While acquiring E-grade magic creature cores didn't necessarily mean facing off against wolf packs, they weren't exactly easy to come by.
Magic creatures were still magic creatures.
Take the previously mentioned horned rabbit, for instance. Although its attack power wasn't particularly high, its movement speed was incredible.
It could be said that every E-grade magic creature posed a challenge for the current survivors.
Consequently, the collection of upgrade materials Lan Qingyou needed was progressing slowly.
She didn't mind, however. Since the survivors had these items in their possession, it was only a matter of time before she acquired them all.
With that in mind, she didn't linger at the desk.
After purchasing another bucket, she flew to the stream with two buckets in hand and returned with them filled. This way, she wouldn't have to risk going out for water again tonight.
Once finished, Lan Qingyou used her Collection Technique for the third time in an hour, then took out the bedsheets she had just acquired to spread over the mattress. She lay down on the bed and began reading the books she had collected today.
After a quick scan, she discovered that apart from 《Basic Symbology》 and 《Basic Drafting》, the others were mostly functional reference books.
Some were even just journals where the authors wrote whatever came to mind.
But Lan Qingyou wasn't picky.
Knowing her physical condition was far inferior to others, she possessed a greater thirst and curiosity for the knowledge of this world than most.
For someone without legs, everything in this fantastical magical world offered her infinite possibilities.
Even if her legs couldn't move, couldn't be controlled, and couldn't walk like a normal person’s...
As long as she had knowledge, even if she stayed indoors forever, it wouldn't negatively impact her life.
This was especially true given the massive success of her Crude Mana Potions, which proved that her accidental initial success was the right path to follow.
Learning the knowledge of this world had naturally become the most correct thing to do.
She wasn't a monster chasing after 'correctness'; she was just an ordinary person who wanted to live a little better.
At least...
At least she wouldn't be like before—left at the mercy of others, without even the slightest ability to resist.
However, as Lan Qingyou began to study 《Basic Symbology》 in earnest, a hint of awkwardness appeared on her face.
Symbology focused primarily on the various symbols of this world.
These symbols could be used as markers for rituals, or as components for constructing magic circles. Naturally, this included symbols for alchemy circles as well.
For example, the sun represented 'gold,' the moon represented 'silver,' an upright triangle represented 'fire,' and an inverted triangle represented 'water.' An hourglass stood for time, and a hooked M symbol represented 'mixing.'
Beyond those, there were symbols for 'filtering,' 'dissolving,' 'boiling,' and so on.
All of these were necessary for alchemy circles.
In fact, Albert's handbook also contained records concerning alchemy circles.
However, because there were no diagrams, Lan Qingyou didn't know how to draw them. In the end, she could only use burning wood as a substitute. It now seemed that the function of an alchemy circle wasn't just limited to controlling fire; it also involved things like internal circulation.
But she couldn't blame herself.
After all, compared to the people of this world, she was essentially illiterate.
Meanwhile, 《Basic Drafting》 was, to put it simply, a guide on how to draw these symbols and how to draw circles freehand.
Lan Qingyou found this quite engrossing, even using a piece of charcoal to sketch on a wooden board from time to time.
After all, drawing was one of her strengths. Her father had once praised her, saying she could become an artist in the future.
Lan Qingyou lost track of time as she read.
The light from the magic lamp on the wall flickered slowly, and the night outside grew deeper. The sounds of insects and frogs echoed from the forest, creating a serene and cozy scene that felt wrong to disturb.
Beep— Beep— Beep— Beep—
Just as Lan Qingyou was becoming lost in her book, a crisp sound rang out from the desk nearby.
This was the notification sound Lan Qingyou had set for when her item procurement was complete.
As long as the quantity she had set for an item was reached, it would alert her and continue to ring until turned off.
Is the procurement finished?
Startled from her reading, Lan Qingyou stood up slowly.
She had originally thought it would be the food, but to her surprise, it was the magic creature cores!
Checking the records, she saw that while three had been traded by different individuals, the other seven had all been provided by Li Huai.
Li Huai... wasn't that the person who sold her the kerosene lighter yesterday?
It seemed he likely had some kind of powerful combat talent.
Lan Qingyou nodded, then eagerly clicked the button to upgrade the shelter.
With a soft 'ding,' a window popped up on the interface.
“Let's see... Please choose an upgrade direction?”
“1. Triple the size of the Tree Hole Shelter.”
“2. Double the size of the Tree Hole Shelter and add a second floor.”
A second floor!?
Was there even a choice?
Back when those two scumbags threw her from the hospital into the slums, she could only lie on a hard wooden board and watch the distant skyscrapers as she waited to die. At that time, she had always thought about how wonderful it would be to stand at the top of a tall building and look down upon the masses.
Now that she had a little home she could call her own, she would naturally go as high as possible.
Without the slightest hesitation, Lan Qingyou clicked option two.
As her finger pressed down, the entire shelter began to shake violently.
If Lan Qingyou didn't have a ghostly nature, she probably would have been shaken until she was dizzy and disoriented.
Once the shaking stopped, Lan Qingyou saw the three walls of the shelter magically expand outward, and even the ceiling became higher.
In the blink of an eye, the tree hole had expanded from its original twenty square meters to forty.
In a corner of the tree hole, a rope ladder made of vines appeared, leading to an opening for the second floor.
“After such a big commotion, it’s not even a proper staircase.”
Looking at the vine ladder, Lan Qingyou felt a slight pang of disappointment, but a rope ladder was actually quite appropriate for her.
At least it saved quite a bit of indoor space, didn't it?
She reached out, gently gripped the vine ladder, and with a little effort, floated slowly up to the second floor.
Just like the first floor, those strange patterns extended into the second-floor room.
The area was roughly twenty square meters, similar to the original first floor. In a sense, it really had tripled the total area, just across different levels.
Lan Qingyou was very satisfied with the space. The lack of windows was a minor flaw, but for a bedroom, it didn't really matter.
After a quick inspection, Lan Qingyou immediately decided on the functions for the two rooms.
The first floor would be the workshop, and the second floor would be her small bedroom.
After all, there were no windows on the second floor; performing alchemy there would be like trying to suffocate herself.
However, the opening to the second floor was a bit small. The mattress probably wouldn't fit through.
Returning to the first floor, Lan Qingyou began to think about how to transport the mattress up. It was then that she noticed there was still more on the panel on the desk.
“...”
Dammit, I wasn't paying attention!
Lan Qingyou scratched her head awkwardly.
“Let's see what else is there.”
Rate on N.U.
