Chapter 41: with translation of chapter title

After lunch, Li Qingxuan decided to go out to explore, hoping to find more resources and treasure chests.

Li Qingxuan carefully prepared the needed equipment and supplies, gently stroked the Swallow Sky Python cub beside him, and then resolutely set out on his journey.

Li Qingxuan happened upon a Ghoul and easily cut it down with his sword.

He did not use the Weird Encyclopedia to devour it; instead, he let the Swallow Sky Python cub eat it, the little fellow seeming to have drunk nectar and lazily coiled around Li Qingxuan's arm.

Afterwards, Li Qingxuan encountered several more Ghouls one after another, each slain and stored in his backpack, yet along the way his gains were meager.

Seeing the countdown almost up, Li Qingxuan had no choice but to hurry back.

Returning to the Stone House, Li Feifei was busy organizing the newly received supplies, her face lit with a satisfied smile like spring sunshine.

Not only did they obtain the urgently needed building materials through trade, but also some seasonings and daily necessities, many of which they had not had before.

Li Qingxuan slowly took a corpse from his backpack, placed it gently aside, then sat beside Li Feifei, gazing at her busy figure, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart.

"Qingxuan, you're back. How was today's harvest?" Li Feifei looked up at Li Qingxuan and asked with a smile.

Li Qingxuan shook his head, somewhat regretfully saying, "Today my luck wasn't great—I didn't find any valuable treasure chests. But I ran into a few Ghouls and let the Swallow Sky Python eat one; you should also let the dragon-tiger eat something."

Li Feifei heard this, gently patted the Swallow Sky Python cub's head, and a smile curled her lips: "This little fellow sure has a big appetite. But we need to build the city wall quickly; otherwise, if another powerful Weird Creature attacks, we'll be in danger."

Li Qingxuan nodded, his expression turning grave.

Next, they began preparing materials for the city wall. Li Feifei continued trading with others to gather the needed stone, while Li Qingxuan went to check on the Black Goat and the Bodhi Tree.

Li Qingxuan arrived at the Bodhi Tree base and saw the Black Goat lying still in the shade, its massive body rising and falling slightly with its breath, obviously intoxicated by the tranquility emanating from the Bodhi Tree.

Li Qingxuan stepped forward, lightly patted the Black Goat's head, the Black Goat opened its eyes and gazed at Li Qingxuan, "Go hunting on your own at night, guard the Shelter well during the day." The Black Goat let out a loud snort in response.

Not far off, the Fully Automatic Logging Machine rumbled low and steady, and behind the Stone House a small mountain of wood had already piled up.

He estimated the existing materials; the Fully Automatic Logging Machine continued operating, providing a steady wood supply, and with the stone Li Feifei had traded for, wood would not be lacking in the future, but the stone needed for a sturdy city wall remained in great shortage.

He sent Li Feifei a message, opened the Regional Channel, and prepared to post new trade information.

The channel still echoed with the wails and pleas of survivors from various regions, flying insects rampaging, Acidic Trees corroding, strange knocking sounds… each scene was shocking.

The region merger brought not only population growth but also countless potential dangers and chaos. Li Qingxuan's gaze grew colder, his fingers swiping quickly.

【Regional Channel】

【Li Qingxuan: Trading Center buys stone, 5 units of wood or 2L clean water for 1 unit of stone, long-term valid. Also, a water purifier can filter pure water; those in need can private chat Li Feifei】

The message sent, a flood of private chat messages instantly surged toward Li Feifei.

Li Qingxuan closed the control panel and walked toward the Fortress. Inside the Fortress, Li Feifei was storing the latest batch of stone just acquired through trade into the Storage Room, her face showing a tired yet satisfied flush.

"Qingxuan, look!" she pointed to the pile of stone stacked like a mountain in the corner of the Storage Room, "These stones, plus what we originally had, and what I have stored in my backpack, should be enough to start building the city wall!"

Li Qingxuan entered the Storage Room, looking at the considerable amount of stone, and felt delighted as well.

"Thank you for your hard work, Feifei." He went to the Manufacturing Table and built 36 wall sections in succession, feeling very excited.

The two walked out of the Stone House, placed the wall on the pre‑selected foundation line, and both gazed at the shocking sight before them.

A bluish‑gray stone wall rose before them, and amid a dull rumbling, the wall slowly sank, forming a solid foundation.

The rock connected to the mountain seemed to come alive, wriggling and merging, gradually fusing with the mountain, so the entire wall looked as if carved from a single massive boulder.

The heavy stone surface was rough and solid; the enormous wall encircling the Fortress and the Bodhi Tree resembled an ancient spine grown from the mountain, exuding an indestructible, weighty aura that enclosed the inner area.

Li Feifei stood at the Fortress's gate, looking up at this miracle that had sprung from the ground, her eyes full of awe.

Sunlight fell on the brand‑new wall, casting a huge shadow and bringing an unprecedented sense of safety.

This was no longer a fragile stone hut, but a city!

"Done!" Li Qingxuan's voice carried a barely perceptible excitement as he walked to the base of the wall and his fingertips lightly touched the cold, smooth stone.

He could feel the wall tightly bound to the earth, as if he could sense the powerful defensive power hidden within.

"How magnificent!" Li Feifei walked to his side, her voice full of delight, "Now the Bodhi Tree, the Fortress, and we ourselves are much safer."

At that moment, the Black Goat lying beneath the Bodhi Tree also lifted its huge head, curiously gazing at the suddenly appearing massive object.

Li Qingxuan nodded, his eyes scanning every inch of the wall, the junction with the mountain seamless.

"This is only the first step; the wall still needs some defensive facilities. But with this barrier, we finally have a genuine stronghold."

He looked at the encircling wall, which encompassed the Bodhi Tree, the Fortress, and the little homestead they had opened up, and Li Qingxuan planned to use the Fortress as a boundary, with the north side entirely for planting and the south side for residential area and warehouses, etc.

"Oh no, we have a wall but no gate." Li Qingxuan looked at the seamless wall and gave a wry smile.

Li Feifei also froze upon hearing that, having just been awestruck by the wall's grandeur and sturdiness, completely overlooking the entry‑exit issue.

She looked at the seamless, gap‑less massive stone wall before her, brows slightly furrowed: "Right, how… how do we get in and out? We can't keep climbing over it, can we? Or… tear down a section?"

"Tearing it down is impossible," Li Qingxuan immediately shook his head, his fingers tapping the cold stone wall, "This wall is fused with the mountain; removing even a piece could ruin the whole structure. We were immersed in the joy of completing the wall, only thinking about rushing to finish the main body and forgot the gate."

"Let's quickly check the Regional Channel and Trading Center for a gate blueprint," Li Qingxuan said to Li Feifei, and while waiting for a reply, the two gazed at the wall lacking an entrance, feeling safe yet somewhat bemused.

The Black Goat also seemed to sense their dilemma, rising from beneath the Bodhi Tree and walking over with heavy steps; its massive body stopped before the wall, and with its curved giant horns it gently nudged the wall surface, emitting a dull sound, as if asking, "Where's the door?"

"Don't rush, big guy," Li Qingxuan patted the Black Goat's sturdy foreleg, "I'll get you a door soon."

He looked around, his gaze landing on the mountain of wood piled behind the Fortress, "Feifei, we need to make a door quickly; otherwise I can go out, but the logging machine won't be able to bring wood in."

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