Chapter 45: Panshi Fortress

The entire first floor is divided into a huge reception hall, two bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen with a stove, and a dining room.

"This kitchen is not satisfactory! Is there a basement?" Li Feifei said, pointing to the stairs leading downstairs from the hall.

A staircase embedded in the stone wall spiraled downward; the two quickly approached, and the storage room originally used for supplies was especially spacious.

Going down, there was a stone chamber about 6 meters high and covering 800 square meters, with smooth walls; the items originally stored in the storage room were placed inside, making it seem very empty.

"This big? From now on we won't have to worry about not having enough space for things." Li Qingxuan said while organizing the supplies neatly.

They left the storage room, returned to the hall, and went up along the New Life rock stairs. The living area on the second floor also expanded considerably; the originally divided room walls seemed thicker and sturdier, the windows' positions and sizes were slightly adjusted, but light transmission improved.

Upon reaching the third floor, i. e., the highest lookout level, the changes were most noticeable: five rooms stood side by side, surrounded by a terrace, with a stone parapet over half a person high at the edge forming a solid circular lookout platform.

Further up, the roof's slope extended outward from the terrace by three or four meters.

He walked to the edge of the parapet and looked out; the view was extremely open, and the majestic outline of Panshi Fortress cast a huge shadow in the sunlight.

The thick mist surged fifty meters away, silently shrouding the Bodhi Tree, the Black Goat, and the distant forest, forming a natural barrier.

"Roar!" The Black Goat also felt this completely new, stronger protective effect; it let out a short, excited low growl, and its huge hooves pawed the ground, appearing exceptionally exhilarated.

It slowly approached the newly built wall emanating an earthy aura, gently rubbing its massive horns against it to confirm the wall's sturdiness.

The Bodhi Tree swayed gently in the breeze; its emitted clear light grew brighter, shining upon the Panshi Fortress rising from the ground, adding a touch of tranquility and harmony to this newly merged land.

"It's much safer now." Li Feifei also walked to his side and said delightedly, "With this Panshi Fortress and the Mist Array Disk, we finally have something resembling a 'home,' unlike before when we always felt drafts from all sides."

Li Qingxuan nodded, his gaze falling on the distant unknown region. "The foundation is there, but it's not enough. The door is key; iron blocks are urgently needed."

He took out the 【Small Suspension Bridge Gate Blueprint】, his eyes filled with determination and anticipation.

Li Qingxuan's gaze moved away from that reassuring wall and fell back onto the 【Small Suspension Bridge Gate Blueprint】 in his hand.

"The problem with the gate still needs to be solved quickly." He said in a low voice.

He withdrew his gaze, his eyes becoming firm: "Let's go, let's check that Diamond Treasure Chest. Hopefully it will bring us what we urgently need."

Finally, the two took a last look at the fused Panshi Fortress.

Suddenly, a tiny ice crystal fell onto Li Qingxuan's hand; they looked up, and in the dim sky, snowflakes drifted down slowly.

At first, it was just a few sparse snowflakes, lightly swirling, carrying the chill of winter.

But soon, fine snow particles fell like a thin veil, quickly covering the ground.

The biting cold wind also rose, rolling the snowflakes, blowing on the face like tiny ice needles, bringing a piercing chill.

"Is it snowing?" Li Feifei instinctively tightened her clothes, her breath instantly turning into a white mist, "and... it seems to be getting heavier."

Li Qingxuan spread his palm, letting a few cold snowflakes melt in his hand, his brow slightly furrowed.

This snow came suddenly, fierce and violent; the thick mist surged even more violently in the wind and snow, compressing the view ever more severely.

Thirty meters away it was already a white blur; even the outlines of the Bodhi Tree and the Black Goat became indistinct.

The originally somewhat relaxed atmosphere due to the completion of Panshi Fortress was tightened again by the sudden temperature drop and the unexpected snowstorm.

Li Qingxuan hurriedly brought the Black Goat into the fortress, added some firewood to the hearth, Li Feifei leaned into Li Qingxuan's embrace, and the two stood by the window watching the outdoor snow scene.

"Roar..." The Black Goat let out a low growl, its massive body slowly approaching, using its thick fur and warm breath to dispel the bitter cold raging outside the window for the two.

Its huge head slowly lowered, those gentle, spirit-filled eyes fixed on Li Qingxuan, as if silently asking whether it needed to help.

The Bodhi Tree's branches rustled in the wind and snow; its clear light struggled to penetrate the flying snow curtain, emitting a soft, warm glow, striving to dispel the piercing chill brought by the severe cold, but the calming fragrance was ultimately diluted somewhat by this bitter wind and snow.

"The weather changes really fast." Li Qingxuan withdrew his gaze from the wind and snow; snowflakes lightly fell onto his dense eyelashes, bringing a hint of refreshing chill.

He patted the Black Goat's sturdy neck, feeling that reliable support, "It seems even heaven is urging us to hurry and open the treasure chest."

The wind and snow grew fiercer; Li Qingxuan, relying on his robust physique, only felt a slight chill, but this was quickly dispelled by the heat surging within him, while Li Feifei could hardly endure it, the icy wind constantly pouring through her clothing seams, making her body tremble uncontrollably.

Seeing Li Feifei shivering, he reached out and pulled her into his embrace, softly saying, "Let's go, it's too cold outside; perfect timing to check the Diamond Treasure Chest and see if we can get the iron blocks we urgently need."

Finally, the two glanced once more at the Panshi Fortress, which grew ever more majestic and towering amidst the flying snow, like a silent giant in the storm, exuding a steady, reassuring aura.

The wind and snow wove behind them into a white curtain, enveloping the entire world in a chaotic cold.

Li Qingxuan closed the window, shutting out the howling wind and snow outside; the firewood in the hearth crackled softly, and the leaping firelight bathed the fortress's lower-level hall in warm comfort, also dispelling the chill from the two.

The Black Goat's massive body lay lazily on the ground not far from the hearth, its thick fur glowing with a soft, warm sheen in the firelight; it emitted a low, contented rumble, its large eyes half-closed, as if also immersed in this tranquility.

"Alright, now we can finally relax and look at our 'timely rain.'" Li Qingxuan pulled Li Feifei to sit on the stone chair by the hearth, took a deep breath, eased the tension caused by the sudden temperature drop, and temporarily set aside his worries about iron blocks and the gate.

He took the treasure chest out of his backpack, and the diamond treasure chest radiating brilliant seven-colored light appeared before his eyes.

"Open it, Feifei!" Li Qingxuan tightly gripped her hand, and Li Feifei reached out to open it.

Buzz—!

Immediately after, a seven-colored light column burst forth from the treasure chest out of nowhere!

(PS: Please support the free love-powered electricity; this gives the author more motivation to write, please.)