Evolution Begins with Elemental Domination

The camping supply store was undoubtedly a treasure trove; the more they searched, the more they found. On the second floor, they even discovered some propane canisters and solid fuel tablets.

The floor was also covered with inflatable outdoor sleeping pads and moisture-proof ground tarps.

Part of the third floor was a living area, and it held its own surprises. They found a generator, though its gasoline tank was empty—it had likely been left by the original owners. The kitchen area also had a large refrigerator, which, once powered, would be perfect for storing a large amount of frozen food.

”We need gasoline.”

That was something they would have to find.

On the other hand, they did find a good amount of frozen food.

Xing Jingsong’s intel had been correct. The mutual aid group that was wiped out had indeed hidden away a lot of frozen meat. But they must have had multiple stashes, and some of it might have already been taken by others, so for now, they had only managed to find three freezers full.

The other Jingcheng University teammates quickly brought it over, temporarily storing it in the refrigerators of the four RVs.

As noon approached, some of the excess frozen food was heated up and eaten on the spot, while the rest was set aside as rations for their trips to and from the city.

Members from the Polytechnic University and Jiangnan University came to help. In addition to thoroughly disinfecting and clearing the three floors—a total area of over seven hundred square meters—they also helped carry useful supplies and belongings inside.

They didn’t voice an opinion, perhaps because they didn’t fully approve of building a new home on this dangerous frontier, but they weren’t about to make any cynical remarks either.

Among the three-person team from the Polytechnic University, Le Yuxuan was clearly hesitant. Zhang Haoyang, on the other hand, was tempted. As a dedicated support-class member, it was only natural for him to want to stick with the heavy hitters.

The third member of their team, however, was unwilling to continue taking risks here.

’The Combat Defense Department is recruiting powerful civilians. That’s a stable job. Why risk our lives out here in this precarious place?’ This was what he was thinking, and his sentiment matched that of the other members from the archery clubs.

And yet, as everyone watched the bustling scene unfold, it was impossible not to feel a sense of vibrant energy.

The moment Gong Jun arrived, he went right back to work on his guns. An area on the first floor was designated as his temporary workshop, surrounded by piles of various minerals, high-strength steel stripped from vehicles, and several thick tree trunks.

His Lv. 4 Shaping Skill made him incredibly formidable. Metal was like docile clay in his hands; he needed no molds, shaping every mechanical component with nothing but his own ingenuity and Rune Power.

Meanwhile, Yan Ziqian stored the chemical supplies he had gathered in a separate room.

Pang Peng, the electrical engineering expert, found there wasn’t much to be done to modify the building’s internal power systems. However, leveraging his good connections, he got some people to help him remove the built-in refrigerators from the electric cars parked outside, planning to do some DIY modifications.

In addition, he was building an external antenna from scratch.

’The radio signal issue has to be solved, too.’

Pang Peng wasn’t exactly a radio enthusiast, but building an antenna from scratch was a simple task for him.

He just hadn’t had a permanent base to set one up before.

Now, for their new home, establishing a stable signal was essential. It would allow them to reliably pick up the city’s radio broadcasts and also significantly boost the range and clarity of their walkie-talkie communications with the main camp.

As for materials...

They were simple enough.

All he needed was copper wire.

The outdoor light posts and lawn speakers at the campground were all connected with usable copper wire.

”We used to set up plenty of antennas in the countryside back in the day,” Liao Dahai said as he came over to help. ”Back when I was a kid, and even earlier, only the richest family in the village could afford an antenna.”

As the reliable middle-aged man went to help, his wife was already cooking.

Two barbecue grills were wheeled out the door, and soon the smoke from the charcoal began to rise, carrying the mouthwatering aroma of sizzling fat.

After helping them move their belongings and using his Strong Will to transport a freezer, Su Chen returned to the camping supply store.

At this moment, an all-band radio was playing FM 99.6, the Knowledge Channel, out loud.

While Su Chen had been exploring the cave, a third batch of 150 Rune Formulas had been publicly released. Combined with the 100 from the first two announcements, a quarter of the thousand total Rune Formulas had now been disclosed.

Spirit Element Runes, having no synthesis components, were naturally not among them.

”...the Earth Element Fertility Skill. It increases the beneficial nutrients in the soil. Its components are very simple: Earth, Metal, and Metal. It gets a Five-Star rating and is highly recommended—the number one choice for starting a farm,” the host was saying.

He specifically added that while the Growth Skill could be used to ripen plants quickly, it would ultimately reduce their nutritional value. It was perfectly fine for just staving off hunger, though.

But for those who wanted more—to enjoy Otherworld plants packed with nutrients that could even improve one’s health—they had to be cultivated properly.

A herbaceous plant called Red Millet had been discovered. When mature, it would release a faint red mist, and its grains were full, round, and the color of agate. After being consumed for several consecutive days by personnel from the agricultural academy, it was confirmed to have the effect of warming and nourishing the body’s vitality.

Repeated physical exams revealed no abnormalities. In fact, the chronic fatigue and sub-health conditions of several of the overworked researchers had vanished completely.

Currently, agricultural staff were attempting to combine this with the Growth Skill to achieve a limited, accelerated ripening, thereby shortening the growth cycle. Meanwhile, many other plant species were still undergoing laboratory testing, and the host told listeners to wait patiently for the results.

”Sounds plausible. That Demon Antelope we ate last night was really potent. I feel less exhausted, and it was like a warm energy spreading from my core,” someone said. Many others nodded in agreement.

”If they want it to catch on, it’s simple,” someone else joked. ”Just tell people it’s good for virility.”

However, with no pictures, no one had a clear idea of what Red Millet actually looked like.