The purpose was to keep those in the base vigilant and mindful of danger.
At the same time, to make them understand.
Their current comfortable life was paid for with the blood and flesh of many others.
Lest they become too comfortable in their safe environment and start believing that all is well with the world.
Self-deception would make them numb and naive, potentially giving rise to thoughts they shouldn't have.
---
When Yun Xiaoxiao returned to the base with Big Beauty and its followers, they immediately became the center of attention.
Everyone was shocked to see so many zoo animals at once.
These were the kind of animals that would normally be kept behind iron bars due to their aggressive nature.
Yet now they were quietly queuing up, following behind their small base leader, moving forward slowly step by step?!
It was absolutely incredible!
The scene was both adorable and terrifying at the same time.
Yun Xiaoxiao paid little attention to everyone's surprised and curious gazes.
She had anticipated such a reaction before bringing Big Beauty and the others back.
The reason she didn't simply store them in her space
Was because many people knew of their existence, and having them suddenly disappear would seem unreasonable.
So, she led them to the hillside.
There was a large meadow behind the cottage, which she thought would be perfect for them to live.
After settling everything, Yun Xiaoxiao finally returned to her room.
As soon as she closed the door, she entered her space.
She hadn't been in there for a while.
Upon entering, she encountered Big White who was huffing and puffing while carrying baskets.
The baskets were full of fresh tangerines.
Yun Xiaoxiao casually took one and tasted it.
Hmm, quite sweet!
"Keep up the good work, Big White, I believe in you~"
Yun Xiaoxiao winked at Big White, her eyes curved in a smile.
Big White paused for two seconds, lowered its head, and continued huffing and puffing with the baskets.
Yun Xiaoxiao ate the tangerine while looking at the space packed full of supplies.
And in the open area, there were countless livestock.
Also...
A large patch of green fruit seedlings.
The seedlings were covered in small red fruits.
They were only about the size of a fingertip, similar to strawberries but different.
They were some kind of small fruit she couldn't name.
These small fruits could enhance abilities like evolution liquid.
She had discovered these when meeting Liang Chao's group at the foot of the mountain while picking up Xie Youcai.
At that time, Yun Xiaoxiao had taken many of them.
Initially, there were only seedlings, but after this period, they had grown so many small fruits.
She immediately squatted down and picked one to taste.
It didn't have much flavor, but it wasn't unpleasant either.
She ate many in succession.
Gradually, she could feel a warm current flowing through her body.
However, possibly due to her already high power level, these fruits didn't have much effect on her.
Still, it was better than nothing.
Besides, she could sell them, couldn't she?
Given the current flow rate in the space, the fruit harvest would definitely be substantial.
In high spirits, Yun Xiaoxiao summoned the self-service shopping machine.
The zombie battle had brought her quite a harvest.
The crystal cores were stored in gunny sacks.
Some were obtained by them, others were traded for evolution liquid and supplies from other bases.
She threw them one by one into the points conversion hole.
She became numb from the repetitive motion, yawning repeatedly.
However, watching the points rapidly increase kept her drowsiness at bay.
"Big White, bring a small stool and table."
"Big White, get some fried chicken and fries."
"Oh right, Big White, don't forget some fruit."
"Big White..."
Big White diligently prepared everything Yun Xiaoxiao requested.
Yun Xiaoxiao also took out her tablet and stand, playing a comedy movie she had previously downloaded.
She ate, watched, and mechanically threw crystal cores.
Multitasking at its finest.
Due to the large number of crystal cores, it wasn't until the movie was almost over that all of them were converted into points.
Looking at the point count on the display screen, Yun Xiaoxiao smiled with satisfaction.
She immediately clicked the base upgrade button.
[Ding! Congratulations host, the base has been upgraded again!
Level One Aerial Defense!
From now on, an invisible barrier will automatically form above the entire base.
Any objects that could fall into the base from above will be automatically intercepted.
If anything launches an attack on the base from the airspace, the system will launch a counter-attack.]
Yun Xiaoxiao: !!
How amazing is that?!
"So does that mean those mutated flying creatures can't fly into the base anymore?"
[That's correct, host.]
Yun Xiaoxiao was shocked.
Her biggest worry was now resolved!
"Can rain still fall through?"
[Yes, naturally occurring wind, rain, snow, and sunlight can still pass through normally.]
Hearing the system's words, Yun Xiaoxiao frowned.
It would have been better if it could block rain too.
There would be acid rain later...
Oh well.
This was good enough already.
You can't expect everything to be perfect.
As for the acid rain, they'd deal with it when the time came.
Worst case scenario, they could just have everyone stay indoors.
After upgrading the base, Yun Xiaoxiao converted all the crystal cores into evolution liquid.
Only then did she lie down to rest, yawning continuously.
A month passed after returning to the base.
During this month, the weather became even more severe.
Now, if people wanted to go outside, they had to wrap themselves in multiple layers.
The cold wind and flying snow stung their faces.
Every early morning in the base, someone would drive a snow plow to clear the roads.
If they didn't plow, people's entire calves would sink into the snow with each step.
Even taking one step would be extremely difficult.
Xie Youcai and his team had already completed their mining task.
Jin Xiaoqing and her brother had also brought their parents to the base.
Originally, their parents didn't want to come.
But the extreme cold weather was too harsh, and Jin Xiaoqing's mother had fallen seriously ill from the cold.
So finally, they had no choice but to come down from the mountain to Yun City.
After treatment from Ye Shuyuan and others, Jin Xiaoqing's mother gradually recovered her health.
Notably, among the group that came with Earth Digger, there were several doctors.
There were internal medicine doctors who specialized in treating colds and fevers, as well as surgeons who treated injuries and trauma.
Presumably, they had also encountered that unscrupulous leader when they were desperate,
And were forced by circumstances to do things against their conscience.
Despite the harsh weather, Yun Xiaoxiao and the others hadn't slackened.
They built a large indoor sports arena.
Every morning, everyone in the base would be taken there for training.
Lu Chen and Xiao Feng would be responsible for teaching combat techniques.
Despite the cold weather, everyone would work up a sweat.
The feeling was incredibly refreshing.
Of course, it was also incredibly exhausting.
