Chapter 20: The Solar-Powered Portable Cottage

Chapter 20 - The Solar-powered Portable House

"I believe the Drought Demon is just nearby but not too close, otherwise the temperature wouldn't just rise," Yang Yuan said to himself, feeling relieved. He glanced at the Portable Safety House's experience points and smiled.

"Finally, it's full."

"(Pseudo) Portable Safety House LV.1: 6/5 (Upgrade available)"

"Upgrade!"

A flash of light appeared.

In less than a second, the upgrade was complete.

"Portable Safety House LV.2: 1/10 (A portable house constructed with interlocking blocks, suitable for shelter from wind and rain, but average in terms of safety)"

"The description has changed; it's no longer fake?!"

Yang Yuan hurriedly walked closer to inspect it. He found that the original grooves between the modules seemed to have transformed into a dovetail joint structure.

This structure would make it impossible for those who didn't know how to dismantle it.

"This... I can't even take it apart now. How am I supposed to carry it around?"

He circled around the safety house, examining it carefully, and discovered that the number of modules had increased. Many places, which were originally a single piece, were now divided into several parts.

"What's the point of this change? Can it really shrink into a box or even a smaller size when I press a button, just like what I wished for?"

He thought with anticipation. However, there were people inside, so it wasn't convenient to test it out.

"Currently, it gains some experience. For the next upgrade, it will take five hours with two people, and only three hours with three people."

He decided to wait until the next upgrade.

"Now that my Power Armor can scan a hundred-meter radius, I don't need to stay outside to keep watch."

Thinking of this, Yang Yuan extinguished the campfire, entered his small compartment in the Power Armor, closed the door, and sat on the bed, patiently waiting.

During this time, he tried pressing the buttons on the wall but found that the LED light above his head only emitted a faint glow, providing no illumination at all.

It seemed that without sunlight, the solar-powered lighting wouldn't work.

An hour later, the safety house's experience points directly increased by three.

"Just as I guessed, the experience gain is related to the number of people," Yang Yuan noted. It appeared that different items gained experience in different ways, and it might also be influenced by factors such as the number of people.

Perhaps because of the three consecutive upgrades, his energy and spirits had improved, and he wasn't feeling sleepy.

At the same time, in the monitoring room of the safe zone five hundred meters away, a group of people stared at the images captured by the hot air balloon satellite with grim faces.

"One of the Drought Demons is already seven hundred miles away, and it's already affecting us! They're still moving this way, and some female mutated beasts nearby are showing signs of mutation. There are too many of them to eliminate, and this place is no longer safe. Chief, should we evacuate?"

A soldier asked with a serious expression.

Beside him, an elderly man with an imposing presence pondered briefly before speaking gravely, "Stop all construction work, drain all the groundwater, and let the Spatial Carriers fill up their spaces. Make preparations for evacuation first and leave tomorrow morning."

"But will it be in time? The nearby female mutated beasts might undergo a massive mutation, turning this area into a furnace. Ordinary people won't be able to travel long distances." The soldier worriedly asked.

The elder sternly said, "Use the mystical object 'Cloud Soaring'. With the large amount of groundwater we've extracted, it should be enough for a while."

The soldier perked up and hastily asked, "Should we inform the citizens now?"

"No need. There's still time. Let's wait till dawn. Let them have a good night's rest."

The elder's face was grim. Just as they had settled down, they had to flee again.

But facing monsters capable of causing natural disasters, they had no choice but to retreat.

"Oh, by the way, sell some basic supplies tomorrow morning. For those ability users who haven't joined the safe zone and buy water, give them a cooler as a gift. We don't want their water to evaporate," he added.

The soldier couldn't help but mutter, "In my opinion, let those disobedient ability users fend for themselves. They cause trouble and waste resources."

The elder glanced at him coldly, and the soldier immediately shut up.

The elder sternly lectured, "Until they commit unforgivable sins, they remain citizens. They are potential allies we need to unite and attract. Don't underestimate any ability user. Our enemies aren't just those monsters reversing Yin and Yang. Don't say such thoughtless things again!"

"Yes, Chief!"

...

Time passed.

As a hint of dawn appeared outside, the safety house's experience points were filled once more.

Yang Yuan eagerly chose to upgrade.

Two seconds later, the LED light above him suddenly illuminated, startling him.

Its brightness was comparable to a smartphone light.

Fortunately, the neighboring compartment of Zhao Jiayan and Jiang Yiyi was dark, or else they would have been awakened by the light.

"Pretty bright, huh!"

Yang Yuan stood up in awe, leaving the safe house to check its upgraded information:

"Solar Integrated Portable House, Level 3: 0/20 (A portable safe house with an integrated solar lamp, providing a certain level of safety)"

"The name's changed?"

Yang Yuan was slightly surprised.

At this moment, Zhao Jiayan and Jiang Yiyi woke up.

"Why is it so hot?" Zhao Jiayan sat up, fanning herself as she asked in confusion.

Suddenly, she noticed the bright light from Yang Yuan's compartment next door. She approached curiously and exclaimed, "Why is your light so bright?"

Before Yang Yuan could answer, Jiang Yiyi crawled out too. "Big brother, it's so hot."

Yang Yuan felt the heat too, but seeing that there was no movement in the safe zone, he patiently explained, "It might be the Drought Demon approaching this area. Have you both had enough sleep? If you're ready, let's head to the safe zone to buy some supplies. We might need to run for our lives again."

He recalled that the previous night, which was the first night they arrived in this world, the temperature dropped to around seven or eight degrees at midnight. However, now, the temperature had soared to over twenty degrees.

This was definitely abnormal.

Hearing this, Zhao Jiayan and Jiang Yiyi's faces paled.

Run for our lives again?

"I've had enough sleep. Let's quickly get some necessities," Zhao Jiayan said, reluctantly but mindful of her own safety. She swiftly grabbed her luggage.

She didn't have much to carry—apart from her pistol and bullets, there was only a liter of water and ten kilograms of dried meat.

After the two women left the safe house, Yang Yuan circled around it and eventually found a button at the entrance.

He pressed the button.

Miraculously, the safe house quickly shrunk and folded itself into a one-meter-long, thirty-centimeter-thick box with a handle for easy carrying.

"Woah!"

"What is...?"

Both Zhao Jiayan and Jiang Yiyi watched in astonishment.

How did this safe house become so advanced overnight?

Yang Yuan picked up the box, his face lighting up when he realized it weighed only about forty kilograms, much lighter than the previous fifty kilograms.

"Ask later. Let's hurry and buy what we need."

He strode towards the safe zone.

"Oh, okay. Yiyi, come on."

Understanding the severity of the situation, Zhao Jiayan hastily followed with Jiang Yiyi.

The girls weren't foolish; they guessed that the safe house's transformation was likely related to Yang Yuan's ability. However, they knew it was best to keep such matters to themselves, especially since they were the beneficiaries.

They soon reached about a hundred meters outside the safe zone. The other survivors, having sensed something amiss, were also gathering at the entrance, hoping to purchase supplies before fleeing.

But the soldiers on duty were steadfast, blocking everyone from entering.

Yang Yuan, Zhao Jiayan, and Jiang Yiyi stopped at the edge, frowning at the scene inside the safe zone.

"The military isn't preparing to evacuate? Did we guess wrong? Could the rising temperature not be caused by the Drought Demon?" Zhao Jiayan wondered aloud.

"The military has hot air balloon satellites monitoring the land. They should know the Drought Demon's movements. We just need to follow their lead," Yang Yuan thought, feeling less anxious.

Escaping on their own could lead them straight into the territory of powerful monsters, rendering their escape meaningless.

He placed the portable safe house box on the ground and whispered to Zhao Jiayan, "This box won't be easy to carry in. There might be scanning devices in the safe zone. If they open the gate, go in and buy mainly water and pistol bullets. Bullets shouldn't have increased in price, so two boxes (each containing 100 bullets) will do. The rest should be water."

Handing over the remaining two monster cores, he added, "Oh, give me your pistol. I'll fix it for you."

---

"This month's last day, and monthly votes will expire soon! Please vote for more chapters! Starting this Sunday, the book will be on the recommendation list!"