Deep in the forest, Liú Xiǎomǎn struggled through the tangled vines and thorns.
On the system map, the flashing red dot acted like a mysterious beacon, guiding her toward this rarely visited area.
Her short sickle swung constantly, cutting through obstructing vines with a “swish, swish” sound, each motion draining her already limited strength.
The deeper she went, the darker it became.
The branches of towering ancient trees intertwined overhead, forming a massive green net that fractured the sunlight into scattered patches.
The ground beneath her feet was slippery and muddy, hidden under thick layers of fallen leaves, while the air was filled with a pungent mix of rotting plants and damp soil, exuding a raw, wild essence.
The fatigue in her body sharply contrasted with the exhilaration in her mind.
Panting, sweat trickling down her grimy cheeks, her eyes shone brightly with determination.
What surprise awaited in this energy anomaly and massive natural cave the system had warned about?
That thought kept her going, making her forget the aching in her legs.
Suddenly, a moss-covered stone underfoot slipped, and she lost her balance!
“Ah!”
A short scream escaped her lips as she instinctively grabbed a rough tree trunk nearby, narrowly preventing a fall.
The icy, slippery texture sent shivers up her spine, and she furrowed her brow — this path was far from walkable.
Still shaken, she didn’t dare be careless.
She pulled out the beast-repellent powder, pinching some between her fingers, and sprinkled a circle around her.
The pungent scent filled the air — suffocating but providing immense reassurance.
At least now she didn’t have to fear venomous snakes or predators leaping out from the underbrush.
After nearly half an hour of grueling trekking, just as her legs felt like wood, a faint rumble reached her ears.
At first, it was soft, like wind through a valley, but as she advanced, it grew louder, sharper, transforming into the deafening roar of crashing water.
Her spirits lifted, her eyes brightened, and her pace quickened.
Pushing aside a final screen of large ferns, a wide cliff suddenly appeared before her.
A broad waterfall, like an inverted Milky Way, cascaded down a sheer cliff from dozens of meters high, smashing into a deep pool below and sending a misty spray into the air.
Sunlight refracted through the mist, forming a brilliant rainbow.
Yet Liú Xiǎomǎn’s gaze was fixed on the deep, shadowy area hidden behind the massive water curtain.
There!
Her heart pounded as she braved the icy spray, edging along the slippery, steep rocks beside the waterfall, inching forward step by step.
The stones underfoot were slick, the roaring water threatening to overwhelm her, yet she placed each foot carefully, her fingers gripping every crevice.
Finally, she reached the side of the waterfall, held her breath, and passed through the cold veil of water.
Before her lay a vast, dry, enormous cave, breathtaking in its scale!
The waterfall perfectly concealed the entrance, forming a natural water curtain, leaving no hint of its existence from the outside.
Inside, the air was fresh and circulating, free from the damp, musty smell typical of caves. The ceiling soared high, and the flat stone floor could easily accommodate three small huts.
“He…heavens…” Liú Xiǎomǎn almost screamed, a surge of joy like electric current coursing through her, raising goosebumps all over.
This wasn’t just a cave — it was a sanctuary granted by heaven for her, her mother, and her brother!
A perfect, naturally fortified stronghold.
Her long-dormant architectural obsession ignited fiercely.
She immediately commanded the system to scan the cave.
The cold electronic voice quickly responded.
【Cave scanning… Scan complete.】
【Structural Stability: High.】
【Air Composition: Normal, no toxic gases detected.】
【Ventilation: Good, multiple small openings connected to the outside.】
【Overall Safety Rating: A】
A-grade! Liú Xiǎomǎn nearly leaped with excitement.
This rating was a huge reassurance.
She eagerly circled the cave, touching the dry, solid rock walls, mentally planning where the bedroom, stove, and play area for her brother would go.
At the deepest part of the cave, she felt a faint draft emanating from a crack in the rock.
Curious, she crouched and cleared away some rubble, discovering a palm-sized patch of clay that emitted a faint bluish glow.
She pinched some of it — the clay was smooth, slightly sticky, and uniquely warm to the touch, entirely different from the other soil in the cave.
What was this?
As the thought formed, the system chimed in her mind.
【Ding! Rare Material Found: Super Clay.】
【Description: A clay rich in special minerals; when air-dried or fired, it surpasses ordinary clay bricks in hardness, toughness, and water resistance — ideal for natural construction and modifications.】
“Super Clay?” Liú Xiǎomǎn’s eyes sparkled like twin stars.
If discovering this cave was a surprise, then finding this clay was a blessing in disguise!
With it, she could not only build walls and partitions but also create reinforced defenses, turning this place into an impregnable safehouse!
Excitedly rubbing her hands, she stared at the vast cave and the super clay in her palm, already sketching a grand blueprint for her future home.
She couldn’t wait to see how, with this magical clay and the construction blueprints from the system store she had long coveted, she could transform this natural cave into a breathtaking, hidden paradise.
Squatting inside the cave, she gently kneaded the glowing clay, feeling its soft elasticity, far superior to any top-tier clay she had used in her past life.
The cave was even drier and more spacious than imagined, the high vaulted ceiling adorned with varied stalactites. Occasionally, water droplets formed at the tips and fell, striking the rocks below with a crisp “drip, drip” sound.
In this vast space, the sound echoed not as eerie, but as a strangely calming rhythm.