C22 It Became Fiery Hot!

Through Xiaoxue's storytelling, combined with Zhao Zhe's own exploration of the shelter, the overall context had become clear. This planet once harbored a civilization nearly identical to Earth's. Zhao Zhe wouldn't have been surprised if it were called Earth's duplicate, given the striking similarities in language, writing, and genetics. Aside from the gravity and icy weather, it could be considered a carbon copy of Earth.

This Earth-like world suffered a devastating blow from a cosmic disaster, a cold assault far more destructive than the Ice Age, obliterating human civilization in an instant. The survivors, having lost millennia of progress, mostly lived underground, using the thick layers of earth to shield themselves from the harsh cold. However, the underground provided no sustenance, so they spent most of their time excavating the remnants of the previous civilization from the snow-covered ruins to survive.

Due to the severe decline in productivity and knowledge, they unearthed some high-tech artifacts from the ruins but were no longer able to understand or utilize them. The old world had crumbled, but a new one was emerging. Fossil fuels were gone, yet the advent of mutant creatures provided these new humans with an alternative energy source. These beings accumulated a mysterious energy within their bodies, which the new humans learned to harness, replacing electricity in their new world.

The two snow rat eyeballs Xiaoxue had given Zhao Zhe were examples of this new energy. In certain conditions, they could be converted into usable energy. The energy within the eyeballs, stored in the snow nucleus, was finite. Greater energy reserves were contained within the Crystal Heart of mutant creatures, but not all creatures developed such a heart, and Zhao Zhe had yet to witness its true form.

"We could excavate the ruins beneath us," Zhao Zhe suggested, passing chocolate to Xiaoxue and gesturing beneath them. He was on the hunt for technology that surpassed Earth's. If he could mass-produce it back home, he'd become the CEO of a major corporation. Would small-time crooks still dare to mess with him then?

Xiaoxue shook her head. "Master, these buildings that once soared over a hundred meters have no tops left. Do you really think we have the strength to dig them out? The deeper we go, the greater the danger. If the surface collapses and we're trapped, we'll never escape. Your shelter is an exception, Master. Not all structures are buried so shallowly. Moreover, many creatures have made these ancient ruins their homes. Digging into their dens could very well cost us our lives. In this world, snow rats represent the least of our dangers..."

Wow, Zhao Zhe was starting to feel afraid. He realized that snow rats weren't the only dangerous mutant creatures out there. If animals were already large in normal times, they must be even more massive in this environment, with terrifyingly increased lethality. It was best to keep a safe distance from them, especially since Zhao Zhe currently lacked the ability to defend himself.

Xiaoxue, who had been briefing Zhao Zhe, abruptly fell silent and gestured for him to be quiet. She then pulled Zhao Zhe into a tight embrace, pressing his head against her chest.

Zhao Zhe had experienced this kind of 'invasion' before. He knew Xiaoxue wasn't just toying with him—this was a clear signal of danger! Xiaoxue's first instinct upon sensing peril was to protect her master.

"Two snow rats!" Xiaoxue whispered. Her exceptional hearing and sense of direction were innate gifts. Zhao Zhe couldn't hear a thing, but she could clearly discern the nature of the threat and its numbers.

"What do we do?" Zhao Zhe inquired.

"Master, there's no need to worry. They're not tracking us; they're merely passing through. If we stay quiet, they'll move on," she reassured him.

"Can we take them out?" Zhao Zhe asked determinedly. Despite his fear of snow rats, he was ready to confront the challenges of this world. To grow, he couldn't forever remain in the shelter of another's arms. Defeating the snow rats would not only hone his survival skills but also provide him with valuable Snow Nuclei and Crystal Hearts. Beyond their monetary value, Zhao Zhe was eager to discover if he could harness the energy within them.

Hearing Zhao Zhe's resolve, Xiaoxue smoothly drew her kukri. "It's possible, but Master will have to face some danger. You'll need to distract the other snow rat for me. These creatures are quick, and handling one is manageable, but two could pose a serious threat."

Zhao Zhe unsheathed his own kukri, confidently stating, "Don't worry, I can hold them off for a few minutes. Let's eliminate them and check for a Crystal Heart!"

Xiaoxue sprang to her feet and leaped into the snow pit. With a piercing whistle, the two snow rats scurried over. Zhao Zhe followed suit, climbing into the pit. The sight of the snow rats barreling toward him like a whirlwind struck a deep-seated fear in his heart. Yet, this fear did nothing to quench his burning desire to grow stronger. Having arrived in this world, he knew he had to adapt to its way of life. Bring it on!

Xiaoxue confronted the largest snow rat head-on, while Zhao Zhe, without a moment's hesitation, brandished his kukri and charged at the other, his battle cry piercing the air. Snow swirled around them as they engaged in a fierce struggle with the mutant rats.

Xiaoxue fought with the skills she had honed to survive in this world. Zhao Zhe, fueled by a deep-seated resentment, fought valiantly. He was determined not to be bullied or to be protected by a young girl as if he were helpless.

Suddenly, a gush of blood showered down upon him. Zhao Zhe had managed to plunge his kukri into the snow rat's neck. But the enraged creature kicked him away before lunging at him again, its jaws aiming for his neck.

As Zhao Zhe was sent flying, he caught a glimpse of Xiaoxue's battle. She was locked in a fierce combat with the other snow rat. In this realm, she was no longer the diminutive superheroine from Earth. Although her strength and speed still surpassed Zhao Zhe's, she was not as overwhelmingly dominant as she had been back home, and in the heat of battle, she couldn't spare any attention for Zhao Zhe's plight.

Facing imminent danger, Zhao Zhe wasted no time. He whipped out his anti-pervert flashlight and thrust it toward the attacking snow rat. A shower of sparks erupted as the rod connected, and the rat, intent on biting Zhao Zhe's neck, was electrocuted and fell to the ground, its body convulsing uncontrollably. Seizing the moment, Zhao Zhe retrieved another kukri from his calf and plunged it into the snow rat's neck as he switched off the flashlight.

His initial aim was for the head, but Zhao Zhe knew his strength might not suffice to penetrate the snow rat's skull in a single strike. So he targeted the major blood vessels in its neck instead. The previous stab had missed the vital spot, but this time, he adjusted his position and a fresh spurt of blood sprayed forth.

As Xiaoxue finished off her snow rat, Zhao Zhe's had also just breathed its last, its hooves still twitching occasionally. Xiaoxue was astonished. "Wow, Master, you killed a snow rat all by yourself?"

Zhao Zhe swelled with pride. "Absolutely. After all, I am a man, and killing a rat is within my capabilities. Now, let's quickly extract its eyeballs and heart."

Zhao Zhe stealthily slipped the anti-pervert flashlight back into his pocket. Without that gadget, he wouldn't have stood a chance at taking down the snow rat on his own.

Xiaoxue's gaze at Zhao Zhe sparkled with admiration, which he found immensely gratifying.

For Xiaoxue, removing eyeballs and hearts was familiar territory; she didn't hesitate to get her hands dirty. Once she cleaned the four bloodied eyeballs with snow, they shone with a crystal-clear brilliance. Zhao Zhe carefully stowed them away in a bag, knowing they were worth a hefty 400,000 yuan.

The hearts of the two snow rats were soon extracted. One appeared unremarkable and was cast aside by Xiaoxue, but Zhao Zhe noticed something special about the other—it was a vibrant, glassy red heart. Unlike ordinary flesh, it couldn't be easily squeezed, and though it seemed not entirely lifeless, it pulsed faintly under the pressure of his fingers. The intricate network of blood vessels within it was clearly visible, resembling a finely crafted piece of art.

"Is this the Crystal Heart?" Zhao Zhe asked, holding the snow rat's heart that had been cleaned with snow. It radiated not a chill, but a warm glow.

"Yes, Master. This heart has undergone a mutation. The energy it contains is different from that of the snow rat's eyeballs. It provides thermal energy to the snow rat's body to combat the cold environment, which is why it's warm. A high-quality Crystal Heart is worth the equivalent of 100 snow nuclei."

With this newfound knowledge, Zhao Zhe realized that now was not the time for further investigation. Snow rats could detect the scent of blood from great distances, prompting him to quickly secure their findings. They needed to make a swift departure from the area.

Continuing their journey, Zhao Zhe stumbled several more times. Since they were tethered together by a rope, his falls also affected Xiaoxue, causing both of them some trouble. After an arduous hour and a half, they reached the lodging spot Xiaoxue had mentioned. From a distance, it appeared to be a dilapidated house, mostly buried under the snow.

Xiaoxue led Zhao Zhe into their temporary shelter. After removing his goggles, Zhao Zhe surveyed the area with a keen eye. The interior was dimly lit, so he switched on his flashlight for a better look. The concrete structure showed significant signs of erosion. A damaged staircase led downward, and aside from the snow that had drifted in, there were bits of corroded metal scattered on the floor. After examining the inside, Zhao Zhe stepped outside for a second glance and confirmed it was indeed a bell tower, indistinguishable from those found on Earth.

"Master, you should stay here while I scout ahead. It's impossible to proceed further down; the stairway could collapse under your weight, which would be extremely dangerous," Xiaoxue cautioned.

Zhao Zhe nodded in agreement. Though there might be things below that piqued his interest or that he desired to find, his life was paramount. Without the ability to ensure his own safety, he knew better than to take unnecessary risks.

Zhao Zhe kept himself busy. He built a wall of snow to shield against the incoming wind and ignited a fire using solid fuel. He filled his canteen with snow, melting it into hot water as he awaited Xiaoxue's return.

They were halfway to their destination, and with the time nearing four in the morning, they would arrive with the daybreak. The completion of their mission was within reach, igniting a fervent excitement in Zhao Zhe's heart.