Chapter 71: Wooden Dummy, Medicine Pot, Grinding Stone |
Xia Hong understood exactly what was going through the minds of the Boulder Camp survivors.
Though they had found temporary safety in Great Xia Camp after their own camp's destruction, without explicit approval from him as leader, their status here remained illegitimate - mere guests who could be expelled at any moment.
This left them drowning in insecurity.
Even after learning of the Wood Puppet Abomination's death and their vengeance being served, they dared not celebrate wildly like the Great Xia members.
In the Ice Abyss world, security was both precious and scarce.
Xia Hong's earlier words had given them an anchor in this storm.
"Rest assured," he had declared, "since we've decided to take you in, from now on you're all part of Great Xia. I'll treat everyone equally!"
As Xia Hong walked away, Shi Qing's face still burned with gratitude. Taking a deep breath, he addressed the hundred-plus survivors solemnly:
"I'm a cripple now. Our group doesn't even have a single Lumberjack Realm cultivator - we're dead weight by any measure. For our leader to accept us... such grace could never be repaid even with nine deaths.
All eyes followed Xia Hong's retreating figure as they nodded with grave determination.
.........
Having reassured the Boulder Camp survivors, Xia Hong approached the Smelting Furnace. The sight of the piled coal and iron sent a thrill through him.
[Camp: Great Xia (Level 0)]
[Leader: Xia Hong]
[Population: 341]
[Resources: Wood 1240 Coal 254 Iron 402 Silver 0 Gold 0]
[Constructed Buildings: Smelting Furnace (Level 2)]
[Locked Buildings (8): Wooden Dummy, Bamboo Fence, Marker Stone, Medicine Pot, Yellow Earth, Grinding Stone, Small Wooden Table, Iron Chain]
Wood reserves had exceeded all needs. Unless Xia Hong planned mass production of Concentrated Fire Oil and Small Torches, their current stock would last indefinitely for heating alone.
He'd accepted Luo Ming's gift of coal and iron precisely because gathering enough resources solo to unlock buildings would have been impossible.
While coal deposits were relatively common, as Great Xia's only Digging Realm cultivator, Xia Hong could mine at most 100kg daily. Iron was even scarcer and harder to extract. Accepting Luo Ming's generosity had been the fastest path forward.
Among the eight locked buildings, only the Small Wooden Table and Iron Chain required additional resources. The other six needed just wood, coal and iron in modest amounts - the real resource drain would come during upgrades.
Wooden Dummy: Wood 100 Iron 20
Medicine Pot: Coal 50 Iron 40
Grinding Stone: Coal 60 Iron 30
Marker Stone: Coal 150 Iron 90
Bamboo Fence: 20 Wood 5 Iron per meter (10,000m for upgrade)
Yellow Earth: 200 Wood 20 Coal per square meter (10,000m² for upgrade)
Reviewing the requirements, Xia Hong fell into thought.
Though their exact functions remained unclear, the names provided clues:
- Bamboo Fence: Likely defensive perimeter (too expensive/impractical currently)
- Yellow Earth: Probably for cultivation (similarly prohibitive)
- Wooden Dummy: Martial training equipment
- Medicine Pot: Medical apparatus
- Grinding Stone: Metalworking tool
- Marker Stone: Territorial demarcation
Xia Hong longed to construct all four practical options immediately, but limited resources forced prioritization. The Marker Stone would have to wait.
His hand touched the coal and iron piles as he willed the Wooden Dummy into existence first.
A flash of light birthed a two-meter-tall, hollow-bellied wooden figure beside the furnace, balanced improbably on one leg.
Despite its singular support, the dummy boasted fully carved facial features - even a faint smile.
Thick arms hung naturally at its sides, every joint articulated with iron rivets, muscles realistically defined. Only its wooden complexion and single leg betrayed its artificial nature.
[Wooden Dummy (Level 1)]
Training apparatus. Activated by coal to significantly boost cultivation speed and martial comprehension.
Special Function 1: Records Frost Beast species via blood samples, can morph into any recorded beast at adult strength for sparring.
Special Function 2: Within Smelting Furnace's range, obeys commands for autonomous combat.
Consumption: 5 coal/hour
Upgrade: 3000 Wood 6000 Iron
"Unbelievable..." Xia Hong's breath caught at the dummy's description.
Enhanced cultivation. Deeper martial insights. Transformable training partner. Autonomous combat capability.
Each function alone would be extraordinary - together they defied reason.
After steadying himself, Xia Hong summoned the Grinding Stone next.
More resources vanished as another flash materialized a half-meter rectangular black stone near the dummy.
[Grinding Stone (Level 1)]
Shapeable mold for metalworking. Can forge weapons from 10-fold to 1000-fold refined.
Special Function: Absorbs Frost Beast blood to craft beast-suppressing arms.
Upgrade: 5000 Coal 10000 Iron
Another treasure!
Grinning, Xia Hong completed the trio with the Medicine Pot.
Emerald light birthed a half-meter-wide cauldron beside the stone, its surface etched with mysterious patterns that released soothing fragrance.
[Medicine Pot (Level 1)]
Alchemical apparatus. Analyzes item properties upon insertion, automatically logging medicinal ingredients.
Special Function: Generates recipes from logged materials. Add water and heat following formulas to produce medicines.
Consumption: 20 coal/hour (brewing), variable for identification
Upgrade: 20000 Wood 20000 Coal 10000 Iron + 10 recorded formulas
Xia Hong exhaled shakily. Each revelation today surpassed the last.
This unassuming "Medicine Pot" might be the most valuable yet.
Automatic identification. Formula generation. Simplified brewing.
Medicine!
Without this, Xia Hong doubted Great Xia would ever have accessed proper treatment.
In survival-focused micro-camps like theirs, injuries meant endurance or death - no middle ground.
Now they could develop pharmaceuticals with minimal effort. Continuous item submissions would yield ever more formulas.
And if healing draughts were possible... what about strength-enhancing elixirs?
But the pot's staggering consumption rates and upgrade requirements gave pause.
"20 coal per hour... astronomical upgrade costs..." Xia Hong murmured. "Even the system recognizes your worth."