Grease from the roasting meat dripped into the fire pit, splattering tiny sparks, accompanied by sizzling sounds.
A rich aroma of meat permeated the cave.
This was the first time the Flame Stone Tribe had smelled such a distinct meat aroma in nearly half a month.
Although the three wild rabbits and one small deer brought back by John and the others weren’t abundant, they were enough to temporarily fill the hungry Tribesmen’s stomachs.
A He clung to the stone slab by the fire pit, his small nose twitching incessantly.
His eyes were fixed on the rabbit meat roasting on the wooden frame, and saliva was almost dripping from the corners of his mouth to his chin.
His mother gently patted his back and said with a smile,
“Don’t rush, when the meat is thoroughly cooked, I’ll tear off the most tender piece for you.”
A He nodded obediently, but still couldn’t bear to look away.
Even the fear he had felt earlier from the wolf pack was completely washed away by the aroma of the meat.
John was squatting in a corner, processing the remaining prey.
He carefully scraped the fur from the deerskin with a stone knife, his movements skilled and meticulous.
Mark and several young Hunters gathered around him, excitedly recounting their experiences from yesterday in the eastern valley — when they found the rabbit’s nest, several wild rabbits were still warming themselves inside, and they caught them with almost no effort.
When they encountered the small deer, its leg was caught and injured by a hunter’s trap, and it couldn’t run, so they happened upon it, which was a huge stroke of luck.
“If you ask me, Alex is still the most farsighted!”
Mark shouted towards Alex by the fire pit, while helping John hand over tools.
“If Alex hadn’t taught us to guard the cave entrance yesterday, and without that fire wall, who knows what might have happened to the Tribe when we returned!”
These words immediately drew agreement from other Tribesmen, and several elders nodded, their eyes full of gratitude and trust as they looked at Alex.
Yuna, holding a pottery pot, was pouring melted snow water into it.
Hearing this, she also smiled and said,
“Alex not only knows how to make fire, but also tells stories and can fight wolves.
If we follow him, we will definitely make it through this winter.”
Alex sat on the stone slab by the fire pit, listening to the Tribesmen’s praises, a gentle smile on his face.
However, he was pondering another matter — after the battle of the night watch last night, the system rewarded him with 20 Civilization Points.
Coupled with the previous 100 newbie reward points, he now had a total of 120 points.
But his understanding of the system’s rules was still limited to snippets from the “Newbie Guide”.
For example, how to obtain Civilization Points, the conditions for upgrading the system level, and the unlock rules for items in the store.
These all required careful study to better utilize the system to help the Tribe develop.
While the Tribesmen were busy processing prey and waiting for the roast meat, Alex quietly closed his eyes.
He immersed his consciousness into his mind and reopened the “Spark of Civilization” system panel.
Pale blue light patterns spread out in his consciousness, clearer than when it was first activated.
The information on the panel also had an additional item: “Civilization Log”.
He first clicked on the “Civilization Log,” which recorded all key events from the system’s activation until now.
Each entry was marked with whether Civilization Points were obtained and the reason for obtaining them:
[Event 1: The host successfully used the friction fire technique, reigniting the flame for the Tribe, boosting the Tribe’s survival confidence, and initially establishing civilizational influence → Conforms to the “First Practice (Fire-making Technique)” standard.
System activated, newbie reward of 100 points issued.]
[Event 2: The host told the Tribesmen stories of their ancestors, stabilized the Tribesmen’s emotions, and enhanced tribal cohesion → Conforms to the “Civilizational Soft Power (Cultural Transmission)” standard, but due to limited influence, it has not yet reached the point issuance threshold (requires influencing over 50% of tribal members and forming a consensus).
No point reward.]
[Event 3: The host organized Tribesmen to defend against a wolf pack attack, successfully repelling the wolves, protecting tribal members’ safety, and preventing tribal attrition → Conforms to the “Civilizational Progress (Survival Defense)” standard.
Alex looked at these three records and gradually gained some insight.
The core logic for the system to issue Civilization Points was “substantial promotion of civilizational development”.
And there was a clear “threshold” — it wasn’t enough to just do something related; the effect also mattered.
For example, while telling stories stabilized emotions, because the Tribe only had 41 people and “cohesion” hadn’t formed a long-term consensus, no points were awarded.
However, repelling the wolf pack prevented attrition, directly ensuring the “foundation of civilization’s continuity,” so points were awarded.
He then clicked on the “Civilization Points” details page, which explained the specific rules for the three main acquisition methods:
First Invention/Practice:
Refers to “the host, or under the host’s guidance, the Tribe completing a technical, institutional, or cultural practice never before seen in this civilizational stage”.
Point rewards are tiered based on “the importance of the practice” — for example, fire-making technique is a “basic survival technique”.
It rewards 100 points (included in the newbie reward).
If “first pottery making” (the dawn of handicraft industry) is completed later, an estimated 50-80 points will be rewarded.
Completing “first agricultural land reclamation” (the beginning of agrarian civilization) is expected to reward 100-150 points.
The same type of practice can only earn points once; repeated operations yield no rewards.
Expanding Civilizational Influence:
Refers to “the expansion of tribal scale, interaction with other civilizations, and outward spread of technology/culture”.
Point rewards are calculated based on “the scope and depth of influence” — for example, absorbing a new member rewards 5 points.
Establishing trade relations with other Tribes rewards 30-50 points.
Teaching basic techniques (like fire-making, salt production) to other Tribes rewards 50-100 points.
The wider the scope of influence and the deeper the change to other civilizations, the more points are awarded.
System Random Tasks:
Marked “Level 2 Unlock,” currently no more information.
“So that’s it, ‘first’ is key, ‘influence’ is core.”
Alex suddenly understood.
He had previously wondered if he could repeatedly teach friction fire to get points.
Now it seemed that wouldn’t work; he had to continuously explore new techniques and new systems to keep earning points.
And expanding influence meant that in the future, the Tribe couldn’t just stay in its own cave.
They also had to interact with other Tribes, and even absorb them, to get more points.
He then looked at the “System Level” details page:
Current Level 1, requires 1000 experience points to upgrade.
Experience points accumulate through “Civilization Point acquisition amount” — every 1 Civilization Point gained corresponds to 1 experience point.
That is to say, he now had 120 Civilization Points, so his experience was 120/1000, still needing 880 points to reach Level 2.
The benefits of leveling up were also clear: unlocking more store items (like the currently grayed-out bronze dagger and steel axe), unlocking new functions (such as random tasks, civilization assessment), and reducing the redemption points for some items.
“The path to upgrading is still long; I have to take it one step at a time.” Alex now had a clear idea.
He exited the level page and reopened the “Basic Store,” carefully examining the items within.
He had only glanced at it before, but now, combining it with the rules, the value of each item was different:
Refined Flint Knife (50 points): Sharper than the Tribe’s existing stone knives, suitable for processing prey and cutting wood.
It can improve efficiency in the short term, but it’s an “improved Stone Age product” and will later be replaced by metal tools, so its cost-effectiveness is average.
Medical Gauze (30 points/pack): Sterilized, can reduce wound infection.
The Tribe often gets injured during hunting.
It’s a “necessity,” but one pack has limited use; he could prepare one for now.
Coarse Grain Seeds (80 points/bag): Primitive wheat seeds, requires cultivating land and waiting for the growth cycle.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t have enough points now (120 points is enough to buy 1 bag, but then he’d have no points for emergencies).
Simple Tanning Tool Set (60 points): Can improve the efficiency of processing deerskin and animal hides, making them warmer and more durable.
It’s suitable for the current cold winter, but its priority is lower than gauze and seeds.
Alex weighed his options repeatedly and finally decided not to redeem any items for now.
The current 120 points were an “emergency reserve.” If Tribesmen were injured and needed gauze, or if a new crisis required redeeming tools, he needed to save the points.
Moreover, he planned to teach the Tribesmen how to make fire next, a first large-scale transmission of technology, which might earn points.
Finding a water source, solving a basic survival need, might earn points.
Making fish traps, a first invention of fishing tools, would definitely earn points.
After getting new points, he would redeem items according to demand — for example, first redeeming 1 pack of gauze for emergencies.
Then saving up points to buy coarse grain seeds, preparing for planting in spring.
“Alex, the meat is almost ready, come and try it!”
Yuna’s voice interrupted Alex’s thoughts.
He opened his eyes and saw that the wild rabbit meat on the wooden frame by the fire pit was already golden brown.
Grease was still dripping, and John was carefully cutting off the most tender piece with a stone knife and handing it over.
Alex took the roasted meat, thanked John, and took a bite.
Although there was no salt, only a faint meaty aroma, after being hungry for so long, it was incredibly delicious.
While eating, he said to the Tribesmen who had gathered around,
“Everyone rest well today and regain your strength.
Tomorrow morning, I will teach everyone how to make fire by friction.
Everyone must learn it, so that no matter where you are, you can make your own fire.
After learning friction fire in the morning, we’ll go find a water source in the afternoon.
Old Shaman says he knows where there’s a spring nearby.
After finding a water source, we can also make fish traps and go fishing by the river.
Then we won’t have to rely solely on hunting for food anymore.”
“Fish traps?
What are those?” Mark asked curiously.
Alex explained with a smile,
“They are baskets woven from vines that can trap fish in the water.
This way, we can catch fish without having to break the ice.”
The Tribesmen’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Previously, when Shi and the others went to the western river to break ice and fish, they had little success.
If they could make fish traps to catch fish, it would open up another source of food.
A He even jumped up excitedly: “Alex, I want to learn how to weave fish traps too!
I want to catch fish too!”
“Okay, once we find some vines, we’ll teach everyone how to weave them.”
Alex patted A He’s head, feeling confident.
He knew that by following the system’s rules and steadily promoting the Tribe’s “first practices” and “civilizational influence”, he would not only gain more points but also truly help the Flame Stone Tribe overcome its crisis and move towards development.
The flames in the fire pit still flickered, reflecting smiles and anticipation on everyone’s faces.
Alex looked at the scene before him and thought of the system panel in his mind again — those pale blue light patterns, were not cold tools, but sparks illuminating the path of civilization.