Starting Off Survival With A Small Treehouse

Chapter 454: Chapter 323: Rules for Triggered Events

The familiar voice, familiar content, rang out once again.

[Congratulations to the survivors, you have triggered the snow mountain climbing event!]

[Next, we will introduce the event content. Please listen carefully, survivors.]

[The jungle steps into the dead of winter. After the snow creatures’ return, countless giant peaks rise from the ground, towering high!]

[Each towering snow peak holds secrets and treasures unknown to anyone at its summit.]

[Survivors who obtain the secrets and treasures will truly gain freedom and a new life in this world!]

[Meanwhile, the secret can be shared with anyone in the same region; your success will benefit the entire area!]

[The event time is within 12 hours after the survivors officially participate in the event.]

[For survival in the future, for the survival of the entire region, strive to climb to the top of the snow peak, ascend to the kilometers-high above the clouds!]

[Friendly tip: This event is a trigger event, and survivors can choose to participate or refuse to participate.]

[If you choose to participate, be sure to complete the event, that is, climb to the summit of the snow peak. Survivors who choose to participate but do not complete it will permanently leave this beautiful world.]

[Of course, you can also choose not to participate. But please note, each survivor only has three chances to refuse a triggered event. After these three times, if a triggered event is encountered again, it will be mandatory to participate.]

[Survivors, please consider carefully!]

[Will you participate in the snow mountain climbing event?]

[Please decide within twenty seconds, otherwise, it will be regarded as an automatic forfeit.]

The sudden event notification startled both Xu Xin and Ji Chaoyang.

The two of them, separated by ten meters, exchanged a glance, and could see the shock in each other’s eyes.

Unexpectedly, when they climbed more than fifty meters up this stone pillar peak, they triggered an event!

An event similar to the first stage!

However, unlike the compulsory activity of the first stage, according to the introduction, this stage appears to be triggered only.

In other words, during the survivor’s exploration, no matter whether they wish to or not, as long as a certain condition is met, an activity is inadvertently triggered!

Moreover, once this activity is accepted, it must be completed, or they will... ”leave this beautiful world”!

One can refuse, but only three times...?

Xu Xin looked up. Climbing to the summit at a height of over a thousand meters is definitely not an easy task.

But...

He now has full gear and an ability that perfectly suits this event: arm strength amplification!

His advantage is absolutely immense. With his current condition, there are probably only a few survivors in the entire world more suited to climb than him.

If he refuses now and wastes a chance to refuse just because of fear, it will only get harder in the future.

As Xu Xin pondered, twenty seconds were almost up.

No time left.

Xu Xin and Ji Chaoyang exchanged a glance, understanding the intent in each other’s eyes, and nodded.

”Participate!” Xu Xin immediately declared.

[Survivor has confirmed participation in the snow mountain climbing event. Event timing starts!]

[Please, survivors, reach the summit of the snow mountain within twelve hours to acquire the true secrets and treasures!]

[Don’t idle around, survivors who do not complete the task will permanently leave this beautiful world!]

Then, the mysterious voice ceased, and normalcy resumed by their ears.

But Xu Xin knew the event had begun.

He grabbed the rock wall with one hand, twisting to look downward.

Fifty meters was already quite high, about the height of a seventeen or eighteen-story building, enough to make one’s heart race.

Climbing to the top, over a thousand meters high, using only hands and grappling hooks, was a slightly thrilling thought.

However, with the grappling hooks, there was no need to worry about slipping and falling; even if his hands slipped, he could use the hooks to dig straight into the rock wall, hanging firmly.

Along with his arm strength amplification, climbing beyond a thousand meters seemed not too difficult.

He climbed a few more meters up, feeling the rock wall above fifty meters.

Although the touch became much slipperier and there was a lot of snow, it was still not a problem for him.

Oh right, he still had one amplification to choose.

What should he choose?

Perhaps he should discuss it with Ji Chaoyang; maybe they could coordinate a bit...

”Huh?” Xu Xin looked toward the direction Ji Chaoyang had been climbing, but no longer saw him.

”Climbing so fast?” Xu Xin looked upward but did not spot Ji Chaoyang’s figure. He looked down again and still didn’t see him.

”... What does this mean?” Xu Xin’s expression gradually turned serious, ”Where is he?”

He immediately slid open his watch, trying to contact Ji Chaoyang, but...

The watch’s virtual screen couldn’t display; he was completely unable to contact Ji Chaoyang.

With the screen unable to display, he couldn’t even choose the amplification.

Isn’t he now on the rock wall less than a kilometer from the treehouse? Why is the watch not working?!

He grabbed the rock wall with one hand and twisted his body to look at his treehouse.

The sight in front of him made him let out a breath of relief. The treehouse remained in its position, lush and green, covered with snow, very conspicuous in the white desert.

It seems he hasn’t been relocated to some strange place, it’s just that his watch can’t be used.

But, what is the reason for this?

So close to the treehouse, even within the protected area, yet the signal is blocked...

No... Above fifty meters, it really might not be within the protected area of the treehouse. The treehouse’s roots can’t reach above fifty meters.

Is it because he accepted the activity, leading to the disconnection between the watch and the treehouse?

No, that’s not right...

Based on his experience in the dungeon, communication failure and the watch not working are generally due to location issues, and his current location...

The only difference from earlier is being above fifty meters at Xue Feng!

He immediately climbed down a few steps, going back below the fifty-meter mark.

”Xu Xin!” Just as he dropped below the fifty-meter boundary line, he immediately heard Ji Chaoyang’s voice.

Sure enough, his guess wasn’t wrong!

He turned his head towards the sound’s source and saw Ji Chaoyang climbing down from above. Upon seeing Xu Xin, his expression changed from serious to relieved.

The two quickly climbed sideways toward each other, being careful not to re-enter the area above fifty meters.

Once close, they exchanged information.

”So, above fifty meters, it seems like a special, independent space. Our watches cannot connect with the outside world, and even survivors entering at the same time can’t meet each other, is that right?”

Ji Chaoyang summarized.

”Exactly.” Xu Xin nodded, ”It seems this activity doesn’t want us to help each other. Right, we should inform the others among the explorers about this activity trigger rule!”

”Okay.”

Neither of them rushed to climb further. With a total of twelve hours remaining, there was no need to hurry, and informing the others was more important.

Xu Xin and Ji Chaoyang posted the activity trigger rules, along with the situation above fifty meters at Xue Feng, to the explorers’ group.

Soon, responses came in from the other side.

Zhao Xiaochuan: ”Really?! Lucky those few came late. Sister Gui Xin and I are waiting for others below Xue Feng and haven’t had a chance to climb yet.”

Wen Guixin: ”Triggered activity? Failure means death? What the hell! Didn’t you say there are no fixed activities in the second stage?”

Qi Xuefei: ”Such an activity? How dare you two accept it right on your first encounter...”

Qin Yunlong: ”It’s not really a fixed activity, more of a trigger activity. There’s no issue if it doesn’t occur, and everyone has three chances to refuse, which is rather humane.”

Qin Yunhu: ”Humane...?”

Wang Lei: ”So... do we still go? Do we have to climb rock faces? I’ve never climbed, let alone a snow mountain rock face. Isn’t this a death wish...”

Then, his watch started vibrating. It was Li Wenxi calling.

”Why did you accept it!!” Li Wenxi’s voice was filled with worry and urgency. ”Failure means death! We’ve never had such a task before, it was too reckless of you!”

”It only gave twenty seconds to decide, nothing could be done.” Xu Xin was a bit helpless. If there had been more time, he could have considered it carefully before choosing, but twenty seconds was really too short.

He could only rely on the current situation to calculate the activity’s success rate.

”But... but...” Li Wenxi sounded like she was about to cry. ”Above fifty meters you can’t see each other or communicate, we can’t help you, it’s all on you...”

”Don’t worry, I have confidence in my abilities,” Xu Xin reassured, ”Don’t forget my unmatched equipment and random enhancements. If I can’t complete this task, then few in this world could achieve it; the activity would have no purpose.”

He said this to encourage himself.

He had placed first twice in all areas, and had random enhancement abilities today. If he couldn’t complete it, then the activity would be purely an act of killing.

Considering this world is about selecting a group of people, not eliminating everyone, such simply murderous activities wouldn’t occur.

”Um... Okay, then... then I won’t waste your time. There’s only twelve hours, right?” Li Wenxi’s voice steadied, though it still carried concern. ”Go and come back soon.”

”You worry more than I do,” Xu Xin chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.

”...If you don’t return in twelve hours, I’ll climb this mountain too!” Li Wenxi paused in silence before suddenly speaking.

”...Why climb? Can you rock climb? Don’t stir up trouble!” Xu Xin reprimanded.

”If you can’t come back, how can you control me!” Li Wenxi’s voice was stubborn.

”Alright, alright, I promise to return within twelve hours, you just stay there and watch over our home for me.”

”Mm!”

After hanging up the call, Xu Xin sighed deeply.

This indeed was a bit reckless, but having chosen it, he had to complete it.

”Wen Guixin decided to climb.” Ji Chaoyang spoke up beside him, having kept an eye on the conversation among the explorers. ”Zhao Xiaochuan wants to climb too, but I’ve stopped the others who wanted to join. We four will climb two peaks, that’s enough.”

Xu Xin slowly nodded.

Someone had to lead, but if everyone rushed up together and couldn’t help each other, the leader’s presence would be meaningless.

These towering stone pillars would likely exist for a long time, with no need for everyone to climb at once in haste.

Let the four of them experience the difficulty of this first trigger activity!