On the seventh day after the extreme cold descended, the temperature had dropped to minus 50°C, a level unsuitable for most life on Earth.
Inside the emergency supply package distributed by the government was a large bag of self-heating packs. No wonder the bag had felt so heavy. The black packaging had instructions printed on it, which Rong Hui read while brushing her teeth.
As long as it came into contact with water, it would generate heat. It was an advanced version of the heating packs used in ordinary self-heating foods. At the moment, there was no shortage of snow outside, and this self-heating pack could be used to its greatest advantage. There were ten packs in the large bag. If a family used them sparingly, they could last for a week.
After washing up and restoring her cleanliness value to full, Rong Hui began her usual exercise routine. Now that she no longer had her phone for company, she went to bed early, woke up early, and exercised every day. She felt her body becoming much lighter.
She was just about to open the system to check the time when she noticed two unread messages in the system notification bar. They appeared to have been sent during the night. Rong Hui opened them one by one.
[Survivor Rong Hui
The system has detected that you have received the sincere gratitude of more than twenty native residents.
Special profession triggered: Lamp Bearer
Current profession level: Lv1
Initial skill: Holy Mother’s Light
Those illuminated by the light will gain a 10% increase in health value, with no limit on the number of people affected. Specific individuals can be designated for exclusive light therapy, increasing health value by 50%, with a maximum of three designated individuals.
Note:
1. As long as the survivor’s stamina value has not dropped to zero, the skill can be used unlimited times.
2. Mastering the initial skill or triggering new skills will both increase the profession level.
3. The skill can also be used on the survivor themselves.]
Rong Hui stared at the panel with a dark expression. Triggering a profession was certainly exciting, but why did the name of this skill feel like an insult?
The gratitude of more than twenty natives must have come from the people in the mall. However, she had not expected that so many of them would actually feel grateful.
Rong Hui had spent a day with them and had encountered quite a few troublesome individuals who had spoken rudely to her. She had not expected their gratitude. She had simply wanted to act with a clear conscience.
In fact, her guess was correct. Not everyone she rescued from the mall truly felt grateful to her. Some people believed that her journey through the blizzard to deliver the message had merely been a “simple gesture.” However, the two soldiers who had participated in the rescue operation later reported Rong Hui’s selfless actions to their superiors. This left a record of her contribution within the government, which finally completed the count of twenty people’s sincere gratitude.
Curious, Rong Hui tried using the skill.
A small oil lamp with a glass casing appeared before her. Its outer shell was crystal clear, and yellow light flowed out like water, spreading throughout the entire room. The handle of the lamp was made of ebony about the length of a forearm, carved with morning glory patterns.
Well, ignoring the name, the effect of the skill was actually quite good. The lamp’s light illuminated a wide area. Still, why did it feel like she was rapidly heading down the path of becoming a support healer? She actually wanted a skill with strong offensive power.
Since there was no reason not to use it, Rong Hui focused her mind and selected herself as the target. The lamp’s glow suddenly condensed into a narrow beam and shone directly onto her.
Rong Hui instantly felt refreshed. The fatigue she had accumulated since entering the instance and the slight frostbite she had suffered all disappeared. She checked her personal stats.
Health: (100/100).
It really worked. Her health had previously remained around 88, and she had not bothered to restore it further. After being illuminated by “Holy Mother’s Light,” it was instantly restored to full. This could be considered a life saving safeguard.
After putting the oil lamp away, she opened the second unread message.
[Congratulations, Survivor Rong Hui
Special item triggered: Ice Crystal Pendant
The world cannot exist without girls.
Please carry my blessing and keep persevering!
Note: Wearing this pendant increases the health value limit by 50%.]
Rong Hui was extremely surprised. She still remembered the girl who had given her the pendant yesterday. Even though she had been exhausted, she had not wanted to trouble Rong Hui. No matter how tired she was, she had never suggested resting midway. And now she had unexpectedly given Rong Hui such a valuable gift.
Although she did not know what the exact trigger mechanism was, it was certainly connected to the girl’s goodwill toward her. Fortunately, Rong Hui still remembered her face. If they ever met again, Rong Hui intended to return the favor.
After putting on the pendant, a faint blue light flashed at her neck. Rong Hui’s health limit immediately increased to 150. Now even if she encountered hail again, she could withstand it more easily.
Being a healer was actually quite good. She could both endure and fight.
With so many pieces of good news arriving one after another, Rong Hui immediately decided that breakfast would be a delicious serving of French toast to celebrate.
After enjoying a leisurely morning tea, Rong Hui picked up a large bucket from home and prepared to go downstairs to store ice. In this weather, if she filled a bucket with snow, compressed it firmly, and sprinkled some water on top, it would quickly freeze into a solid block of ice.
She had no idea what disasters might appear in the future instance worlds. It could be extreme heat, or perhaps a shortage of water. In a world of extreme cold, ice and snow were the most abundant resources. Storing some now could help her face future challenges.
At minus 50°C, the residential complex was almost deserted. Only a few figures could be seen near the entrance gate.
Rong Hui went to a sheltered spot behind the building and began her project of storing ice. Each time a bucket of ice formed, she stored it in the System Backpack. Her plan was to fill an entire storage slot with ice blocks.
Seven days of continuous blizzards had accumulated into thick, hardened snow. Occasionally she could even dig out pieces of hail. Rong Hui could easily fill a bucket with snow. The iron shovel proved extremely useful.
Now that her health value was high, Rong Hui did not worry about her personal stats. She kept digging energetically.
By evening, around six o’clock, she had finally stored ninety nine blocks of ice, and her stamina value was close to the red line.
Having resolved a major concern, Rong Hui carried the empty bucket back home. The stairwell was filled with the smell of compressed biscuits. It seemed the government supplies had eased the urgent needs of most residents.
Now that shops were closed and factories had stopped operating, people living in rural areas were somewhat better off. Every household in the countryside stored grain and could manage to survive. But residents in cities were suffering. Once shops and markets closed, there was nowhere left to buy food. The government’s supply packages at this moment were truly like sending charcoal in the snow.