Strictly speaking, a trash can shouldn’t count as a “structure.” 

However, a normal trash can shouldn’t have an upgrade function.

Qiyu chose to use the blueprint and, among the eligible items, found the “Ordinary Trash Can.” Besides the trash can, the “Storage Room” in the shelter also met the upgrade requirements.

Select “Upgrade.”

【Regular Trash Can】 has become 【Mature Trash Can】. 

【Mature Trash Can: A mature trash can should learn to handle certain types of trash on its own and possess the ability to “turn waste into treasure.”】

The trash can’s appearance has also changed somewhat, transforming from a rectangle into a flower. 

Qiyu couldn’t help but glance sideways at his radiant sunflower.

The mature trash can looked a bit like a sunflower, though it was chubbier, with a plump, round body at the bottom. The top part, where the flower would be, was the opening for throwing in trash. 

Qiyu leaned in for a closer look; the inside was completely empty, and he could see right to the bottom. 

He casually tossed the nearly moldy seaweed he’d just fished out into it.

The mature trash can closed its “petals,” transforming into a sealed trash can. 

Qiyu waited a moment: That’s it?

He reached out and pried the flower petals apart, only to find that the inside was just as it had been before—spotless, with nothing inside. 

Qiyu: I get it. It’s probably like the little lake—connected to some secret, unknown space. 

That’ll do.

He tossed the “spoiled wine,” the “chipped wine glass,” and the battered wooden crate all inside. The mature trash can closed—but this time, it was different from before.

A minute later, its petals opened on their own, and with a *plop*, something fell out. It clattered onto the cobblestone path.

Qiyu picked them up.

【One copper coin: Your trash can thinks you’re a little poor, so here’s some pocket money it’s tipping you.】 

Qiyu didn’t feel the slightest bit humiliated by the trash can;  instead, he grew excited: So that’s what “turning trash into treasure” means?

If you throw enough trash into the trash can yourself, it’ll reward you with corresponding “treasures”?

Qiyu patted the trash can and said cheerfully, “I’ll go find you something to eat.” 

He first went to collect the loot from the invading creatures he’d defeated during his conversation with God Has No Form.

【Obtained Swift Meat x6, Swift Feathers x6, Level 2 Beast Crystals x3.】

Qiyu was surprised—were all the dozen or so Swifts that had just arrived Level 2 Swifts? He opened the event leaderboard.

First place: “I Love Survival Game,” 245,003 points. 

Second place: “Reaching for the Moon in the Heavens,” 66,430 points. 

Third place: “Liver Emperor,” 46,820 points. 

4th: “My Fate is Determined by Me, Not the Heavens”, 46,680 points. 

……

From last night until now, his points had barely changed.

To Qiyu’s surprise, the third-place finisher that used to be “My Fate is Determined by Me, Not the Heavens” actually dropped down so it became the “Liver Emperor.” 

Qiyu had a vague recollection of “Liver Emperor” and remembered him as a dedicated player. 

Today marks the third day of the event.

The event lasts a total of seven days. At this rate of earning points, there probably won’t be more than ten people in Zone 01 who can accumulate 120,000 points to get the shelter blueprint.

Opening the Zone 01 Survival Squad group chat:

【I Love Survival Game: Has the number of Swifts invading the Shelter changed?】

【Need A Little Money To Save Me: Yes! It’s changed a bit, but thankfully we have the energy tower you gave us, Game Pro.】

Others also reported a slight increase, and it seemed the Swifts had evolved—the number of Level 2 Swifts was on the rise. 

Qiyu: …

So it turns out the Swifts were only targeting others, no longer setting their sights on him.

The points event is still ongoing, and right now, the most important thing is, of course, earning Swift Points. If the mountain won’t come to you, go to the mountain. 

He put on a down jacket, threw the Guardian Mage Robe over it, and headed for the Star Forest. As soon as he stepped outside the territory, a damp, cold wind blew in, and Qiyu shivered instantly.

He saw that some tree leaves were covered with sharp icicles. His face was frozen stiff as well.

Qiyu plucked one off, popped it into his mouth, and chewed on it; the cold made his mouth feel icy. Before heading out at 15, he had already cleared out an entire space ring.

Whether it was “frozen decaying leaves,” “frozen dead branches,” or “rotten trees”—whatever he saw, he stuffed it all into the ring. Since he didn’t need to sort through anything, it didn’t take effort—it didn’t waste any time at all. 

Before long, he spotted a flock of swifts.

Since the weather was so cold, Qiyu didn’t feel like practicing magic. He cast a spell as quickly as possible to take them out, then collected the drops.

He continued on his way, collecting items as he went.

To his pleasant surprise, he even found a treasure chest.

Qiyu didn’t turn his nose up at it at all; he happily stowed it in his backpack. 

The swifts in the Star Forest were still there, and—whether due to the rain or not—they seemed to have evolved, but their point values were actually higher than before.

After sweeping through the area for a few hours, by 5:00 p.m., when Qiyu returned to his base, he had earned 55,000 points. Qiyu returned wrapped in a chill and brimming with his haul.

The comfortable temperature in his base made him let out a sigh of relief. Then, he hurried to the bathroom to change his clothes and take a hot shower. There’s nothing like the comfort of his own base.

He came out wearing light clothing.

First, he followed the method he’d learned from Teacher Karen last time, engraving the magical patterns of the constant-temperature magic array onto parchment paper.

He tapped God Has No Form. 

【God Has No Form: Are you home?】

At noon, he sent Qiyu some lunch, but Qiyu said he was out and didn’t feel like eating because it was cold.

【 I Love Survival Game: Okay.】

【Your friend “I Love Survival Game” has sent you a trade request.】

【Received Ice Shards x999, Received Ice Shards x999, Received Ice Shards x999……】

If God Has No Form hadn’t glanced at them and immediately stowed them all in his backpack, he probably would’ve been heartbroken. He was still outside, after all.

Given the current outdoor temperature, even a small iceberg left out there would probably melt in an instant.

【God Has No Form: What’s this?】

【I Love Survival Game: I went to the forest today. The trees were covered with these, so I picked them up on the way—no effort and no cost.】

【I Love Survival Game: Here, they’re for you.】

【Your friend “I Love Survival Game” has sent you a gift.】 

【Obtained Parchment Paper Engraved with a Magic Circle x1.】

【I Love Survival Game: Tear it apart, and the magic will mark the exact location. Just follow the markings and place a Level 1 Magic Crystal inside.】

【I Love Survival Game: You have magic crystals, right?】

【God Has No Form: Yes.】

Dan Xingyu lingered at the original site for a moment. A daring fire dragon, concerned that something might happen to this human, sneaked up from behind to launch a surprise attack. 

Without even turning his head, a crimson sword energy flashed by, splitting the fire dragon in half and turning it into a beam of white light. 

This is unbelievable, Dan Xingyu thought. It seems “The Future Is Long” wasn’t wrong after all—it really does feel like I’ve married into a wealthy family. 

Hehe!

【God Has No Form: (Image) (Image)】

【God Has No Form: Say something nice, and if I’m in a good mood, there’ll be a reward.】 

It’s a screenshot of a few slots in a backpack, all filled with Ice Shards x999.

【Two Dogs Down There: Holy crap! Er Shen! Father, quick, give your little one some ice.】

【The Future Is Long: Second Dad, I want some too.】

【 Withdrawal: What do you mean, “Second Dad”? You make it sound like you even have a dad. Can’t you speak properly? Dad, I want some too.】

【The Sun Rose From The West: Young Master, this old servant wants some too.】

……

After handing out the gifts, Qiyu went to take care of another matter. He walked over to the trash can.

On his trip to the Star Forest today, besides bringing back some ice, he’d also returned with a backpack full of “trash.” Qiyu looked at the overflowing trash can with anticipation.

With a thought.

Feed “Rotten Tree Leaves” x99. 

Feed “Dry Twigs” x99.

Feed “Rotten Tree Leaves” x99.

Most of it was rotten tree leaves. 

Mature Trash Can: …

Almost as soon as he stuffed them in, it closed its petals, but Qiyu pried them open and kept stuffing. 

After doing this a dozen or so times—

【The mature trash can has eaten it; it needs a little time to digest.】

The petals closed tightly and refused to open again. 

Qiyu clapped his hands, stopped, and crouched down beside it to wait. 

A minute later.

He looked up at the top of the sunflower trash can, where a stream of white vapor was billowing out.

He thought he faintly heard a sound like a hiccup. 

The petals opened.

Puff, puff, puff.

A pile of stuff was spat out. 

【Obtained Common Fertilizer x99.】

【Obtained Premium Fertilizer x20.】

【Obtained Oak Sapling x1.】

【Obtained 2 silver coins.】

Wow.

Qiyu stared at the sunflower trash can’s “eyes,” as if he were looking at a gold mine. 

He continued to dig out the trash he’d scavenged from the forest and stuff it into the trash can’s “mouth.” 

This fun activity went on until nightfall. 

The trash can spat out 600 units of ordinary fertilizer, 99 units of high-quality fertilizer, 2 units of high-grade magical fusion fertilizer, and 4 and 10 various saplings for Qiyu.

It also gave him 15 silver coins.

【The mature trash can realized it was wrong; without a doubt, you are a wealthy and generous lord.】

Lord Qiyu, the wealthy and generous lord, was surprised to realize he’d been playing like this for an entire hour. 

His backpack was still filled with rotten forest debris of all kinds.

This efficiency was undoubtedly far too low.

Qiyu pondered how to simplify the matter, and his gaze swept over the alchemical golem, which was diligently patrolling the territory, shield in hand and sword raised. 

His eyes lit up. 

He summoned the alchemical golem and channeled his energy into issuing a brand-new command.

Then he watched as the alchemical golem grabbed a handful of tree leaves and stuffed them into the trash can’s opening. 

Good job!

Qiyu observed for a few minutes, then went to the trading section to buy a wicker basket so the alchemical golem could more easily collect dead branches and fallen leaves. Good. This way, he wouldn’t have to do it himself, and the fully upgraded trash can wouldn’t go to waste either. 9

The only drawback was that his golem was just an ordinary alchemical golem; it couldn’t use the ring of space from the resource zone.

He could only carry the trash can to an open area, where he created a small “trash mountain” and had an alchemical golem slowly fill it up.