Chapter 18: and ===GLOSSARY===

Night fell, the two sat around the fire, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.

Li Qingxuan raised the water cup in his hand and said, "Feifei, thank you for staying by my side; with you here, I have confidence to face any difficulty."

Li Feifei heard that, raised her water cup and clinked it with Li Qingxuan's, saying: "Qingxuan, we are together; no matter what difficulties we encounter, we must face them together and overcome them together."

The two exchanged a smile, their hands tightly clasped together.

Li Qingxuan opened the Shelter control panel and checked the new upgrade conditions.

【Shelter: Stone Fortress】

【Bound Person: Li Qingxuan】

【Level: Level 4】

【Area: 300 square】

【Protection Value: 800/800】

【Upgrade Conditions: Stone Material 3000, Iron Block 1500, Wood 1000】

【Upgrade Effects: Protection Value *2, full-house renovation】

【Description: A stone fort of initial scale, its stone material integrally formed, appearing as if naturally formed】

After reviewing the upgrade conditions, Li Qingxuan mentally calculated his next plan.

Currently, stone material stock remains 3850 units, iron block has 1740 units, while wood is slightly insufficient, only 930 units remaining. If we upgrade the fort now, the construction of the city wall would likely be indefinitely delayed; it's better to temporarily retain these resources.

He sent the upgrade conditions to the other party, then said to Li Feifei: "Feifei, it looks like we still need to keep working hard to gather resources; otherwise, this city wall will never happen."

Li Feifei heard that, firmly nodded: "Mm, Qingxuan, rest assured, I will continue to go to the Trading Center to exchange resources, striving to gather the materials needed for the city wall as soon as possible."

Li Qingxuan gratefully glanced at Li Feifei and said: "Feifei, you've really worked hard; during this time you've been running around for me, laboring."

Li Feifei smiled and said: "Qingxuan, don't say that; we're together, your matters are mine."

The two exchanged a smile, their mutual understanding deepened further.

Li Qingxuan slapped his forehead, "Right, when I subdued the Yinhuai Tree, I also put away a Golden Treasure Chest; now is a good time to open it." Li Qingxuan said to Li Feifei.

Li Feifei heard that, her eyes instantly lit up, her face full of anticipation: "Golden Treasure Chest? There must be something good inside! Open it quickly!"

Li Qingxuan smiled and nodded; with a thought, the heavy Golden Treasure Chest appeared in the open space before them.

The surface of the chest flowed with brilliant radiance, its intricate and exquisite patterns remaining clearly discernible even in the dim light.

"Better you do it; your luck seems to have been good all along," Li Qingxuan said with a smile.

Upon hearing that, Li Feifei excitedly rubbed her hands, then habitually blew a breath into her palms, as if this could quietly summon good luck.

She took a deep breath, her expression a mix of nervousness and anticipation, and gently placed both hands on the Golden Treasure Chest.

She slowly reached out and pushed open the chest lid. Light streamed from the chest's seam—not blinding, but like liquid gold slowly flowing, warm and heavy.

The light lasted two seconds, then receded like a tide, fully withdrawing back into the chest.

The chest disappeared, and Li Feifei's hand held two items; the most conspicuous was a scroll emitting a soft white light, its material neither leather nor cloth, with faint, fine runes flowing across it.

Beside it were ten seeds Li Qingxuan had never seen before, deep purple in color, their surfaces bearing natural spiral patterns.

Li Qingxuan's gaze was instantly locked onto the scroll; he reached out and picked it up, and the moment his fingertips touched it, information flooded into his mind.

【Item: Basic Rune Enhancement Scroll】

【Effect: Can perform a basic rune enhancement on a designated building or defense facility, increasing its protection value and sturdiness, and adding weak energy resistance】

【Description: A scroll containing ancient craftsmanship, capable of imparting a trace of supernatural quality to mundane objects】

"Rune Enhancement Scroll!" Li Qingxuan's eyes flashed with delight; this was exactly one of the things he subconsciously most wanted after the fort's upgrade—the runes on the stone walls obviously still had great room for improvement. He immediately looked at the three vials of green liquid:

【Item: Shadowy Thorn Seed】

【Effect: A seed containing pure life energy, capable of rapidly growing into a fiercely offensive and defensive thicket of thorns within 24 hours, effectively resisting the intrusion of weird creatures】

【Description: Can cultivate a plant companion, breaking partial growth limits, possessing tenacious growth traits, able to grow by consuming biological flesh and blood, and a drop of fresh blood can make it remember your scent】

"Shadowy Thorn Seed?" Li Qingxuan took the seed and carefully sensed it; indeed he could feel the unique vitality within and a hint of chill, "Once the city wall is built, it will be perfect to plant them around the outer perimeter, forming an outer warning and defense!"

Li Feifei excitedly picked up those few deep-purple shadowy thorn seeds, placing them in her palm to examine closely.

Those natural spiral patterns, in the dim light, seemed to slowly flow, exuding a mysterious vitality.

"What a special seed, it feels as if they're breathing..." she whispered, her fingertip lightly touching the seed's surface pattern.

Suddenly, the tiny spikes on the surface of the ten seeds protruded slightly without warning, extremely fine yet unusually sharp.

"Hiss!" Li Feifei gasped, jerking her hand back; only then did she see several almost invisible red dots on her fingertip, a faint bead of blood slowly seeping out.

"What's wrong?" Li Qingxuan immediately noticed her abnormality, put down the scroll, and anxiously grabbed her hand to examine it.

"It's nothing, just a prick from the seed's tiny thorn, like a mosquito bite." Li Feifei smiled somewhat embarrassedly, trying to pull her hand back, "No problem."

Li Qingxuan frowned slightly, holding her hand without letting go. He leaned in to inspect the minute wound, then glanced at the few silent seeds. "These seeds from the weird world are also strange, but they should have recorded your scent. How does it feel? Does it hurt? Is it numb?"

"It's really fine, just a slight sting; now I hardly feel it." Li Feifei moved her fingers to show Li Qingxuan, "See, it's flexible. Probably the seed itself has a recognition mechanism, and I seem to be able to sense these seeds, as if... as if through blood recognition."

Seeing that she was indeed unharmed, Li Qingxuan finally relaxed a bit, "So amazing? Then quickly put these seeds away; once the city wall is built, we'll plant them outside it."

She took the seeds, properly stored them in her backpack, "Mm, I'll listen to you."

Li Feifei nodded, her attention quickly returning to the scroll emitting a soft white light, "This rune scroll's effect seems not bad either! Should we use it now?"

"Of course, good things should be quickly turned into strength." Li Qingxuan's eyes shone with anticipation, "The fort has just been upgraded, its protection value is 800 points; adding this scroll's enhancement will greatly boost its defensive capability." He stood up, took the scroll, and walked to the sturdy stone wall of the fort.

"I wonder what it will become after use?" Li Feifei excitedly followed behind Li Qingxuan.

"You'll know after using it." Li Qingxuan said, gripping both ends of the scroll with his hands and slowly unfurling it.

The runes on the scroll seemed to be given life; the flowing white light suddenly surged, like a lively river, following the guidance of his palm, rapidly rushing toward the fort's thick stone wall.

(PS: Free of charge, send a little love-powered electricity; this way the author will have more motivation to write, please.)