In the afterglow of the setting sun, the system appeared, oblivious to the romantic atmosphere.

[System Notification: The dungeon is nearing its halfway point. Given that only 3% of players have progressed more than 5000 miles, an exception will be made to allow for vehicle adjustments and resource replenishment.]

[Surviving players, please prepare in ten minutes. After ten minutes, you will have 30 minutes to modify vehicle blueprints, 30 seconds to obtain fuel packs, and 3 minutes to obtain supply packs. This offer ends when the time is up.]

[Additionally, this game allows players to compete for golden cocoons. For each intact golden cocoon a player submits, their score increases by 30 at the end of the instance.]

The system's temporary notification gave all survivors hope.

At the start, a snow-covered mountain blocked two-thirds of the players, and many people made progress by walking.

Sixty days, ten thousand miles—under such conditions, trying to complete the journey is simply a pipe dream.

However, things took an unexpected turn, and the system surprisingly became human.

Shi Jinzhe muttered, "One cocoon is worth thirty points, almost equal to the points given in a round of the game. The system values ​​golden cocoons very much."

The golden cocoon must be something of vital importance to this world. Even when the entire island of Azure Island was almost wiped out, the system didn't make an exception. Why is it like this time?

The world can't possibly fall apart just because the Golden Butterfly is gone.

After thinking about it seriously, Shi Jinzhe realized it wasn't impossible.

This round of the game has emphasized the importance of the golden cocoon from the very beginning, especially the requirement that it must be arrived at least fifty days in advance, with the optimal arrival time being the fifty-fifth day.

Fifty to sixty days is the time for the golden cocoon to emerge, and fifty-five days is the optimal time, so it's worth a bonus.

He took out the golden cocoon and tapped the wooden box. "I didn't realize you were so capable."

Shekh took the wooden box from his hand and looked at the golden cocoon as if it were a piece of shining gold.

"Then we have seven, so you can get an extra 210 points."

"Yes, this is a bumper harvest."

He has no shortage of money now; his points are all his lifeblood. Looking at these numbers, Shi Jinzhe feels very at ease.

"I'll draw the cars again in a bit. You go and get the supplies, and take as many as you like."

He has no shortage of supplies, but no one will refuse supplies and vehicle adjustments.

The system's notification came at a very opportune time, especially during a period when their drinking water was dwindling.

Having planned out the areas to be modified, Shi Jinzhe immediately began revising and drawing on the old blueprints provided by the system as soon as the time was up.

Before Shekh went to get the supplies and fuel packs, he also told her to remember to take plenty of water.

With all preparations complete, thirty-three minutes and thirty seconds later, a car with its exterior repaired, new tires installed, and a rooftop tent added rolled off the production line.

The vehicle is equipped with a series of items to enhance comfort, including a waterproof tarpaulin, side curtains, fabric covers, fixing hooks, ropes, a larger toolbox, and a spare tire.

Looking at the hidden roof tent installed above the carriage, Scherrer emptied the shelves, put all his frequently used items into the carriage, and made room for water.

She found the rooftop tent novel and went up to tinker with it after dinner, figuring out how to use it.

Shi Jin didn't disturb her and went to check the new car.

He carefully checked everything inside and out to make sure there were no problems, then returned to the driver's seat to look at the map.

This desert covers a large area on the map; it would take at least a week to get out of it.

Once you leave the desert, the Golden Butterfly will light up the map for the third stage.

Snowfields, Gobi Desert, grasslands, rainforests, wetlands, rocky hills, barren lands—I wonder what's left in the final stage.

Apply a little nectar to the outer shell of the golden cocoon, and Shi Jinzhe coaxes it like a child, saying, "Find a road that won't let the car get stuck, it's okay if it takes a little longer."

The golden cocoon vibrated in response, its light growing brighter and brighter, enough to function as a low-wattage light bulb in the night, so that no lights needed to be turned on.

After drinking a glass of lemonade, Shi Jinzhe got out of the driver's seat and looked up.

Schech took down the tarpaulin from the rooftop tent, leaving only a 20-centimeter-wide fence.

She lay on the roof of the car, with clean cushions and sheets beneath her, leaning against thick pillows, admiring the stars.

On a clear, windless night, with a vast expanse of stars, Shi Jinzhe tapped on his car, ignoring the dangling ladder: "Give me a hand, I can't get up here."

With a flick of his long, drooping tail, his perspective suddenly rose, and in the blink of an eye, he was sitting down next to the car.

The roof was more comfortable than I expected. The temperature in the desert here at night was around 20 degrees Celsius, which was quite cool.

Shi Jin leaned against her and looked up at the stars with Sher: "Which one caught your eye?"

“Every single one.” Schech pointed to a very bright one. “There is also a star as bright as this in my world, and it has been with me for many years.”

"Perhaps the one you are looking at is it, and it is still with you."

"Not one world, no."

Shi Jinzhe unwrapped two compressed fructose candies, giving one to Sher and keeping the other for himself. Only after the sweet taste filled his mouth did he ask, "Do you know what a light-year is?"

Without waiting for Schechner's reply, he answered himself, "It's the distance light travels in a vacuum in a year. The light you see now was emitted by this star countless years ago."

Shekh didn't quite understand what he was trying to say, and tilted his head without saying a word.

"Its light traveled across the universe to see you, covering such a long distance. Just consider it as such, and cherish it."

"As you said, what I see is only its past. I don't know who is watching it now. I don't want a replacement. Every star is unique, and mine cannot be replaced."

Unexpectedly, Shekh would say such a thing. Shi Jinzhe stared at her blankly for two seconds, then laughed and lay back.

I just wanted to comfort her, but I ended up getting a philosophy lesson instead.

"What are you laughing at?"

"You're laughing at me because I'm sure I won't be replaced in the future; I'm unique."

“…You’ve thought long-term.” That was all Shekh could say. “You won’t die from an accident; if you die, it will be the natural end of your lifespan.”

Shi Jinzhe didn't respond to that, but instead asked another question: "I've had a question for a long time, but I feel it might not be appropriate to ask it."

"explain."

"How old are you."

“Quite young,” Shekh replied instantly.

"...It's fine." This bland reply was as good as saying nothing at all.

Shekh patted him on the shoulder and said, "Give me another candy."

Shi Jinzhe put the candy directly to his mouth, and Sheh bit into it, but he didn't take his hand away: "When will you be able to control the venom?"

"have no idea."

These two fangs always fail her at crucial moments, and she's helpless.

"Can you tell me how you usually put your fangs in your mouth?"

Shi Jinzhe still remembers those two teeth, which were long enough to pierce his palm, several centimeters long. No matter how he thought about it, it was easy for Shekh to accidentally hurt himself if he put them in his mouth.

"Fold it in." Shekh shifted his sitting position to face Shi Jinzhe, opening his mouth to show him his teeth.

The two tooth tips folded backward into the oral cavity and were well hidden by a thin membrane.

Because of Shi Jinzhe's gaze, the two venomous fangs seemed ready to spring out.

"...I'm just taking a look, I haven't done anything yet, don't get excited."

Shi Jinzhe was very close, and he could clearly see the venom secreted on it.

"Why don't your teeth disappear when you become a human?"

He won't be able to see her eyes or kiss her lips for the rest of his life, will he?

Shekh raised his chin and pushed his hand away.

"You're like a walking encyclopedia of questions. But there aren't that many questions; it just can't go back to normal. If you really want to, then wait until you don't want to live anymore, and I'll grant your wish."