[Intimate Touch]
One of Li En's earliest acquired talents, its function was to copy the skills and traits of others.
Through a kiss, he could replicate the target's skills and hidden racial traits.
Through deeper "exchange", he could copy their innate talents.
However, he could only hold one copied skill or talent at a time. Each new replication would overwrite the previous one.
If Li En copied Hill's [Accelerated Construction] talent, he could reduce build time by an additional 80% on top of the existing 80% reduction.
"Right now, what we lack most is resources. Hill's talent alone is enough for construction needs," Li En mused.
"Tomorrow, I'll scout the cave the yak-folk mentioned. Maybe there are other resources there."
For now, he chose to copy Hill's healing skill—[Pain, Pain, Go Away].
Li En lay on the bed, Hill softly asleep beside him, tear streaks still faintly visible on her cheeks.
He reopened the chat channel he'd skimmed before dinner, checking for new information.
As night fell and snow began to drift down, temperatures plummeted—and so did the survivor count.
The number flickered downward relentlessly, each drop representing lives snuffed out in the cold.
The regional chat was flooded with pleas:
Those begging to go home.
Those begging for warm clothing.
The system's starter pack included medical supplies and bread, so starvation wasn't an immediate threat.
But surviving in this world… wasn't easy.
Amid the chaos, Li En noticed a trend—smart players were forming factions, recruiting through private chat groups.
His inbox was already full of invitations:
Wang Xiong: "I'm Wang Xiong of the Wang Consortium. We're assembling an elite team. If you have valuable skills, join us for maximum growth."
Pro Gamer: "Only accepting top-tier players. No dead weight."
Cao Qing: "Join us, and your family's safety will be guaranteed. Focus on expansion—we'll handle security."
Warm Lamb: "Sisters! Join our 'Love & Unity Society'! Let's overcome this together~"
Teaming up was a smart move for those struggling to survive—but Li En had no interest. Trust was a luxury in this world.
Scrolling further, he saw most players were barely scraping by:
Huddled in their starter huts.
Surviving on system-granted bread.
Those with family/friends had a slight advantage in labor.
Many were stuck at the "hire workers" phase, too afraid to spend food reserves on extra hands. Their progress would be slow.
Next, he checked the [Trading] function. Only a handful of listings existed, most absurdly priced—like trading basic resources for food.
"This system is useful though," Li En noted. "Instant trading across distances… more efficient than any merchant guild. I'll exploit this later."
Finding nothing else noteworthy, he closed the system window and let sleep take him.
Morning, Day 2
Sunlight spilled into the room as Hill adjusted Li En's attire. She'd repurposed yesterday's wolf pelts into insulated clothing—warm yet flexible for combat.
Her B-rank [Maid] talent handled daily needs flawlessly, though mass-producing gear or gourmet meals was beyond her.
Before leaving, Li En kissed Hill's cheek. Together, they stepped out to greet the new day.
The yak-folk were already laboring away. "Good morning, Lord! Lady Hill!"
Li En checked the system:
[Newbie Protection Period Remaining: 5 Days 16 Hours]
[Current Temperature: -10°C]
[Resources: Raw Meat (17), Food (4), Wood (40), Stone (13)]
[Warning: Night snowfall will further drop temperatures.]
Camp Status
[Existing Buildings]
Lv.3 Camp Bonfire
Lv.1 Lord's Cabin
Lv.1 Worker's Hut
Lv.1 Canteen
Lv.1 Infirmary
Lv.1 Dormitory
Lv.1 Hunter's Lodge
Shelter and food were stable, but workers and upgrade materials were scarce. Normally, recruits could be obtained by:
Purchasing slaves from traders.
Hiring in cities.
Rescuing abducted survivors.
Attracting refugees via camp upgrades.
But in this frozen wasteland? All options were limited.
Li En focused on the bonfire:
[Camp Bonfire: Lv.3]
Effect: +10°C to +20°C within 20m.
Population: 6/12
Fuel Consumption: 3 Wood/15 mins.
Upgrade Requirements:
Build a Coal Mine
Wood (40), Stone (20), Coal (10)
Unlocks refugee attraction after upgrade.
Coal was the missing key.
"Aminos," Li En called.
The yak-man stumbled over. "Yes, my lord?"
"Take us to the cave you found yesterday."
The Cave
The entrance wasn't far from camp—a gaping maw in the mountainside, unguarded by monsters.
As they approached, the system flashed:
[Coal Deposit (Unclaimed)]
"Perfect. Claim this, and the bonfire upgrade is ours."
Wind howled from within the darkness.
"No danger alerts… Even if there are monsters, they're likely low-level."
As a veteran player, Li En felt zero fear.
"Do you know who I am? The 'Shadowblight Monarch' of the Abyssal Continent!"
"You understand nothing of a returning player's dominance!"
He clapped Aminos' shoulder with a grin.
"Aminos—you're up first."
Aminos: "…Huh?!"