79: Brother Lin, my mom actually cares about you a lot.

Another energy facility.

Qin Lin frowned in thought.

The eternal frozen marrow fragment found earlier was in the Su City University laboratory; the constant temperature ice crystal was at the Weather Station.

Now the complete eternal frozen marrow is at the hydroelectric power station... These crystal stones that can generate extreme low temperatures.

They always seem to appear in places related to energy and scientific research.

Is it a coincidence?

Qin Lin recalled the white crystal stone he brought during his Rebirth.

That stone could not be absorbed by the System, and its origin was unknown.

[Warning: Abnormal temperature detected in target area]

[Current external temperature: -68.3°C]

[Target area temperature: -75.2°C (and dropping)]

[Reason for temperature difference: Energy radiation from eternal frozen marrow]

[Suggestion: Assess risks before proceeding]

Negative seventy-five degrees Celsius.

Qin Lin drew in a sharp breath.

This temperature had already exceeded the limits of human survival.

No, it even exceeded the operational limits of most equipment.

Steel would become brittle, rubber would crack, electronic components would fail.

"System, how long can the RV operate in an environment of negative seventy-five degrees Celsius?" Qin Lin asked.

[Lv4 RV design operating temperature range: -100°C to +100°C]

[In a -75°C environment, external sensors may experience response delays, and mechanical component lubrication efficiency will decrease]

[Safe to drive, but extended stays are not recommended (damage may occur after exceeding 24 hours)]

[Suggestion: Leave immediately after obtaining the crystal stone]

He could go, but he couldn't stay long.

Qin Lin checked the time; it was two in the afternoon.

There were about... five or six hours until dark before they should rest.

"Plan the optimal route," Qin Lin said. "We'll rest at a safe distance tonight and go retrieve the crystal stone first thing tomorrow morning."

[Planning route...]

[Optimal route: Proceed 2.1 km along County Road X107, then turn onto a mountain path. Total distance approximately 5 km]

[Road condition assessment: Difficult]

[Reason: Mountain roads severely iced over, some sections have slopes exceeding 15 degrees]

[Estimated travel time: 3 hours]

[Suggestion: Activate all-terrain mode, enable anti-skid System]

"Activate."

The RV automatically adjusted its direction, leaving the main road and entering a narrower path.

The road conditions indeed became terrible.

This was a winding mountain road, snaking its way up along the ridge.

The road surface was completely covered in ice, smooth as a mirror.

Steep slopes flanked both sides.

Some sections had guardrails; others had nothing at all.

Below was a bottomless canyon.

The RV's tracks gripped the icy surface.

The anti-skid System activated, with dense steel spikes extending from the track surfaces, piercing into the ice layer.

Even so, progress was still slow, and the vehicle occasionally slid slightly.

Qin Lin tightened his grip on the steering wheel.

Even though it was on autopilot now, instinct made him nervous.

"Brother Lin, where are we going?"

Han Yurou had, at some point, come to the driver's cabin.

"To find something."

Qin Lin didn't explain in detail.

"The road outside is slippery. Go back to the living room, sit down, and fasten your seatbelt."

"Oh."

Han Yurou obediently complied, but her eyes remained curiously fixed on the window.

"This place is terrifying. It feels like the car could slide down at any moment."

She voiced Qin Lin's own thoughts.

But the RV was steadier than imagined.

The Lv4 all-terrain mode was truly formidable, steadily advancing even in such an extreme environment.

The active defense System continuously scanned the surrounding terrain, providing early warnings for potential landslide points.

An hour later, they entered deeper into the mountains.

Temperature display: -71.3°C.

Frost began to form on the windows—not from the outside, but from the inside.

The temperature difference between inside and outside was nearly a hundred degrees. Even with insulation, the cold was still seeping in.

Qin Lin increased the air conditioner's power, and the frost slowly receded.

"How much further?" Han Yurou asked quietly.

"Three point five kilometers," Qin Lin said, looking at the map. "At this speed, another two hours."

The scenery outside the vehicle grew increasingly bizarre.

All trees were encased in ice, with arm-thick icicles hanging from their branches, like a crystal forest.

Rock surfaces were covered in thick layers of ice, reflecting an eerie blue light under the vehicle's headlights.

The snow in some areas showed unnatural, wavy patterns.

As if twisted by some force.

Qin Lin knew this was likely caused by the energy radiation from the eternal frozen marrow.

The crystal stone was transforming the environment, turning this area into an extreme cold Hell.

If the crystal stone wasn't retrieved, the temperature here would continue to drop.

It might eventually reach even lower temperatures.

So what would happen after retrieving the crystal stone?

Would the temperature return to normal?

Qin Lin didn't know.

But he hoped it would.

Even if only this small area returned to normal.

It would prove the crystal stone was a reversible source of influence, not a permanent disaster scar.

"Qin Lin."

Han Qing's voice came through the intercom.

"I've seen the external temperature data. Negative seventy-one degrees. The place you're heading to is even colder. I suggest coming back first, wait until daytime... wait until you're rested before going."

Her tone was professional, a doctor's caution.

But Qin Lin detected a trace of concern.

"It's fine, Aunt Qing," he said. "The RV can handle it. We'll just park and rest near the target point, then go retrieve it first thing tomorrow morning."

"...Be careful."

Han Qing fell silent for a few seconds, only saying these three words.

The call ended.

Han Yurou looked at Qin Lin, then at the intercom, blinking:

"Brother Lin, my mom actually cares about you a lot."

Qin Lin smiled but didn't speak.

He knew Han Qing was being awkward, was angry, was ashamed.

But in moments of danger, her first reaction was still concern for his safety.

This warmed his heart.

Or perhaps she was concerned about her own and her daughter's safety.

That's why she feared something happening to him.

But it didn't matter.

Living in the same vehicle, her concern for anything was indirectly concern for herself.

Another hour and a half passed, and the RV arrived at a relatively flat mountain hollow.

[Arrived at designated rest point]

[Distance to target: 500 meters]

[Current temperature: -73.8°C]

[Suggestion: Park and rest, act tomorrow]

"Park, activate camouflage mode."

The RV slowly stopped, and its exterior color began to change, gradually blending into the surrounding snowy ground.

From the outside, it looked like an ordinary snowdrift.

Unless approached within ten meters, nothing unusual could be detected.

Qin Lin walked out from the driver's cabin and returned to the living room.

Su Yuran and Lin Wanwan were preparing dinner. Seeing him and Han Yurou, they both breathed a sigh of relief.

"How is it outside?" Su Yuran asked.

"Very cold, very dangerous."

"But we'll get what we want tomorrow."

"What thing?" Lin Wanwan asked curiously.

"A crystal stone, something that can upgrade the RV," Qin Lin didn't hide it. "It's in the hydroelectric power station five hundred meters ahead."

Han Qing walked out from the Medical Room, frowning slightly:

"There might still be survivors in a place like that. Power stations usually have comprehensive backup power and heating Systems, making them ideal shelters."

Qin Lin was taken aback for a moment.

He hadn't considered that possibility.

"System, scan the target building, detect signs of life," Qin Lin commanded mentally.

[Scanning...]

[Target building: Azure Dragon Mountain Hydroelectric Power Station]

[Building status: Partially damaged (main factory building roof collapsed)]

[Energy source: eternal frozen marrow ×1 (Location: Underground control room)]

[Signs of life: 0]

No one. That was understandable.

After all, at over negative seventy degrees, even the best shelter probably couldn't provide protection.

Most importantly, Qin Lin felt that because the crystal stone was present here, the shelter interior was likely an extreme cold zone...