"The Tai Sui God has evolved for the twenty-first time."

Qi Suian watched as his armor value hit 24, unlocking an additional module slot.

"Unfortunately, the winter apocalypse has already arrived, and it’ll take another three days to reach 26 points."

Qi Suian immediately installed a warming module into the slot, acquiring a new SSS-grade warming module.

[SSS·Pure White Aurora Crystal]

Its effect is somewhat similar to the Black Dark Energy Crystal.

’Besides providing warmth, the Pure White Aurora Crystal can also work with other modules to convert low temperatures into evolutionary energy.’

"A comfortable environment really does make a difference."

The Northern Dominator Han Rong module alone wouldn’t have been enough, but it’s much stronger when paired with auxiliary modules.

"Still, the power level seems a bit off," Qi Suian said, checking the data.

[Correct. The four modules—Sand Jiao Scale Pattern Shell, Northern Dominator Han Rong, Black Dark Energy Crystal, and Pure White Aurora Crystal—have different functions, but they are complementary.]

[Upon being installed by you, they have combined with the artificial crystal-vein alloy and the Nirvana Insect Cocoon to produce an additional synergistic effect.]

"Synergistic effect? That’s... impressive."

’But it makes sense when you think about it. Although they’re called high-temp and low-temp resistance modules, they should really be classified as material modules.’

’So it’s only natural for them to complement and reinforce each other.’ Now that he thought about it, it made perfect sense to Qi Suian.

’It’s a good thing I didn’t remove the Sand Jiao Scale Pattern Shell and Black Dark Energy Crystal when I arrived in the Cold Winter World. Because of those two modules, the Pure White Aurora Crystal’s ability to absorb low temperatures and Cold Energy is now even stronger.’

Qi Suian himself couldn’t absorb Cold Energy—he didn’t know what might happen if he tried. However, the Melting Furnace used it directly as fuel.

’I can only thank my foresight for installing the three-piece growth set. Otherwise, I would’ve missed out on a huge gain.’

"Winter has arrived. We need to move."

"The Cold Energy Monsters deep within the Ice Continent are getting restless." Qi Suian decided it was time to leave.

’As for killing these Cold Energy Monsters... I could. The Floating Cannons can handle them.’

’But the problem is, there’s no benefit to it.’

’It would just be a waste of the Tai Sui God’s energy.’

As the concentration of Cold Energy increased, the strength of those Cold Energy Monsters was also advancing by leaps and bounds.

Last night, he even saw some terrifying behemoth wandering past under the ice.

He suspected it was a Cold Energy Monster evolved from a whale.

But it was just a fleeting glimpse, and this Cold Energy Monster didn’t attack Qi Suian.

Qi Suian’s body was too small; he wasn’t worth the creature’s attention.

This was only the beginning. As the temperature of the winter apocalypse dropped and the Cold Energy increased, more and more Cold Energy Monsters would appear.

[Of course. For your safety, I have already planned a safe zone for you. Shall we depart?]

"Let’s go!" Qi Suian commanded, and the Tai Sui God took flight.

[One more thing. According to the collected data, this is not the first time Cold Energy has appeared. It has appeared several times.]

[From species extinctions caused by the ice ages recorded in ancient history to the Little Ice Age of the feudal era...]

[...there is evidence indicating the influence of Cold Energy in all of them.]

[The surge in supernatural tales, myths, and legends from those periods, while not direct evidence, serves as indirect corroboration due to the sheer volume.]

[However, compared to this time, the previous ice ages and Little Ice Age did not reach such a severe state.]

[This means that if you take no additional action, this winter apocalypse will last for no less than a century.]

Qi Suian naturally knew what the AI meant by "additional action."

’It just meant me running amok, finding the Cold Energy Source, and then running amok some more until I blow up the whole planet.’

’I do have a prior record, after all.’

’Back in the Profound World, I was the one who guided the Blood Moon to smash the planet.’

"Please no. The phrase ’a hundred years’ makes my skin crawl..." Qi Suian couldn’t help but recall the bottled sun from the Polar Day World.

"Even if I wanted to stay for a hundred years, the Apocalypse Game might not let me."

"Right now, outside of the Ice Continent, the average temperature is already minus ten degrees. If this lasts for a century, will there be anyone left alive?"

[There will be. Compared to the Power of the Limit, Cold Energy has greater universality, utility, and growth potential.]

[Initial projections suggest that as long as they survive for five months, every human in this cold winter will acquire special powers.]

[And during this process, the Cold Energy will allow them to resist the cold more effectively and gradually improve their physical condition.]

[If they have corresponding guidance and absorption methods, both the time it takes to strengthen themselves and the intensity of the special powers they obtain will be shortened and enhanced.]

"Survive for five months? You’re asking the impossible."

"If nothing unexpected happens, the cold will bring society and the ecosystem to a complete standstill. What are they supposed to live on?"

"What kind of survival game would it be if ninety percent of the population didn’t die right at the start?" Qi Suian said calmly.

He had already been through two batches of survivors and knew that the Apocalypse Game was both stingy and cruel.

In the previous life of the regressor, without an anomaly like Qi Suian, things were better; there was still some leeway.

But now that an anomaly like Qi Suian had appeared, the Apocalypse Game was much crueler than before.

Presumably, it was trying to force out a survivor capable of killing Qi Suian, which is why it seemed to disregard the lives of the survivors.

The AI wasn’t wrong, but that was a best-case scenario. In reality, the human heart is unpredictable.

Between saving the elite upper class and the middle and lower classes, the nations of the world would absolutely choose the former.

Besides, even if they wanted to help, they’d be powerless to do so.

When winter descends, many resources will become non-renewable.

The food supply would become a situation of pure consumption with zero production.

Not to mention that in the three days before the apocalypse, a capitalist frenzy saw the wealthy harvesting the middle and lower classes to squeeze out one last fortune.

So the three days of preparation weren’t given by the Apocalypse Game to the survivors, but to the nations.

As Qi Suian chatted with the AI, they quickly arrived at the previously planned safe house.

Although it was empty, the location was excellent and the interior had plenty of well-designed features.

It wasn’t exactly move-in ready; it still needed some tidying up.

Next, Qi Suian had no intention of going out until his virus talent had evolved to S-rank.

"You said before that this isn’t the first time Cold Energy has appeared. Does that mean any methods of utilizing it might have been passed down?"

"In that case, could we see the emergence of something like ancient, hidden families with long lineages, or the awakening of certain old monsters?" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Otherwise, this level of difficulty is a bit underwhelming for a challenge aimed at me." This thought suddenly occurred to Qi Suian.

[Rather than worrying about such things, you would be better off considering where the protagonist of the Cold Winter World is, so you can go kill him and seize his protagonist’s halo.]

[Whether it’s these so-called hidden families or reawakened old monsters, the Floating Cannons’ Dark Energy Beams and Ghost Energy Storms will make them understand they’ve been left behind by the times.]

The AI indicated that with the Floating Cannons, there was no need to worry about such rabble.

Especially since the Tai Sui God had already reached its twenty-first evolution, its power was even greater.

"But I want to capture one alive."

"The Floating Cannons are highly efficient, and quite ’clean,’ but there’s nothing left of the person afterward," Qi Suian said.

[You needn’t worry about that until you’ve perfected your S-rank virus talent. After all, you have no need to participate in any Cold Energy projects.]

The AI was again tactfully indicating that he should start working now.

Qi Suian of course understood, and said, somewhat speechlessly, "I know, I know."

"I’ll start right away."

After tidying up the safe house, Qi Suian made some further arrangements. Once he was finished, he finally took out his equipment from his Subspace Pocket to research the Blood Moon tissue sample.

"I keep getting distracted. I bet some opportunity has just presented itself, and it’s probably related to those things I mentioned to you."

"Keep an eye out. Don’t let the opportunity get away."

’I couldn’t have just thought of this on my own. It must be because of the protagonist’s halo.’

[I am already monitoring for you. If there are any anomalies, I will notify you immediately.]

The reason they weren’t going immediately was that Qi Suian was conducting experiments through the Tai Sui God. The AI couldn’t just take control of the Tai Sui God and leave, as that would affect Qi Suian.

---

"There were some twists and turns along the way, but I still managed to secure this shelter."

Tang Qing felt the warmth, a blissful smile spreading across his face.

Thinking of the bone-chilling wind and snow from his past life, he never wanted to experience it again, not even for a moment.

"But the greatest reward was you." Tang Qing’s gaze fell upon an ancient book.

Its title was the *Taiyin Refining Technique*, a Qi Cultivation Method from the Ancient Times.

In ancient times, Cold Energy was known as Yin Qi. This *Taiyin Refining Technique* was an orthodox Qi Cultivation Method from the Ancient Profound Sect.

As for how he obtained it, it was a stroke of luck—an opportunity he had intercepted.

It originally belonged to a Daoist who had betrayed his temple; that person practiced this very technique.

But Tang Qing had snatched it away from him first.

"In my past life, rumor had it that this was the absolute best Cold Energy Cultivation Method. Not even the world’s nations possessed a technique that could compare to the *Taiyin Refining Technique*."

"Now that it has fallen into my hands, and with this shelter and vast resources to help me, I will become the number one person of this cold winter era!"

"But the *Taiyin Refining Technique* alone is not enough."

"In my past life, I remember some people developing superpowers. Rumor has it that if you cultivate Cold Energy before awakening your power and swallow the core of a Cold Energy Monster, your power won’t be random."

"Instead, you’ll gain the ability of that Cold Energy Monster."

"Although I never encountered a Cold Energy Monster in my past life, I heard that the neighboring city was frozen by an Ice Dragon, which later became one of the most powerful Cold Energy Monsters."

"Right now, this Ice Dragon shouldn’t be as terrifying as it was in my past life. If I could make its power my own..."

"Combined with the *Taiyin Refining Technique*, the two would definitely create an effect where one plus one is greater than two." A sharp glint flashed in Tang Qing’s eyes as he decided on the next opportunity he would intercept.