Gu Ning didn't have to wait long. The final item surfaced quickly, but a glance at its faint white glow dashed his hopes—only a common-quality item.
He inspected it:
> Temperature Regulator Blueprint (Common):
> A device that maintains stable temperatures. Use your imagination—what could it achieve?
> Crafting Requirements: Iron×20, Copper×10, Electronic Components×5
Huh? Gu Ning's eyes widened. He'd seen this before.
He opened his Personal Shop. This week's featured item was indeed a Temperature Regulator, priced at 500 White Stone. He'd noticed it earlier but skipped it as non-urgent.
So this is the key to surviving the disaster? But it only preserved temperature—it couldn't actively cool things down.
"Wait—new items added?" Gu Ning spotted a fresh listing: Ice Blocks, 10 White Stone each.
He bought one. It materialized as a half-meter cube.
Now I get it. Staring at the ice, he understood the system's intended survival path:
1. Buy ice to lower temperatures
2. Use the regulator to maintain the cool
3. Repeat as ice melts
But there was a catch. The regulator merely slowed melting, meaning constant ice purchases were essential to avoid lethal heat. Worse, one block wouldn't suffice—this was death by a thousand financial cuts.
Gu Ning suddenly grinned. I know Frost Magic. I could sell ice and profit!
Undercut the shop by 1-2 White Stone per block, and people would flock to buy. With endless seawater as raw material? Pure profit.
The realization made him laugh aloud. Upgrading his ship might not take 5-6 days after all!
Wensa called him for breakfast. He ate quickly.
"No fishing today," Gu Ning announced. "We hunt. Now." His White Stone reserves couldn't even craft one regulator.
The crew agreed. He submerged the ship.
With Li Le as navigator, Gu Ning handed steering duties to Wensa and gathered two laborers. At the ship's edge, he cast Frost Magic, freezing seawater into shop-sized ice blocks.
"Store these in the empty cabin," he ordered. Each block meant 9 White Stone—he'd sell them cheaper than the shop. A fair deal,he thought.
For two hours, while Wensa hunted, Gu Ning mass-produced ice. When mana drained, he rested; once recovered, he resumed.
Such wasted time yesterday, he chided himself. I saw the regulator in the shop—why didn't I connect the dots? Need sharper instincts.
As the ship surfaced, he checked his stock.
"How many blocks?"
"Exactly 100, sir."
100 blocks × 9 Stone = 900 Stone.Solid—equal to a hunting haul. Ten hours daily? 4,500 Stone! His mind raced. Ship upgrade in two days!
He sent others to fish while Wensa handed him the hunt's spoils. He sold base materials, keeping three items.
Settling in his lounge chair, he pulled Wensa onto his lap. Fishing's meager income wasn't worth her time anymore—her company mattered more.
Huohuo curled into Wensa's arms.
Gu Ning examined the items, frowning at the first: yet another Commoner Summon Card (Common). He summoned the laborer dismissively.
"Trouble?" Wensa smoothed his brow.
"Nothing serious," he smiled. But the summon card surplus felt ominous—likely tied to the weekend's "Dual Domain War." This won't be a skirmish. Two thousand ships clashing... He shivered with anticipation.
The second item:
> Quarry Blueprint (Common):
> No territory thrives without a quarry. How else will you build mighty walls?
> Build Cost:Wood×300, Iron×20
Essential for the settlement.
The third was an Iron Pot Blueprint. He used it immediately—with more laborers, separate cooking would soon be needed.
After organizing supplies, Gu Ning headed to the ice-storage cabin alone. Wensa stayed behind, playing with Huohuo on the deck.
Inside, he bought the Temperature Regulator from his shop.
The device was a white-and-blue rectangle peppered with vents emitting cold mist.
What powers this thing? he wondered, placing it centrally before returning to ice production.
Monotonous work. "Wensa, grab drinks and fruit," he called.
She returned swiftly with refreshments—followed by Molly.
Why is Molly here? Gu Ning paused, puzzled.