Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Trophy Mission (Bonus Chapter)

"The cold erosion hasn’t ended yet?"

Bai Cheng was startled. Normally, all Silent Night anomalies would completely vanish by dawn.

But now, the snowstorm outside the window showed no signs of weakening. In fact, it had grown even more violent.

"What the hell..." Bai Cheng pursed her lips. She was certain that the cold erosion was tied to the abnormal weather.

Which meant that even during the day, the effects of the cold still lingered.

"Do you have to be this disgusting?"

By now, the sky had fully brightened, and Bai Cheng could see the true state of the icy mountains outside.

Towering snow-capped peaks loomed in all directions, blotting out the sky. The train tracks coiled around their bases like serpents.

The blizzard obscured most of the view, leaving nothing but a vast expanse of white.

There was no vegetation, no signs of life. There was only an eerie, lifeless silence.

The snowy terrain was far more desolate than she had imagined.

"Not even a single tree..." Bai Cheng frowned. "Then how are we supposed to gather fuel for the train?"

She suddenly recalled the dying words of that Infinite Raider. The journey was indeed becoming more and more difficult.

Seeing that even daytime offered no resources to collect in these mountains, Bai Cheng grew even more determined to hurry onward.

Maybe the next terrain will be better?

But Chi Yan hadn’t returned yet, so they couldn’t depart.

She sent Yu Nian a message: "Resources here are scarce. The snowstorm persists even during the day. I plan to push forward at full speed."

After all, there was nothing worth developing here. However, the other party immediately replied with a string of question marks.

Yu Nian: "??? Huh? There’s no snow here. The weather’s perfect!"

Bai Cheng froze. She glanced outside, then back at the screen. She knew that Yu Nian wouldn’t joke around.

"So it’s just targeting me, huh?"

She quickly realized that the daytime snowstorm might be random, though she wasn’t sure if it affected the mountains.

But after further questioning, Bai Cheng confirmed that the situation was as bad as ever.

"Yawn~" She covered her mouth, her eyelids growing heavy. After staying up all night, exhaustion was creeping in.

Still, Bai Cheng forced herself to stay awake and checked the items she had unlocked after reaching Bronze Age.

"Two copper ingots, one tin ingot..." After some tinkering at the workbench, she had synthesized a single bronze ingot.

The 100 copper and 50 tin ores she had gathered at the station could only produce 50 bronze ingots at most.

The moment the bronze ingot was crafted, a notification popped up on the screen.

[Bronze Ingot +1!]

[Congratulations! You have unlocked Bronze Axe, Bronze Pickaxe, Bronze Armor Set, Wolfhead Cloak, Altar of Spoils, Bronze Chest...]

The items were nearly identical to those unlocked in the Iron Age, though a few new things stood out.

She examined them one by one.

[Name: Bronze Armor Set]

[Includes: Bronze Helmet, Bronze Chestplate, Bronze Leggings, Bronze Sword, Bronze Shield]

[Description: Provides effective defense, granting you moderate combat capability.]

[Materials Required: (Per piece) Bronze Ingot ×10]

[Evaluation: But what if the enemy is a magical beast?]

Bai Cheng closed the panel without hesitation. This was utterly useless to her.

I have employees. Why should I fight in person?

[Name: Wolfhead Cloak]

[Quality: Uncommon]

[Description: A cloak crafted from frost wolf hide, adorned with a fierce wolf’s head. Provides resistance to cold erosion and some protection.]

[Materials Required: (Frost Wolf) Leather ×4]

[Evaluation: If you don’t want to freeze to death, consider taking the risk.]

This was equally pointless for Bai Cheng. Her current outfit already shielded her from the cold.

She rested her chin on her hand, realizing that none of these items seemed to be useful to her.

Whether they were tools or equipment, she could obtain better versions through the Book of Cheng’s upgrades.

Rather than wasting limited resources on bronze gear, it made more sense to save them for upgrades.

"Train upgrades take absolute priority. As for tools, they’re good enough."

Her gaze shifted to the last unfamiliar item, the Altar of Spoils. Honestly, she didn’t have high hopes for it either.

[Name: Altar of Spoils]

[Quality: Uncommon]

[Description: Do you want extraordinary power? Then complete the altar’s missions!]

[Construction Cost: Bronze Ingot ×30, Magic Crystal ×1]

[Evaluation: The true meaning of ’danger and opportunity go hand in hand’.]

"What does that mean?" Bai Cheng didn’t quite understand.

But judging by the description, the altar seemed to assign missions, and completing them would make her stronger?

"Sounds like it should be more efficient than grinding EXP from magical beasts?" she speculated.

However, the construction cost included a magic crystal, which made her hesitate.

[Name: Magic Crystal]

[Description: A crystal dropped only by magical beasts above Common grade. Using it instantly grants 100 EXP.]

You should know that this is 100 EXP!

Even with Chi Yan and Zi Yuan fighting tirelessly, Bai Cheng only received 1 EXP per kill. This was equivalent to slaying a hundred beasts.

And right now, she only had three magic crystals. Her original plan was to save them for critical level-ups, whether for her employees or herself, to instantly bridge the gap to the next Rank.

"You better be worth it."

Taking a deep breath, Bai Cheng chose to construct it anyway.

The widened carriage had plenty of space for new structures.

But Bai Cheng placed the altar in the rear-right corner of the locomotive.

A moment later, a black circular structure materialized. It wasn’t as large as she had expected. In fact, it was barely the size of a crate.

Its smooth surface was etched with intricate patterns, and its grooves were filled with an inky black fluid.

Although Bai Cheng couldn’t decipher the carvings, she immediately noticed two irregular slots on the altar, as if meant to hold something.

Before she could inspect further, the patterns coalesced into lines of dark text.

[Name: Altar of Spoils]

[Current Trophies: 0/2]

[Route Guidance: Frozen Caverns (300 km away)]

[Prerequisites: None]

[Hint: Accepting the trophy mission will automatically redirect your train’s path. Collect all spoils to unlock the Promotion Challenge.]

Bai Cheng’s eyes sharpened as she read.

"How exactly does this make me stronger?"

"And what the hell is a ’Promotion Challenge’?"

Just then, Chi Yan returned with several wolf pelts in tow. Without hesitation, Bai Cheng released the brake lever.

"Anyway, with my strength, it should be a piece of cake. Let’s go!"