Gu Ning couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
Returning to the cabin, Gu Ning decided to upgrade some other items. With three more people aboard, the first priority was upgrading the seawater converter.
He checked the required materials:
- Plastic: 106/15
- Wood: 0/10
- White Stone: 3982/10
Having exhausted all wood, iron, and copper blocks during the ship upgrade, Gu Ning purchased 10 wood for 20 white stones.
After the upgrade, the seawater converter's daily output increased to 4 liters.
He checked the next level's requirements:
- Plastic: 91/20
- Wood: 0/30
- White Stone: 3952/30
After some thought, Gu Ning proceeded with the upgrade.
The converter now produced 10 liters of fresh water per day.
Next upgrade requirements:
- Plastic: 71/40
- Wood: 0/100
- White Stone: 3862/100
Gu Ning upgraded again—five people needed more water for drinking and cooking.
At 20 liters/day, it was sufficient. The next tier (requiring 80 plastic, 150 wood, and 200 white stones) could wait.
Next, Gu Ning retrieved the flour production blueprint bought from Wang Mu and initiated construction:
- Wood: 0/20
- Iron: 0/5
- Copper: 0/5
- White Stone: 3762/100
Function: 3 kg of flour daily.
After purchasing missing materials, a golden cylindrical device with a conical base materialized. A small door on the base served as the flour outlet. According to the manual, it synthesized flour from airborne molecules—futuristic tech.
Upgrading (cost: 40 wood, 10 iron/copper, 200 white stones) boosted output to 6 kg/day. The subsequent tier (80 wood, 20 iron/copper, 400 white stones) was too expensive, so Gu Ning stopped.
He then built the cooler designed earlier to preserve food in the storage room.
- Copper: 0/3
- Iron: 0/3
- White Stone: 3062/5
Function: Temperature reduction by 2°C.
After construction, he upgraded it twice (total cost: 10 copper/iron, 20 white stones for Level 3; 15 copper/iron, 40 white stones for Level 4), achieving an 8°C drop. His white stone reserve dwindled to 2,327.
Current upgrades:
- Seawater Converter: Lv.4
- Flour Producer: Lv.2
- Cooler: Lv.4
Satisfied, Gu Ning filled the converter, then spent 20 wood on storage:
- 4 wood → 2 large barrels (water/flour)
- 3 wood → table
- 2 wood → 4 stools
- 1 wood → utensils
- 6 wood → single bed + double bed
He placed the single bed in his cabin and the double bed in the common room, adding straw and fabric (30 white stones) for bedding.
In the storage room, Gu Ning used his Frost Spell to freeze seawater into ice blocks, further cooling the space. Pleased with the result, he noted the dimming sky—still rainy but darker.
He summoned Molly to prepare dinner (tomato-egg stir-fry and spicy fish) while he fished beside Wen Sha. They chatted, and Gu Ning learned that summoned companions were natives of the Lord's Continent—descendants of early lords who'd entered stasis via contracts with the Celestial Mother. Wen Sha had joined to cure an incurable illness; other memories were erased.
After dinner, Molly cleaned while the others arranged their beds. Gu Ning had Wen Sha recharge the ship's thermal energy with light magic until her mana depleted. Realizing this wouldn't sustain overnight travel, he decided to keep her as a dedicated "energy battery" tomorrow.
With Little Blue escorting the ship, they set sail. Gu Ning and Wen Sha retired to their cabin (now with Molly on the single bed).
They undressed to their undergarments—Wen Sha blushing but compliant—and Gu Ning held her, breathing in her freshly washed hair.
"You should rest," he murmured, kissing her forehead. "Today's battle exhausted you."
Wen Sha tightened her embrace. "I'm not tired, my lord. But you were hurt because of me..." Her voice trembled with emotion.