Chapter 73: Massive Temperature Drop

Upon returning to the second floor, Lan Qingyou felt a wave of chilliness.

Thinking she had walked into the wrong room, Lan Qingyou blankly looked around at her surroundings before immediately exiting the second floor and returning to the first.

But who would have known that in just this short trip up and down, the first floor had also grown slightly chilly.

"What's going on here?"

Lan Qingyou was puzzled.

After all, the second month's Mana Turbulence was approaching at any moment. At a time like this, there couldn't be any other mishaps.

Otherwise, who knows, she might not even get to sleep tonight.

Thus, no longer intending to sleep, she went to the Storage Room, rummaged around to dig out the thick clothes she had purchased previously, threw them on, and then sat in front of the Magic Desk, waiting for the arrival of the Mana Turbulence at midnight.

"It's coming, it's coming."

"Panicky my ass."

"Do you guys feel like the temperature dropping?"

"It is indeed a bit cold."

"It's night time, isn't it completely normal for it to be cold? Have you guys never been out at night?"

"I feel like this temperature drop isn't quite right."

"I feel the same way."

"Holy shit, it's starting to snow outside!"

"Huh!?"

Never mind those people, even Lan Qingyou was stunned when she saw this sentence.

Snowing?

Setting aside whether the daytime temperature was too cold or too hot, it was at least a pleasant climate of over twenty degrees Celsius. How could it possibly start snowing at night under such temperatures?

Filled with doubt, Lan Qingyou looked out the window.

But due to it being pitch black outside, under the illumination of the Magic Carriage Lantern, the entire window glass looked just like a mirror.

Left with no choice, Lan Qingyou could only float over and open the window.

Borrowing the light from the Magic Carriage Lantern, Lan Qingyou saw the sky filled with thickly falling snowflakes and felt the bone-chilling wind pouring in through the window.

It really was snowing!

"Ugh..."

The moment she saw the snow, Lan Qingyou wasn't thrilled or excited; she merely couldn't help but shiver all over and promptly shut the window.

Although she had never seen real snow before, this didn't hinder her concept of being cold one bit.

"This outfit probably won't hold up."

Crossing her arms tightly, Lan Qingyou went to the Storage Room to rummage around again. After all, the clothes she was currently wearing were merely long sleeves.

Fortunately, she had acquired quite a few things previously, such as Northeastern floral cotton jackets, military greatcoats, and the like.

Piecing them together, she managed to cobble together two sets of padded cotton clothes for herself.

Lan Qingyou even found several thick cotton quilts.

To be honest, even she herself couldn't remember when she had purchased these things.

"I probably bought them during one of those centralized shopping sprees."

Lan Qingyou muttered under her breath, picked up the fluffy cotton quilts, and flew up to the second floor. After laying these quilts out, she naturally settled into bed.

But even with these cotton quilts, the continuously dropping temperature outside still made her feel as if something was lacking.

"If only I had chosen the fireplace back then."

Lying in bed wrapped under the soft, fluffy cotton quilts, Lan Qingyou thought of the fireplace she had seen when upgrading the Shelter.

Although she had thought of it previously when the world's will mentioned that the climate in this world was highly variable.

She never expected this so-called 'highly variable climate' could actually change like this.

Going from a pleasant climate of over twenty degrees at noon to feeling like it was only a few degrees or even sub-zero right now.

This change was too massive—massive enough to make someone like her, who originally thought she had already adapted to the alternate world, begin to doubt her life choices.

Actually, it wasn't just her.

Right now, everyone else in the Abandoned Land was also beginning to doubt their life choices.

"It's too cold."

"I'm so cold I can't sleep."

"You actually dare to sleep? Aren't you afraid you'll just sleep forever?"

"What other choice is there? I'm so cold right now my brain is practically freezing over."

"I reckon the temperature right now has already dropped below zero."

"Just what exactly is going on here? Everything was fine, how could the temperature drop just like that."

"Maybe this current Mana Turbulence is the culprit."

"Does that mean it'll last an entire week?"

"Who knows? Anyway, stock up on more Wood at home. God knows how long it'll last."

"Haha, I, Gold Miner, have coal on hand. Those in need can contact me anytime."

"I want some! I want some!"

"Give me a hundred kilograms or so first, let me survive this damn Mana Turbulence first before talking about anything else."

Upon hearing that someone had coal on hand, a bunch of people immediately swarmed forward, this single move allowing Gold Miner to earn a massive fortune.

He was so happy he could barely suppress the corners of his mouth from rising.

However, someone soon poured a basin of cold water on them.

"Do you guys have fireplaces at home? Do you? You're burning coal without any of those, do you think you aren't dying fast enough?"

"Uh..."

Reminded by this person, everyone finally realized that this thing didn't seem so wonderful after all.

It wasn't even as good as Wood.

After all, although burning Wood produced choking smoke, at least it didn't release toxic gases.

Thus, some of those who had just been fighting tooth and nail over the coal immediately changed their minds and approached Gold Miner in the Regional Channel directly.

"Hey Gold Miner, can I return this?"

"Is there a problem with the quality of my goods?"

"Of course not, I just don't want it anymore."

"What the hell are you thinking? Why should I return it if there's no problem with my goods? Small businesses do not accept returns."

Gold Miner naturally wasn't intimidated either, directly shoving them back with a single sentence.

And those who originally intended to seek out Gold Miner to return their goods didn't know what to say after seeing his reply.

It wasn't that they were thin-skinned, or that they didn't know how to be unreasonable and pester him.

Rather, they were well aware that the times had changed.

In the past, throwing an unreasonable tantrum might have yielded some benefits, but in this alternate world, throwing an unreasonable tantrum might result in a knife to the gut.

After all, everyone's avatars were hanging right up there, and they changed in real time.

Even if you wanted to disguise yourself to slip by, it was impossible.

Better to have one less trouble than one more.

Those who only bought a few units or a dozen kilograms thought this way.

But those who had bought over a hundred kilograms right from the start naturally weren't willing to let the matter drop.

Consequently, an extremely highly targeted 'great debate' passionately unfolded within the Regional Channel.

To the point where those discussing the weather completely lost any space to speak.

Lan Qingyou naturally didn't know these things, and even if she did, she wouldn't pay them any mind.

Right now, she was lying snug beneath her covers, pondering certain issues regarding potions in her heart.

Don't be fooled by the fact that she had crafted two types of magic potions; her questions regarding potioneering and alchemy had actually increased rather than decreased.

The dead of night like this was the perfect time for pondering issues.

While lost in thought, Lan Qingyou unknowingly drifted off to sleep, but after sleeping for an unknown amount of time, she was awakened by the cold.

"How wicked."

That's right, the cold of this alternate world was wickedly cold.

With dry and achy eyes, Lan Qingyou turned her head and looked at the scenery outside the glass door. Borrowing the moonlight, she discovered that the black slime soil she had spread across the terrace earlier had already been completely blanketed by a vast expanse of white.