Chapter 28: The Time Left for Xiao Yi Is Running Out

"Friends, I think you’ve already guessed what I’m using these sand grasses for."

"That’s right—I plan to weave these sand grasses into the tools we desperately need to carry clay."

"Sand grass isn’t exactly ideal for weaving baskets, but we have no other options right now."

"The Arctic region is simply too barren—we can only try using it."

"Weaving this skill is actually simple; the key is selecting good materials. Take this pile of sand grass before us—most of it can’t be used directly. We need to sort through it and find pieces of suitable length..."

As Xiao Yi spoke boastfully while working, he silently praised the system in his heart.

I’m just a tool, and I’m proud of it!

Watching himself transform from a clumsy beginner into a skilled artisan, Xiao Yi himself found it astonishing.

But this feeling? Absolutely exhilarating!

I have to say, turning a pile of weeds into this rabbit craft in my hands was truly satisfying.

"Holy shit, is my big god really an artisan? Don’t call me a brute anymore—aren’t these rabbits cute?"

"Big God, how much for the rabbit? I want to buy it as a collectible."

"Xiao Shen, can you weave a Xiong Zai? I love Xiong Zai!"

"Add one, add one—I love Xiong Zai too, preferably the same style as the one we met yesterday."

Haha, obviously my big god still can't get over that rabbit—that rabbit is his eternal pain; looks like my big god's got a petty side.

…

…

"Yefeng Tingyu donated Xiao Yi’s exclusive gift: Feng Wu Jiu Tian ×10. Little bro, when you get back, make me a Xiong Zai—I don’t want sand grass, I want bamboo. Price is no object."

"99999 donated Xiao Yi’s exclusive gift: Hu Xiao Tianxia. Xiao Shen, can you weave me a giant tiger? I’ll pay anything."

"Zhezhezhe donated Xiao Yi’s exclusive gift: Guangming Tianshi. Then I want Xiao Tian Lang."

"Wo Zi Xiao Yao donated Xiao Yi’s exclusive gift: An Ye Cheng Bao ×10. Big God, don’t forget me—I’ve stopped watching female streamers and sit in your livestream every day. I want a cougar."

…

…

Following Ye Yu Ting Feng’s lead, the crowd began donating en masse.

Although the rabbit’s material was poor, Xiao Yi’s weaving was exquisite enough to impress everyone.

Xiao Yi’s craftsmanship wasn’t master-level, but since he made it himself, it held unique collectible value—a kind of celebrity effect.

Xiao Yi’s hands moved swiftly, and soon three lifelike rabbits appeared in the livestream.

Xiao Yi wove these rabbits not just because he was deeply impressed by the original, but also to test the flexibility and resilience of the sand grass.

The conclusion was promising: sand grass could likely be woven into baskets, though its load-bearing capacity was beyond Xiao Yi’s current ability to estimate.

…

…

"Hey! Big God, you’re wasting precious materials!"

"Damn it, my rabbit! Xiao Shen, pay me back!"

"Such a beautiful rabbit, and you’re burning it? Brothers, where’s my forty-meter blade?"

"Too cruel! Rabbit God, punish this wicked man!"

"So it’s true—I knew my big god harbored deep hatred for rabbits. Even woven rabbit crafts aren’t spared!"

…

…

Xiao Yi’s action instantly ignited chaos in the livestream.

He tossed the woven rabbits straight into the fire to boil fish soup.

Just moments ago, bored, Xiao Yi had checked his live chat—and now he stared blankly at the messages.

Is this really necessary? I just threw a few grass rabbits into the fire. Do they really think I’m a monster?

He swore—he, Xiao Yi, was not petty enough to resent a few sand-grass rabbits.

He simply felt their purpose was fulfilled. He was surviving in the wild, and these rabbits were made of sand grass—meant to be burned. Now, they were being put to proper use.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

As Xiao Yi silently swore, thunder suddenly cracked across the clear sky.

Xiao Yi: "..."

Fortunately, the incident passed quickly. Two more hours later, Xiao Yi’s two sand grass baskets were finally finished.

Thirty centimeters long, twenty centimeters wide, about fifty centimeters high—with two handles on each side.

They resembled the vegetable baskets rural grandmothers used at markets, but with greater load capacity.

To test the basket’s load-bearing ability, Xiao Yi placed a heavy-looking stone inside and lifted it.

"Crack!"

As he pulled hard, the handles snapped instantly, and small cracks appeared elsewhere.

Obviously, the toughness and load-bearing capacity are still somewhat lacking!

Xiao Yi frowned slightly, but the sand grass’s performance was within his expectations—after all, no one had ever used it for weaving before.

Moreover, sand grass was his only option—he had no better materials available. But he was Xiao Yi.

"So it still won’t work? Big God’s hit another obstacle."

"What can you do? Even the best cook can’t make a meal without rice. No matter how skilled Big God is, if the material’s no good, it won’t pass the weight test."

"Then what now? Without proper tools, even if Big God finds clay, it’s useless!"

"Clearly, Big God’s path to a heated floor and wooden cabin is full of hardships."

"If it’s impossible, Big God should abandon the heated floor cabin plan—just improve your current shelter."

"Honestly, if Big God gives up the heated floor cabin plan, this challenge will lose all meaning for him—he’ll easily win the grand prize. I really want to see him complete the cabin and bring us a fresh kind of wilderness challenge, but I still hope he makes the rational choice and claims the grand prize."

"I support the above. This is a ten-million prize. Even if everyone here averages a million, winning it still puts you in the middle class."

…

…

Xiao Yi, however, remained optimistic. He looked toward the drone and said:

"Friends, even though our test failed, it’s no big deal—I’ve got Plan B."

"Everyone knows this: when you buy groceries, if the weight’s heavy, the clerk gives you two bags stacked together."

"So today, we’ll use the same principle. Since sand grass lacks the flexibility and strength we need, let’s weave another basket over the first one."

"Whoa, you can do that?"

"Big God’s brilliant! That’s a clever idea—but it’ll test his skill even more, since double-layer weaving is far more complex than single-layer."

"But since Big God said it, I believe he has the skill to pull it off."

He acted immediately. Originally, all his time today was meant for tool-making.

But if he could finish early, he was more than happy to do so.

After all, the heated floor cabin project was no small task for one man—and the Arctic cold was closing in. Time was running out, and urgency gripped him.

Two more hours passed. The sun had sunk low on the horizon; daylight was growing ever shorter.

Beside Xiao Yi now stood two upgraded sand grass baskets.