The afternoon sun was no longer so scorching, carrying a touch of lazy warmth.

Inside the shelter, most people took a short lunch break.

However, Lin Feng changed into a combat suit made of tough animal hides and alloy plates, carried a composite bow on his back, and had a machete and a blood-stained dagger hanging at his waist, preparing to go out alone.

Li Xiangbin was woken up by Xiao Mei while he was fast asleep. He ran to the main building entrance still half asleep, and when he saw Lin Feng's attire, he was immediately wide awake.

"Brother, are you going out? I'll go with you! More people means more protection!" Li Xiangbin's voice was full of urgency.

The sweetness of newlywed life did not diminish his loyalty; on the contrary, it made him cherish his life even more and worry more about Lin Feng's safety.

Lin Feng patted his shoulder, and the strong muscles made Li Xiangbin feel at ease.

"You stay."

Lin Feng's tone left no room for argument: "Your mission is to protect this place, to protect your home. As for the outside world, I'll go and see for myself."

He glanced at Xiaomei behind Li Xiangbin, who was looking at him with a worried expression, and a smile appeared on his lips: "Newlyweds, spend more time with your wife. Making her feel at ease is also one of your tasks."

Li Xiangbin's honest face flushed red instantly. He scratched his head and stopped insisting.

The massive steel gate slowly rose with the creaking of the winch. Lin Feng rode the White Moonlight alone out of the shelter and quickly disappeared into the dense alien jungle.

The women, who were resting in their homes, saw this scene through their windows and felt a mix of emotions.

They were both worried about Lin Feng's safety and deeply admired his strength in venturing into a dangerous world alone.

He was their only support, the anchor of this steel home.

Their hearts will be at peace as long as he returns safe and sound.

Lin Feng walked through the jungle, his steps light yet cautious.

His senses were activated to the extreme, and no sound or movement around him could escape his ears and eyes.

His purpose for this trip was not simply hunting, but a planned resource exploration.

Based on the preliminary information compiled by Su Wanqing, he needed to find several specific plant samples. One was "Sleepy Grass," whose rhizomes contained paralyzing toxins, which could be used to make more effective anesthetic traps.

Another type is "iron vine wood," whose bark has extremely strong toughness and can be used to make better bowstrings and ropes.

Finally, he wanted to explore the swamp east of the shelter, where there was supposedly a type of oily peat that might be a new source of fuel.

An hour later, he found the "sleeping grass" at the foot of a damp cliff.

He carefully dug out several intact specimens and sealed them in specially made animal skin bags.

Just as he was about to leave, a rustling sound came from the bushes beside him.

Lin Feng immediately stopped moving, his body like a fully drawn bow.

The next second, a beast the size of a cheetah, covered in bony plates and with two pairs of scarlet eyes, suddenly pounced out. It was as fast as lightning, and its sharp claws drew a deadly glint in the air.

However, Lin Feng was faster.

Just as the beast lunged into the air, Lin Feng's knife transformed into a silver streak, slicing precisely across the beast's soft belly from bottom to top.

"puff!"

No unnecessary movements, a single, fatal blow.

The beast's body flew several meters due to inertia before crashing heavily to the ground. Its internal organs mixed with blood spilled all over the ground. It twitched a few times and then stopped moving.

Lin Feng flicked the blood off his knife, not even glancing at the corpse.

For him, this level of combat was nothing more than a leisurely stroll after dinner.

He continued deeper and soon found the ironwood and collected enough samples.

By the time he reached the edge of the swamp, the sky was already beginning to darken in the west.

He did not rush in, but collected some soil samples at the edge and carefully observed the swamp's ecosystem with binoculars, noting down the characteristics of several creatures he had never seen before.

The setting sun cast a long shadow over him, and Lin Feng returned home laden with his spoils.

When his familiar figure reappeared on the horizon, Sugar Baby on the watchtower let out an excited cheer.

The massive steel gates opened for him once more, and everyone emerged from their houses to welcome their king's return.

Seeing that Lin Feng was safe and sound and had brought back various unprecedented plants and samples, they all showed genuine, relieved smiles.

As night fell, the shelter was brightly lit.

A bonfire was lit again in the central square, but the atmosphere was completely different from the wedding revelry of the previous night.

Dinner was as sumptuous as ever, but the whole process was quiet and solemn.

At the head of the long table, Lin Feng leisurely enjoyed his food, while Mei Ying squatted at his feet, elegantly licking a small piece of roasted meat.

On either side of the long table, seven women and Li Xiangbin sat upright. Only after Lin Feng gave them a signal did they dare to pick up their utensils and eat in small bites.

This is a silent ritual.

Zhao Delong's death made everyone realize that any act that crosses the line will lead to destruction.

Everything they enjoy—safety, food, and warm shelter—is a gift from the man in the main seat, and can be taken away by him at any time.

After dinner, the women quietly tidied up and then returned to their respective homes.

Li Xiangbin, along with Xiaomei, respectfully bowed to Lin Feng before returning to their cozy little home.

Soon, the entire shelter fell silent, except for Lin Feng's magnificent main building, which remained brightly lit.

Lin Feng did not return to his bedroom, but went alone to the library on the third floor.

The room was still quite empty, with only a few newly made huge desks and bookshelves.

He poured himself a glass of wine made from alien berries, the liquid a deep ruby ​​red in the glass.

He held his wine glass, walked to the huge floor-to-ceiling window, and once again looked down upon his kingdom.

The lights shone from the windows of the seven small buildings, like stars in the night sky.

Those were his people, sleeping peacefully under his protection.

In the distance, the walls and watchtowers outlined their solid silhouettes against the night, while Wangcai and the pack of horned wolves patrolled tirelessly, guarding this tranquility.

Everything was in perfect order, and everything was under his control.

However, as the lion-like sense of satisfaction surged back, an indescribable feeling of loneliness also followed.

He could control the life and death of everyone, plan the future of the world, and enjoy supreme power, yet he had no one with whom he could have an equal dialogue.

Li Xiangbin is a loyal subordinate, but his thinking is too simplistic. Qin Lan and Su Wanqing are intelligent assistants, but their eyes always carry a sense of awe and fear.

He thought of Zhao Delong. He killed him without the slightest hesitation, even with a hint of pleasure.

That was not just eliminating a potential threat, but destroying a symbol of values ​​from the old world that he despised.

What he needs is absolute obedience, not cooperation based on self-interest.

Zhao Delong's death was a cornerstone of the new order, a necessary sacrifice. He had no regrets about it.

He took a sip of the wine, the spicy liquid sliding down his throat, bringing a burning sensation.

He knew this was the price of being a king.

Loneliness is the heaviest jewel in the crown.

He must always remain clear-headed and always stay ahead of everyone else, because if he stops or shows even the slightest weakness, the fragile civilization he has built with his own hands may collapse instantly.

The phantom silently walked to his feet and rubbed against his trouser leg.

Lin Feng lowered his head, picked it up, and stroked its smooth fur. On this cold throne, only this little life, unable to communicate with words, could bring him a trace of pure comfort.

"This world is vast, Phantom."

He spoke softly to the black cat in his arms, as if to himself, "Our journey is still long."

His gaze pierced the night, looking into the endless darkness in the distance. There lay unknown dangers, but also boundless resources and possibilities.

This shelter was just the beginning for him.

He put down his wine glass, walked to his desk, and spread out a huge map made of animal hide.

That was a topographical map of the area surrounding the shelter that he had drawn by hand, based on his experience from several expeditions.

He picked up a charcoal pencil and marked the location of the swamp, and then in another direction, on a range of rolling mountains that he could see in the distance that day, he drew a question mark.

The conquest has only just begun.

Lin Feng didn't sleep that night. He stayed in this future library, studying materials and planning blueprints, until the first hint of dawn appeared on the eastern horizon.

The king never sleeps.