The scalding sand kept burning Xi Xi's feet, and even inevitably got into her shoes, so that every step she took was accompanied by indescribable heat and discomfort.

The air she inhaled felt like scorching flames, making each breath unbearably hot.

In this world dominated by heatwaves, distant scenes become hazy and illusory, as if gently swayed by an invisible hand, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, sometimes hidden, sometimes visible.

The outlines of the dunes became unfamiliar and blurred under the caress of the heat, and the green shadows in the distance were like a mirage, both enticing to approach and inadvertently disappearing into nothingness, making it impossible to distinguish between reality and illusion.

If this is a mirage, then it's all for naught, and Xi Xi is well aware of the possibility of this happening.

But she also knew that if she didn't take the first step, there would never be any other possibilities.

Xi Xi drank some more water in large gulps, the sweltering heat making her unable to speak.

She frowned, her eyes narrowed to slits, straining to see what lay ahead. Every step forward felt like walking on scorching hot coals. Xi Xi gritted her teeth and persevered.

Finally, the green shadows were almost within reach. Xi Xi's heart raced involuntarily; she had already prepared herself for all possibilities, even the worst.

But as she got closer, she couldn't help but feel a mix of trepidation and anticipation.

As the distance closed, the green became clearer and more real.

Xi Xi's eyes widened in disbelief at what she was witnessing. Only when she stood truly before this verdant landscape did she realize with a startled joy that the lush, vibrant scene before her was not a mirage or a dream, but a real oasis!

Against the backdrop of this desolate, tedious, and boundless desert, it exudes an alluring charm, like a paradise on earth.

Xi Xi could clearly see rolling shrubs, lush forests, and even verdant meadows, dotted with colorful wildflowers, creating a beautiful and peaceful scene.

Scorched by the blazing sun, Xi Xi couldn't wait to step into the lush forest.

The trees here are towering and come in all shapes and sizes. Some trunks meander and twist like giant pythons, while others have intertwined branches and leaves that resemble a natural maze.

They all seem to be silently telling mysterious stories to the world, making people want to get closer and find out what's going on.

However, as they ventured deeper into the area, Xi Xi gradually felt a sense of tension and unease.

She heard birds flapping their wings and taking flight from the jungle, and heard the distant cries of monkeys rising and falling... These chaotic sounds intertwined, sounding particularly eerie in the silent forest.

Xi Xi felt something was off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

With mixed feelings, Xi Xi walked along, her eyes constantly scanning the path she had come from, memorizing the route she would take.

Exhaustion surged from her bones like a tide, quickly spreading throughout her body. She had no choice but to choose a large tree with a thick trunk, walk to its shade, sit down, and rest for a while.

Xi Xi ate several candies to replenish her energy, then got up and touched the rough tree trunk. Suddenly remembering something, she began to excitedly collect wood and stone.

These can all be made into stone tools for trading! Thinking this, Xi Xi didn't mind being tired anymore. She mustered her strength and used her light-bladed sickle to chop down a tall and thick tree.

The felled trees crashed to the ground with a loud thud, raising clouds of dust. Xi Xi bent down and picked up the ordinary wood that had automatically decomposed into its original form.

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... eight..." She counted them one by one. Huh? Such a big tree only has eight pieces of wood? This... doesn't seem quite right, does it?

Indeed, a game is just a game. Regardless of the height or size of the trees, the amount of wood obtained from each tree remains constant. Xi Xi reluctantly took out a bag from her purse and threw all the wood into it.

Then she picked a relatively small, slender tree, swiftly chopped it down, and counted the pieces again. Sure enough, there were still eight pieces of wood.

In that case, Xi Xi didn't want to put in too much effort. She wandered around, specifically choosing to cut down small trees with small canopies that received less sunlight and looked somewhat underdeveloped.

Just then, Xi Xi vaguely heard a clear and melodious sound of water. The sound seemed to have some kind of magic, attracting her involuntarily to walk towards the source of the sound.

Xi Xi put the last piece of wood into the sack, and she stepped lightly into the dense grass, carefully avoiding the thorns and spikes that might hide danger.

The lush, drooping branches blocked her view. Xi Xi deftly raised her light-bladed sickle and made a half-circle cut, snapping the vines and sending them falling to her feet.

The sound of flowing water grew louder and louder, until finally, the view opened up before them. Following the sound, they saw a winding stream flowing gently through the woods. Xi Xi wiped the sweat from her brow with one hand and dragged a burlap sack with the other, quickly walking to the stream.

She squatted down, put down the sack, and gently scooped up a handful of cool stream water with both hands.

The water was so pure and transparent, like crystal, without any impurities.

Xi Xi splashed water on her face and immediately felt a cool sensation. The unbearable heat vanished, and she felt refreshed.

Xi Xi looked at her hands. They fit so well that she almost forgot she was wearing feather gloves.

Wearing light feather gloves, I could feel the coolness of the stream on my hands, but I couldn't feel any wetness at all; not a single drop of water got on my hands.

"This waterproof ability is truly unparalleled!" Xi Xi couldn't help but exclaim, thinking that these gloves might also be useful for cooking and washing dishes.

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