Chapter 48: Vehicle Protective Shield

Wan Yi pinched the suddenly appearing golden big bowl, its rim twitched, and only after seeing the message did Wan Yi understand.

Truly worthy of a big shot...

The bowl is that big, too.

【Wan Yi】: Okay, are the chopsticks and spoon still disposable?

Cheng Shuili froze in place; she had actually forgotten to buy utensils!

Cheng Shuili wanted to cry but had no tears, and only after a while did she recover.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: Forgot to buy utensils.

【Wan Yi】: You don't want to use disposables? You should have said so earlier. Yesterday I already produced a pair of bamboo chopsticks and a small rice spoon, probably stainless steel. Though they don't look as good as your bowl, they're usable. I thought you liked my disposable tableware, after all you don't have to wash dishes.

Cheng Shuili obviously knows; physical ease is one thing, psychological comfort is another.

Especially in this post‑apocalyptic world where no people are in sight.

Emotional solace is especially important.

She doesn't mind wasting a bit more water; she isn't lacking that at all; she just wants to live a good life.

【Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji】: Then thank you.

【Wan Yi】: We're on the same side, no need to be formal.

The words were well‑chosen; Cheng Shuili felt a warmth in her heart and honestly returned to the cockpit to keep moving.

On the first day after the Newbie Protection Period ended, who knows what odd troubles might arise next.

Today was truly a fulfilling day.

Snowflakes sliced diagonally onto the windshield; the sun hadn't risen all day, yet Cheng Shuili could clearly feel the brightness of the world seemed dimmed.

It's getting dark.

She opened the system panel to check the time; it was almost eight o'clock, so it was indeed time to stop the vehicle.

Cheng Shuili steered the shopping cart to the roadside, inspected the vehicle all around, and after confirming nothing was wrong, she closed the door.

She won't get out of the vehicle again today.

Dinner is pork rib and radish soup, a big pot, enough for the three of them.

Wan Yi originally wanted to make pork stew with cellophane noodles, but unfortunately, here the noodles are also a rare commodity.

Cheng Shuili isn't regretful; she's eagerly waiting to finish the meal and see what surprise the system has in store.

Just after eight, night fell completely.

Outside the vehicle, two eerie monster roars sounded; Cheng Shuili wasn't surprised—she'd gotten used to them over the past days.

But today is the first night after the Newbie Protection Period ended, and she wonders if there's any change.

Cheng Shuili looked out the window; the countless monsters were held back by a barrier, unable to advance even an inch.

She stared for a while, and a system pop‑up suddenly appeared before her eyes.

【Level‑3 Protective Shield】

【Only Level‑3 vehicles can generate it; it intercepts all monsters up to and including Level‑3, and all monsters below Level‑3!】

【Currently it's the first day of the Extreme Cold Disaster, and the highest monster level is Level‑1!】

The pop‑up's content was clear; the final "Level‑1" even had a bleeding effect, dripping down from the two characters.

Pretty realistic.

Cheng Shuili nodded to herself; this interface looked far better than the vehicle‑selection page she'd seen before.

The system is improving, too.

Cheng Shuili mused for a moment, and her gaze suddenly landed on a red‑eyed monster perched on the barrier.

The monster immediately let out an excited howl, raising its head.

Cheng Shuili no longer found it strange; instead she thought these vocal monsters were like puppies.

Usually quiet, they howl once when their owner teases them.

But she didn't watch long; even a puppy can't keep barking forever.

Many people on the regional channel noticed this, and the discussion is now quite heated.

【Huo Jingyu】: It seems a protective shield covered my vehicle; I was pretty scared earlier, but now I don't care.

【Nuo Xi】: Does anyone know what this shield is about?

【Shan Zhu Yi Ge】: If it exists, that's enough; why dig into this thing, what's the point? If we blindly do something and accidentally die, what then?

【Wang Lai】: You're really bold; if it suddenly disappears, you won't even have time to cry!

【Yao Luo】: I support the above, who knows what's really going on? Private message me, compensation possible.

【Ni De Fa】: What a sucker upstairs, always offering compensation, is there a lot of supplies?

【Mo Fu Shaohua】: You can actually say that upstairs? Free‑riding monsters should die, I won't accept rebuttal; if you insult me you're a neon person.

Seeing the argument about to flare up again, Cheng Shuili almost wanted to close the regional channel, but Guanghui spoke up once more.

【Guanghui Zhaoyao Lan Xing】: The shield is generated according to vehicle level; a Level‑1 vehicle creates a Level‑1 shield, Level‑2 creates a Level‑2 shield, and so on! The shield protects against all monsters of that level and lower. Stare at the shield for a while and a system panel will pop up; you can check the details yourself.

【Yao Luo】: You have to stare at the shield? Isn't that just staring at monsters? Too terrifying! So scared.

【Meng Dong】: Those who are still afraid of monsters are the ones still living this life.

【Yuan Wang Wo】: What's up? Have parents? Indeed can't compare to you; when you go home and open the door to find it empty.

【Xu Ling Qi】: The guy upstairs has such strong attack power, damn, wait, did we miss a thank‑you to the big boss!

【Dian Han Yi Ge】: You idiots who need the big boss to tell you, I really don't want to comment much. When something happens your brains don't work at all; you open the regional channel and just ask, is the thing between your ears really a brain?

With that, the regional channel erupted into chaos.

Cheng Shuili hadn't been watching for a long time; she smiled and opened Guanghui's private chat box, as she had something good to sell.

Just in time, the sucker Guanghui showed up.

Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji: I've gotten a good item, proof of entry into Shou Ren Xiao Zhen. Interested?

Zhao Hong's first reaction to the news was caution; he furrowed his brows, thought for a moment, and while he was tangled up, he suddenly recalled that he had no right to make the decision.

Zhao Hong sighed, resignedly opened each private chat window, and reported the message upward.

He thought the answer was beyond doubt.

The organization must need this thing.

Their purpose and Wu Ya's purpose are both to complete a deal, but the problem lies in the price of the transaction!

The organization was badly screwed over by Wu Ya last time; this time they're certainly hoping to get something back, and Wu Ya is also stubborn.

Zhao Hong thought it was a simple matter: once the higher‑ups issue the order, it's done, and he would handle all the price‑haggling details.

He admitted.

He indeed has a bit of psychological shadow toward Wu Ya, even from the bottom of his heart resisting further contact with that person…

Orders are hard to defy…

Zhao Hong shook his head, and after receiving the news, honestly sent it to Wu Ya.

Radiant Light Illuminates Blue Star: Interested, what's the price?

Cheng Shuili smiled; this is exactly what she was waiting for.

She didn't rush to reply; instead she pulled out the Vehicle Upgrade Material Fragments and counted them carefully. She now has 66 pieces in hand, and the leaderboard gave her 10 pieces.

In the past two days, opening supply boxes yielded only two pieces.