Chapter 104: Panshi Fortress Upgrade

The humming sound suddenly surged, shifting from a low background noise to a deafening clang that filled the eardrums, as if an invisible giant force were repeatedly striking metal.

The ground beneath their feet began to transmit a distinct vibration—not the violent fury of an earthquake, but a deeper, more restrained tremor, like the heart of a slumbering beast awakened by tremendous energy, each tremor carrying the power to make bones resonate.

"Yay! The fortress is upgrading!" Shuang'er exclaimed excitedly, jumping up, and in her excitement Zhao Ling'er's arm also swayed up and down.

Zhao Ling'er was also startled by the sudden cry, she instinctively wrapped her arms around Li Qingxuan's arm, her hand unconsciously clenching, and her body leaned toward him without thinking.

Huang Rong gazed at the scene before her, a hint of joy in her eyes, her gaze swiftly sweeping over the violently trembling walls in the golden light and the incessantly humming city wall, her body slightly relaxed, her voice tinged with surprise: "What a tremendous commotion!"

Li Feifei straightened her back, tilted her head to behold the roof completely drenched in golden light; in her calculating eyes now remained only pure astonishment, she unconsciously held her breath, as if fearing to disturb this godlike power.

Li Qingxuan allowed Zhao Ling'er to cling tightly to him, his gaze fixed on the golden light before him, on the transformation of Panshi Fortress.

He clearly felt that the "bones and sinews" of Panshi Fortress were being reshaped and strengthened, an indomitable will gradually coalescing under the immersion of that tremendous energy.

The golden light surge continued to surge, each pulse containing the power to tear off the old shell and forge new life.

From within the walls came a grating sound that made the teeth ache, like massive rocks being forcibly squeezed and rubbed, as if the entire structure were painfully yet excitedly stretching and compacting its body.

Li Qingxuan could feel Zhao Ling'er's body pressed tightly against his arm, the subtle tremor transmitted through her clothing, mingling with her hurried breathing.

He slightly moved his arm, drawing Li Feifei into his embrace; the warmth and steady force from his palm allowed the two's tense bodies to relax a little.

Huang Rong drew a deep breath, stepped forward half a pace, standing shoulder to shoulder with Li Feifei; she narrowed her eyes, striving to adapt to the blinding light, trying to discern the structural changes deep within the light—having endured disaster, she understood better than anyone what this scene signified, her tightly clenched lips eased slightly, revealing a hint of mixed tension and anticipation.

Li Feifei finally snapped out of that pure shock, she raised a hand to shield her forehead, attempting to lessen the light's intensity, yet her gaze never left the fortress undergoing violent change.

All the surging golden light, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, flowed into Panshi Fortress at a visible speed; the light quickly dimmed, shifting from a blinding white incandescence to a warm, jade-like, condensed dark gold hue.

Darkness once again enveloped Panshi Fortress, but the feeling in everyone's hearts was now utterly different from before the upgrade—no longer a heavy oppression, but a deep, restrained tranquility.

The walls and ground became ever more solid, as if subjected to extreme compression; the entire fortress seemed coated with an invisible yet tough shell, exuding an immovable, mountain-like majesty.

Li Qingxuan slowly exhaled a long breath, he could clearly sense that the Panshi Fortress beneath his feet had undergone a complete rebirth.

The runes on the walls grew ever more intricate, as if endowed with life; the once dormant lines now flowed with a condensed dark gold sheen, like countless blood vessels pulsing deep within the stone.

Those interwoven, coiled patterns were clearly discernible in the dim light, each stroke seeming to contain the force of a thousand jun, no longer cold etchings but transformed into the fortress's flowing blood, silently speaking of the toughness of its rebirth.

They approached, fingertips touching the wall, and felt the near-substantial weight emanating from the dark gold runes, as if standing before an awakened ancient mountain, emanating a majestic aura that brought both peace and awe.

Huang Rong's sharp gaze swept over those runes, keenly detecting the subtle changes: some formerly fractured or blurred lines were now perfectly connected, and at complex nodes the light's flow became ever smoother and rounder, as if the entire rune array had been thoroughly repaired and activated by the golden baptism, forming a more profound and sturdy whole.

Her tense jawline finally eased slightly, her eyes revealing scrutiny and approval of this "new life" power.

Li Qingxuan felt the steady rhythm emanating from the stone wall beneath his palm, in sync with the pulse of the runes—a solidity rooted in the earth, naturally formed.

This was no longer merely a cold shelter; it now seemed to possess its own breath, each steady beat proclaiming that Panshi Fortress had truly become their unbreakable foundation against the extreme night and the uncanny.

The luster of the runes flowed slowly within the dim chamber, like liquid amber, etching an unshakable, mountain-like will deep into every inch of the reinforced walls.

The five of them carefully examined the upgraded fortress; overall it felt much heavier, and striking the walls produced a dull thud.

Upon entering the fortress, the light was noticeably brighter than before; the original stone walls were completely wrapped in wood, the warm wood tone replacing the cold stone feel, the touch warm and moist, exuding a faint, comforting wood fragrance.

These woods had fine grain and deep color, clearly high-quality hardwood, fitting snugly against the walls as if they were naturally part of the stone, cleverly concealing the dark gold radiance flowing from the runes below, lending an especially harmonious appearance.

The ceiling was also covered with the same wood, making the light throughout the space softer and more uniform, lessening the fortress's sternness and adding a touch of homely warmth.

Li Feifei's fingers lightly brushed the smooth wooden wall, her eyes flashing with a calculating gleam, she murmured in praise: "This wood… not only improves comfort, it feels insulating and soundproof, a real bargain." She had already begun instinctively assessing the added benefits of the upgrade.

Huang Rong paid particular attention to detail; she paced to a wall, lightly tapped the wooden board with her knuckle, producing a muffled, solid sound, then leaned in to listen closely.

"This wrapping layer… is quite thick, not just a thin sheet." She gave a slight nod, then turned to Li Qingxuan and said.

Zhao Ling'er happily looked around, taking Shuang'er's hand: "Shuang'er, look—now the room is bright and warm, doesn't it resemble our old wooden house?"

Shuang'er nodded vigorously, her big eyes full of novelty and joy, she reached out a small hand curiously to touch the smooth, warm wooden wall.

Li Qingxuan watched the two girls' happy expressions, his lips involuntarily curving upward; he walked over to Li Feifei and said softly: "It seems this upgrade has greatly improved everyone's living environment."

Li Feifei turned her head to look at him, eyes smiling: "Indeed, the hard work wasn't in vain."

As they spoke, they noticed that the area originally used for storing daily items had also changed. The once simple, crude shelving had become a wooden cabinet with multiple drawers and compartments, its surface smooth, its craftsmanship fine, each drawer and compartment clearly labeled for convenient sorting and storage.

Li Qingxuan nodded satisfactorily: "With this categorised storage, finding things later will be much easier."

Huang Rong nodded in agreement beside him: "Indeed, and it looks like the capacity has increased considerably, allowing us to stockpile more supplies."

Continuing inward, they arrived at the resting area: soft, comfortable wooden bunks, thick blankets laid atop, appearing warm and cozy, each bunk now accompanied by a small wooden nightstand where personal items could be placed.

Li Qingxuan surveyed the entire resting area, his heart full of emotion; this upgrade of Panshi Fortress had not only enhanced its defensive capabilities but also greatly improved the living environment.

He stepped into the midst of everyone and said: "From now on, our life here will only get better." Everyone nodded, their faces brimming with anticipation for future life.

(PS: Please give a little boost to the free love-powered electricity; the author will be more motivated if you do. If you like this book, feel free to leave a rating—thanks, everyone.)