out of the instance.

In the game world, it was still the ice age.

The temperature seemed to have dropped even further compared to before the instance had opened.

Inside the three-story Stone Castle, the fireplace was out, and frost lined the cracks in the window frames.

Shi Zhile quickly pulled on some warmer clothes, laid Wen Yuchu on the wooden bed, and covered him with a military greatcoat.

The layers of clothing weren’t enough to ward off the chill. She took out the Magma Stone Basin for warmth, and once the temperature began to rise, she hurried downstairs to light the fireplace.

She wanted to visit the base to deliver the instruments, but Wen Yuchu still hadn’t woken up. Unsure of his character, she didn’t dare leave him alone on her island.

That afternoon, freezing rain began to fall from the gloomy sky. It hammered down on the ice, quickly adding a fresh layer.

Shi Zhile stood on the third floor observing the base, her frown deepening the longer she watched.

She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she had the distinct feeling that the base had gotten smaller.

She shook her head. “Unless one of the players from the base is stealing islands, how could it possibly shrink?”

A pair of coughs sounded from behind her. Shi Zhile spun around just in time to see Wen Yuchu slowly sitting up.

Shi Zhile sized him up, and he did the same to her.

Finally, Wen Yuchu broke the silence, his voice hoarse. “Who are you? And where am I?”

Shi Zhile leaned against the wall, the window at her back. “I’m with Huaxia Base. Do you remember what happened?”

Wen Yuchu’s brow furrowed. “I only remember the system notification that an instance was about to open. I don’t remember anything after that.”

Shi Zhile said nothing more. She opened the Teleportation Gate and pulled him through it, passing through the Primitive Forest and into the instance.

The scenery shifted in a rapid blur, so fast that Wen Yuchu felt dizzy again. But before he could pass out, a pair of boots appeared in his line of sight.

He looked up and met a stern, sharp gaze. “Is he the real Wen Yuchu?”

Shi Zhile replied, “I’m not sure. After all the trouble that guy has caused, I’m suspicious of everyone. Base Leader, he’s all yours. Have the seniors take a look at him when you get a chance. I’m leaving the instance to go pay *him* a visit.”

She was, of course, referring to Jiang Yuxing.

Unlike Deputy Base Leader Wen Changming, who was unskilled in combat, the base leader had a military background and a muscular physique.

Without waiting for a response, Shi Zhile bolted.

「Back on Stone Island」

Shi Zhile took a Teleportation Gate to Jiang Yuxing’s island.

On the beach, a massive sailboat was moored, half beached on the sand and the other half floating on the water.

The sea was frozen solid for miles. Behind her, the entire forest was similarly encased in ice, emanating a terrifying chill.

The island was eerily silent, devoid of any sign of life, as if no one had ever set foot on it.

Seeing no sign of Jiang Yuxing, Shi Zhile made her way onto the ship.

The exposed deck planks were pockmarked from the freezing rain. The cabin below was dark, filled with the smell of rotting wood and mildew, as if it hadn’t been occupied in a very long time.

After a hasty search of the ship, Shi Zhile disembarked and headed for the treehouses in the forest.

A massive banyan tree sheltered three treehouses like a giant umbrella. She checked them one by one. The first was empty, as was the second.

A thin layer of ice coated the ground, making a soft crunching sound with every step.

The last treehouse was the one Jiang Yuxing usually occupied.

A lounge chair sat in the very center, surrounded by a table, a wooden bed, a wooden chest, and various other daily items.

Shi Zhile walked over to the treehouse wall and knocked on it. There was nothing out of the ordinary.

And this was the spot where the shower pod used to appear.