On the Eight Extremes Star, I awakened the twelve talismans.

Ye Han hoisted the Black Sand Wolf onto his shoulder and changed his position.

Full speed ahead.

He transformed into a blur and sped off towards the cave.

He rushed to the cave entrance before the black storm raged.

He squeezed past the large rock, then stumbled and fell into the hole.

"Quick! Push!"

Bai Xue's voice came from the darkness, crisp and clear, without a trace of unnecessary panic.

Before Ye Han could even stand firmly, he turned around and joined Bai Xue in supporting the large rock.

With both of them exerting force at the same time, the stone was gradually moved back to the cave entrance.

The wind outside suddenly picked up as soon as the blockage was completed.

Oh oh oh!

The overwhelming black sand crashed against the rocks, making a soft, rustling sound.

Each grain of sand hitting the stone felt like a needle pricking it; countless needles pricking at the same time created a continuous sound.

Ye Han sat down against the cave wall and took a few deep breaths.

It's not from being tired.

It was a lingering fear.

A few seconds later and it would have been dangerous.

Bai Xue stood inside the cave entrance, listening intently to the sounds outside for a while, her hand still resting on the stone, as if checking to see if the stone had been moved by the wind.

After a long while, she finally said, "Ye Han, are you alright?"

"Why are you so late? It would have been dangerous if you had been any later."

"When I first arrived on the desert planet, I saw a black storm. Someone didn't have time to hide, and after the storm swept him in, he exploded in a cloud of blood mist and disappeared."

Ye Han broke out in a cold sweat.

The scene from just now is still vivid in my mind.

The sky was filled with black sand, each grain flying at high speed, making it extremely dangerous.

If you get caught up in it, you're as good as dead.

Ye Han took the black sand wolf off his shoulder and threw it on the ground.

Actually, I felt a little warm inside.

We've only known each other for less than a day, but the worry in Bai Xue's voice when she said those things just now wasn't faked.

He lived in his original world for eighteen years, and apart from a few close friends, very few people would actually check on him when he came home late.

"I ran into some trouble on the way and was delayed a bit," Ye Han said, trying to sound relaxed. "It's alright now. We can catch this black sand wolf now, so dinner is sorted."

He patted the wolf carcass on the ground.

This one is much bigger than the one from yesterday; it's enough for several meals.

Bai Xue glanced down at the black sand wolf, then looked up at Ye Han.

He looked her up and down.

His clothes had two tears, and his face was a little dusty, but he wasn't injured and seemed to be in good spirits.

It's good that everyone is alright.

"Don't stay up so late next time; the storms on this planet are no joke."

"Okay. But Baixue, I'm starving! Can we get something to eat first?"

Give me the knife.

Ye Han quickly handed over the stone knife.

Bai Xue took the knife, squatted down, and began to deal with the black sand wolf.

His movements were very skilled; he peeled the skin, removed the bones, and cut the meat all in one smooth motion.

Ye Han squatted to the side, unable to offer any help.

Taking down a wolf is one thing, but dismembering a wolf is another. The former can be done with brute force, while the latter requires certain skills.

He had no training and dared not attempt to handle the animal, fearing he might ruin the prey he had worked so hard to hunt.

After the fire was started with flint, the entire black sand wolf became roast meat.

The meat chunks were placed on a stone slab and slowly turned over, dripping oil and occasionally igniting small flames.

The meat was still as tough as ever when I ate it.

Black sand wolf meat is rather coarse with long fibers, so it takes some effort to chew.

There were no seasonings or salt, so we had to make do with what we had.

There's a reason this creature can survive on a dead planet like the Desert Star; its flesh is rich in energy, and you can feel full after eating just a few pieces.

The key is that it can also replenish moisture. If it can do all these things, what else is there to complain about?

The two men sat around the campfire, each with several large pieces of roasted meat.

The rest were all dried into jerky for later consumption.

The black storm outside was still howling, and the sand was rustling against the rocks, but the cave was warm. The firelight cast the shadows of two people on the cave wall, one tall and one short, swaying back and forth.

After a quick meal, Ye Han wiped his mouth and said, "Bai Xue."

"Um?"

"Could you teach me martial arts?"

Bai Xue paused in her act of flipping the skewer of meat in her hand, looked up at him with a hint of curiosity: "Why do you suddenly want to learn martial arts?"

"It wasn't sudden," Ye Han said seriously, sitting up straight.

"I've thought about it seriously. My speed is indeed very fast, but apart from that, my physical abilities are no different from those of an ordinary person."

"But to get through the Eight Extremes Star, speed alone isn't enough; physical strength also needs to keep up. If you encounter an opponent who can counter your speed, you'll be completely helpless."

That's half true and half false.

Indeed, he needed a physical foundation that could keep up with the power of the talisman; the fake part was not said aloud.

He didn't want to feel incredibly insecure again when Mi Long said, "Brother Ye, you're so amazing."

Even if you only know the most basic fighting skills, you'll feel more confident than if you rely entirely on talismans.

"Okay," she said.

"You agreed?"

Bai Xue's tone was calm, neither discouraging nor encouraging; she was simply stating a fact: "Yes, the fact that you have this idea shows that you have indeed thought it through carefully, but there are some things I need to tell you in advance. As a beginner with no foundation, the early stages will be very difficult."

"There are no shortcuts in martial arts. Only through continuous training can you gradually become stronger. The hardships involved cannot be overcome with just a moment of enthusiasm."

"Many people start out full of confidence, but give up after a few days. It's not because they're lazy, it's because it hurts."

"If you've thought it through, I'll teach you. But if you give up halfway..."

She glanced at Ye Han and said seriously, "I would look down on you. I hate people who talk a good game but back down when it comes to actually doing something."

"So, do you still want to learn?"

Without hesitation, Ye Han blurted out, "Learn."

"Good, that's ambitious. Let's start tomorrow."

Snow White extends her hand.

Ye Han raised his hand and gave her a high five.

......

Before bed.

Ye Han lay on the stone bed with his eyes closed.

The storm outside was still raging, but inside the cave, Bai Xue was breathing evenly; she must have fallen asleep.

Ye Han silently recited it in his mind.

"system."

A pale blue, semi-transparent panel silently appeared before my eyes.

Only Ye Han can see the system; others cannot.

[Currently unlocked: Rabbit Charm - Increases speed.]

[Energy Points: 11]

[Each 10 energy points consumed grants one chance to draw a prize. Obtained talismans will not be duplicated. There is a chance to obtain complete talismans or talisman fragments.]

He accumulated his energy points from zero to eleven by spending an entire day traveling across the desert planet.

Ye Han stared at the line of text, his heart pounding.

We've been waiting for this moment for a long time.

I wonder what the next talisman will be.

Ox talisman? Tiger talisman? Rat talisman? Snake talisman? No matter which one it is, it will increase his chances of survival by a significant margin.

In a place like the Eight Extremes Star, having an extra trump card means having an extra life.

"smoke!"

[10 energy points consumed, 1 energy point remaining]

[Giveaway in progress...]