Chapter 101

Wow!

The big boss's shelter is huge, isn't it?

Upon entering the shelter, Ling Xue'er and Le Yun widened their eyes in surprise.

Su Hao's shelter is merely a hall, yet it's larger than the two of their shelters combined.

Could this be the big boss's third-tier shelter?

Fortunately, the sight of the withered ancient tree instantly slaying goblins and turning heavily armored goblin warriors into scarecrows numbed Ling Xue'er and the others.

Ling Xue'er and Le Yun exchanged a glance, snapped out of their shock, and together with Zhu Ge Chang Qing, who had also just recovered, followed Su Hao into the hall and sat on the sofa.

However, the moment they sat down on the sofa, their just-recovered normal expressions turned stiff again.

Why is my spiritual power recovering so much faster? Could this sofa set also be a supernatural item? This is too exaggerated!! "Have you brought everything over?"

Su Hao didn't bother explaining; he smiled faintly and asked directly.

"Hmm... I brought them, I brought them!"

After hearing Su Hao's words, Zhu Ge Chang Qing shifted his focus from the sofa, took out three dull gray storage bags from his bosom, placed them on the coffee table, and pushed them toward Su Hao.

"These three are 20-meter cubic storage bags; take a look."

Su Hao extended his spiritual sense into the storage bag, saw its vast interior, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Great, the price is fine. Once the other transactions are complete, I'll hand over those 400 lethally poisoned arrows as well."

With these three storage bags, on future expeditions we can freely loot...

Cough cough, we're moving house!

Last time we helped move the Ice Snow Goddess statue, if it weren't for the frozen stone's uniform size making it easy to stack, Su Hao's single storage bag probably couldn't have held all the frozen stone.

Now that we have three 20-meter cubic storage bags, we don't need to worry about that; even if we just pile things randomly, they'll fit.

"Big boss, these are all the things you need."

Ling Xue'er naturally knew what other transactions Su Hao meant, and she dumped out a large pile of items.

This pile contains 100 grams of chicken blood vine powder, an auxiliary ingredient for concocting a second-rank blood mage potion.

Also, there are 50 blue ice blocks, the main material for constructing a refrigeration ice pillar—frost stone.

And 30 energy crystals, which Su Hao added as a new transaction on his way to the dark dungeon after discovering the uses of proliferating flesh and infected cells.

In the future, to mass-produce butcher hearts and stitching monsters, we'll need plenty of infected cells, and without enough energy crystals to power them, it won't work.

Additionally, there are the hearts of fallen evil dogs, fire worms' fire storage bags, and zombie flesh—these are the materials used to concoct stitching monsters.

Besides that, there is also a piece of oxhide paper on the coffee table.

At the top of this oxhide paper, seven large characters are written.

【Map of the Dark Dungeon】

Below those seven characters, a rough map is drawn.

This map has three entrances, located in the northeast, southwest, and northwest.

Based on the surroundings shown on the map, Su Hao soon confirmed that he had entered the dark dungeon a few days ago via the northeastern entrance.

Near that entrance on the map, there is a house icon, an ice block icon beside it, and a line of annotation.

Although Su Hao couldn't read the text above, he could basically confirm that this was once the Ice Snow Goddess temple.

In the northwest of the map, there is an icon composed of many skulls; this should be the sea of skeletons where Andrew Grandpa resides.

Besides these two, the map also has many small icons, plus three icons about the same size as the Ice Snow Goddess temple and the skeleton sea, each with a line of annotation that Su Hao can't read.

Two of those icons are in the north of the map; one depicts a village, surrounded by a blackened circle.

Another icon depicts a giant dragon, with a tombstone beside it.

The last large icon is in the southwest of the map, not far from the Ice Snow Goddess temple; it shows a pyramid, beside which is a robot holding a pipe-like object.

"Pyramid, robot..."

Looking at this pyramid icon in the southwest on the map, Su Hao rubbed the oxhide paper twice, placed the map on the coffee table, pointed at the pyramid icon, and asked:

"Miss Xue'er, can your translation module translate the text above?"

"Let me take a look first..."

Ling Xue'er directed her gaze to the position indicated by Su Hao's finger, then immediately activated her translation module.

The next moment.

This line of annotation, written in an unknown script, appeared as a line of Chinese in her eyes.

"Big boss, this says the pyramid is about fifty meters tall, likely a special research institute, surrounded by many first- to second-rank robots wielding laser guns; it's advised to only enter if you're third rank or higher."

"Pyramid... research institute... robot..."

Su Hao lightly tapped the coffee table, wearing a thoughtful expression.

Ling Xue'er and the others naturally couldn't associate anything from this annotation.

However, Su Hao learned from Lars's memory that all of his research institutes are pyramid-shaped.

Furthermore, considering the robot guards around it, Su Hao vaguely felt that this pyramid was likely one of Lars's research institutes.

"Next time we go to the dungeon, let's first check out this pyramid."

Su Hao nodded silently, having made a decision.

Regardless of whether this pyramid is one of Lars's research institutes, with many first- and second-rank robot guards inside, its contents are certainly not lacking.

If this truly is Lars's research institute, then it couldn't be better.

Lars's research is something even the corrupt church covets; they believe that based on his results, they could create a mechanical angel.

Although Su Hao doesn't know the strength of the mechanical angel the corrupt church speaks of, being granted the title of angel by the church suggests it won't be weak.

This indirectly shows the value of Lars's research.

However, the research data related to mechanical angels were stored by Lars using a special method, separately in all the experimental institutes.

Just finding a research institute, it's impossible to obtain the manufacturing method of mechanical angels.

But as long as this pyramid is Lars's research institute, we should still be able to obtain some robot manufacturing blueprints and related construction instruments! After understanding the annotations of the pyramid icon, Su Hao had Ling Xue'er translate the annotations of the other several icons once again.

The icons of the skeleton and the ice-snow house, just as Su Hao thought, are marked as the Ice-Snow Goddess's temple and the Skeleton Sea.

The annotation on the northern village icon reads—pure shadow power, danger level unknown, caution advised for those below Fourth Rank!

The annotation beside the dragon icon reads—likely the skeleton left after a dragon's death, containing powerful dragon might; Supernatural Grade Third Tier cannot approach it, and the specific situation is unknown.

"Dragon… shadow power… Looks like we'll have to stay in the dark dungeon for a while."

Su Hao secretly nodded, stored the map in his Storage Bag, and lightly tapped the tea table.

"The sellers of the fallen evil dog's heart, the fire worm's fire-storage pouch, zombie flesh, and thirty energy crystals—do they want spears or bows?"

"Tang Wanxiang, Qian Douyuan, and Hu Yan want to trade bows; Duan Yun Dong's thirty energy crystals want to trade a spear, a bow, and 20 Lethally Poisoned Arrows."

"So the total price for this trade is four bows, one spear, plus 472 Lethally Poisoned Arrows, right?"

"Um… if you, boss, don't haggle, then that's correct."

"Then let's do that!"

Su Hao waved his hand; such trifling things aren't worth haggling over. Immediately, he took out four bows and one spear and placed them on the tea table—these were all picked up from beside the corpses of skeleton monsters in the Skeleton Sea.

Although Su Hao himself looks down on them, it's undeniable that these are indeed Supernatural Grade First Rank weapons; among current First Rank Supernatural Grade weapons, their effect is still not bad.

Moreover, yesterday Su Hao sent the information of these two weapons to Ling Xue'er, asking her to inquire the sellers' thoughts; before long, he received an affirmative reply.

Afterward, Su Hao beckoned to Hua Yao, who was sitting beside the fireplace with Xiao Anni, propping her chin and staring blankly.

"Go to the eighth floor of the building next door and bring back 472 Lethally Poisoned Arrows!"

Now that we've taken in the Flower Spirit Elf Clan, naturally we don't have to handle everything ourselves; when it's time to enjoy, we should still enjoy a bit.

"Oh, okay, I'll go get it right away."

Hua Yao hesitated for a moment, but still obeyed Su Hao's words and walked out of the sanctuary.

Strange—just the other day, Miss Gulu Gulu Qi didn't have us move all the Lethally Poisoned Arrows back to the sanctuary?

Could it be that the boss's words have some other meaning? Hua Yao's eyes filled with doubt, a hint of contemplation appeared on her fair face, and her steps gradually slowed.

But why did the boss tell me to leave? Weren't the negotiations with those people and the boss already settled? Could it be that my performance in the Hall was off somewhere?

"Oh~! I get it now!"

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed Hua Yao's mind, and she showed an expression of sudden realization.

The boss provides protection for our Flower Spirit Elf Clan, so our status is naturally that of the boss's servants.

As a servant, in front of the guests I failed to act like one, still sitting by the fireplace in a daze—isn't that losing face for the boss?

"Hmm… I recall seeing in the chat group that human servants need to wear a special uniform…"

Thinking of this, Hua Yao opened her communication bracelet and checked the chat logs.

At the same time, she ran into the forest, gathered a large pile of leaves, and hurried back to Su Hao's sanctuary, returning to her own room.

When the Flower Spirit Elf Clan had just moved in, Da Xiong Mao conveyed Su Hao's meaning, telling Hua Yao and the others that they could live inside the sanctuary.

Moreover, Su Hao's sanctuary is spacious, has a good environment, complete facilities, and even the scent of the wooden furniture makes people feel pleasant.

Therefore, after a vote by the Flower Spirit Elves, Hua Yao and a few other Flower Spirit Elves moved into Su Hao's sanctuary.

"Huh? Why are you running back again?"

Watching Hua Yao just walk out of the sanctuary, then run back holding a bundle of leaves, Su Hao's face showed a puzzled expression, but he didn't ask further.

Anyway, it's just to fetch the Lethally Poisoned Arrows; it won't take long. If Hua Yao has something to do, let her attend to her own affairs first—it's no problem, we're not the kind of dog capitalist who likes to exploit workers.

Coincidentally, Su Hao also had something to do; after greeting Ling Xue'er and her people, he stood up, took the Construction Platform from beside him, and walked outside the sanctuary.

He placed the recently obtained 50 frost stones, 5000 portions of stone, one Second Rank ice-snow god stone, and the blueprints for the refrigeration ice pillar together on the Construction Platform.

【Please select the construction site for the refrigeration ice pillar.】

Just like when constructing the Withered Ancient Tree, once Su Hao began construction, a 3D model of the sanctuary and its surroundings appeared before his eyes.

Besides that, there is also a pillar about ten meters high beside the sanctuary.

After a moment's thought, considering that the refrigeration ice pillar built with a Second Rank ice-snow god stone might have an environmental effect, Su Hao dragged the pillar's model to a position over 250 meters away from the sanctuary.

【Are you sure to construct the refrigeration ice pillar at this location?】

"Certainly!"

After Su Hao made his choice, a golden light wrapped all the materials on the Construction Platform, forming a golden orb that flew to the position he designated.

Immediately after.

That golden orb then began to expand and deform, gradually changing into the shape of a round pillar.

Finally, the golden orb turned into a golden light pillar, emitting a dazzling light.

Within that light, a bluish ice pillar about 15 meters high and roughly 2 meters in diameter appeared on the ground.

The surface of this ice pillar is uneven, covered with protruding snowflake patterns; it exudes a freezing chill that instantly freezes the moisture in the surrounding air, lowering the temperature by several degrees.

【Refrigeration Ice Pillar】

Supernatural Grade: Second Rank

Effect 1—Refrigeration: It can release cold air, lowering the surrounding temperature, eliminating fire toxins from the air; the sanctuary's master can, via mental power, control the desired temperature reduction, not exceeding 30 degrees.

Effect 2—Ice-Snow Transmutation: It can increase the concentration of ice elements in the surroundings, causing the environment to undergo a permanent transformation toward the Ice-Snow Divine Realm, making it more conducive to the survival and growth of ice-snow beings.

The sanctuary's master can, via mental power, control the range of the transformation zone.

……

"Whoa, it can even control the range—that's awesome!"

Su Hao nodded; when using a Second Rank ice-snow god stone to build it, he had guessed that the refrigeration ice pillar might also have the effect of permanently altering the surrounding climate.

He also deliberately placed the refrigeration ice pillar farther away, never expecting that a refrigeration ice pillar built with a Second Rank ice-snow god stone could also control the size of the ice-snow transmutation zone—how intelligent.

However, to truly and permanently alter the surrounding environment still requires quite a bit of time.

However, this had no effect on Su Hao anyway; he himself lacked any ice‑related skills and had no ice‑based creatures under his command, so he wasn't in a hurry to completely alter the surrounding environment.

Perhaps someday, once the cooling ice pillar permanently alters a one‑ or two‑hundred‑meter radius around it, Su Hao might gain ice‑related skills or recruit a few ice‑based creatures—who knows.

So, the slow‑change issue with the smart ice pillar's effect on the surroundings isn't a big problem for Su Hao.

Afterwards, Su Hao turned off the cooling ice pillar's info panel and saw Ling Xue'er and the others at the shelter entrance, their faces shocked.

"Huh? What's wrong with you guys?"

"What's the deal? They can't even see the ice pillar's specific effects—do they really need to be that shocked? By rights, their cooling ice pillars should have been built by now, right?"

"Big boss, big boss, why is your cooling ice pillar so huge?"

Ling Xue'er and Le Yun exchanged a glance, still unable to curb their curiosity, and asked their question.

"Huh? Isn't your cooling ice pillar supposed to be this size?"

Ling Xue'er's question actually left Su Hao stunned.

He had never seen anyone else's cooling ice pillar, and didn't know what might be special about his own in appearance.

"Yeah, the cooling ice pillars we built are just stone columns about two meters high, inlaid with some frost stones that can lower the temperature near the shelter—but yours…"

Saying that, Ling Xue'er couldn't help but glance again at the distant ice pillar, about fifteen meters tall and carved with beautiful patterns.

"There's no harm without a comparison!"

"They're both cooling ice pillars, so why is yours so huge and so nice‑looking?"

"Moreover, your cooling ice pillar seems to work faster than mine."

"Hmm… maybe it's because, when I built the cooling ice pillar, I used a special second‑order supernatural item."

Su Hao pondered for a moment and concluded that this was the most likely explanation.

Everyone's blueprints were the same, the frost stone and building materials for the cooling ice pillars were identical, and the only difference was the second‑order ice snow divine stone.

The second‑order ice snow divine stone was something Su Hao synthesized step by step from ice snow gems; Ling Xue'er and the others definitely couldn't produce a second‑order ice snow divine stone to use as another main material for building the cooling ice pillar.

Thus, even with identical blueprints, buildings made from different materials show noticeable differences in appearance and effect.

"Hmm… if that's the case, perhaps the original withered ancient tree wasn't that powerful or huge; it's only because I used sufficiently special materials that I managed to build such a withered ancient tree!"

Su Hao nodded, having made a decision in his mind: for future shelter constructions, whenever conditions allow, he will try to use powerful supernatural items as the main building materials.

(End of chapter)