Duskrice 19, 1850 AC (Arbiter Calendar), two weeks later. Alistair now finds himself at the border between the Rocky Mountains of Frostgate and the snowy forests of the Whisperpine Expanse. He can feel the cold seeping through his armor and the thick clothes he purchased in the small town of Glacian. The Rocky Mountains of Frostgate serve as a fortress separating the Territories of Wintermarch from the Territories of Frostmarch, where the snowy forests of the Whisperpine Expanse are located. According to the locals of Glacian, a Snowy Mountain King resides in the heart of the Whisperpine Expanse.
Alistair sets up his Basic Survival Tent on the outskirts of the Rocky Mountains of Frostgate. He notices that he is not the only one making tents, rough houses, or temporary shelters in this area. Living within Frostgate Fortress is quite expensive, so many people—adventurers, explorers, and hunters—have opted to reside temporarily on the fringes of the fortress. The Captain of the Frostgate has permitted this arrangement, with the caveat that they should not sleep too close to the fortress. This rule is not enforced out of a desire to chase them away but because, every two to three days, wild beasts occasionally attack the fortress, posing a danger to anyone nearby due to potential falling debris.
Alistair basic survival tent is completed and asked the system if the tent can change the mechanism that provides heat source because Alistair is starting to feel the coldness as the sun is about to set down.
System Advice: "Yes, the Basic Survival Tent can change its mechanism. To do this, you'll need enhancement materials. Check other tents, as some people sell these materials, but be cautious—sometimes they might trick you into buying fakes or low-quality items that could negatively affect your Basic Survival Tent."
With the system's guidance, Alistair began to explore the area and purchased several enhancement materials called Pyrestone. This mineral is commonly known for its industrial combustion properties and is typically found in large city communities and empires with advanced industrial technology for everyday use. However, the system only needed this material not for industrial combustion, but to transform it into the required components to enhance Alistair's Basic Survival Tent. He needs these enhancements every night due to the dropping temperatures.
With the system's instruction, Alistair placed five Pyrestones into the Basic Survival Tent. Suddenly, the tent emitted a soft glow, indicating that it now had Cold Resistance and could provide a heat source whenever anyone, including Alistair, entered. As the sun set and the moon rose, the temperature dropped, prompting Alistair to quickly enter his tent. He took a piece of dried bacon from his bag and enjoyed it for dinner, reminiscing about his mother's cooking. After finishing the bacon, he settled onto his soft bed made of haystacks and cotton, which he had purchased in Glacian Small Town, and drifted off to sleep.
On Duskrice 20, 1850 AC (Arbiter Calendar), Alistair woke up not too early; the sun was already beginning to rise. He looked up at the sky, feeling the warm and cold breezes brushing against him. Suddenly, the system spoke, "Alistair, have you forgotten what you need to do today?" Rubbing his eyes, he replied, "Um... enter the Whisperpine Expanse?" The system paused for a moment and then said, "No, you idiot. It's time for you to ascend to the next realm! You've reached max level 10 of Aura Color Level. Get ready to receive your three random gifts. If any of them are deemed useless, you could consider opening a small shop beside your tent to sell them."
Alistair quickly interrupted that thought, "And attract attention?" The system paused again before replying, "I meant only the useless ones. Don't worry—I've adjusted the item drop rates. You'll have a guaranteed chance to receive either a Defective Rank or Flawed Rank item." Curious, Alistair asked the system what that meant.
System Advice: "Defective Rank are the lowest tier of crafted objects. They function at a basic level but lack refinement, durability, or stable resonance. Most are mass-produced or poorly forged, often used by ordinary civilians for daily tasks such as farming, construction, or simple self-defense. They cannot properly channel or withstand aura and may degrade quickly under strain."
System Advice: "Flawed Rank are slightly improved but still contain structural weaknesses or unstable pathways. They can support minimal aura infusion, though inefficiently. These are often beginner-level weapons or tools used by apprentices, militia recruits, or low-tier adventurers. While serviceable, they are unreliable in prolonged combat."
System Advice: "This advice is geared towards ordinary individuals, as well as adventurers, explorers, and hunters who are non-aura users. Defective Rank and Flawed Rank items are suitable for these individuals because they have limited uses and aren't intended for everyday use due to their inherent dangers. While becoming an aura user has a 75% chance, 25% of people choose to remain non-aura users, often due to the risks associated with aura energy. This choice is common, especially among those who work with items or structures related to aura energy levels."
System Gift: "Your first gift consists of 10 Defective Rank Swords, each crafted from iron and designed to slice through small trees with ease. Depending on your strength, you may even be able to take down a medium-sized tree or effortlessly defeat a small wild beast using these weapons. Their market value ranges from 10 to 15 Bronze Scales."
System Gift: "Your second gift is a Realm Breaking Pill, an extraordinarily rare item that allows any user to ascend to the next realm without facing any requirements or consequences. It is highly recommended to take this pill, as it could enable you to become one of the youngest aura users to reach the Early-Stage Aura Transformation Realm at just 15 years old."
System Gift: "Your third gift is a one-time-use item that provides a shield against lethal aura attacks that could catch you off guard. This unique item, known as Second Life, can block off attacks from Peak-Stage Aura Transformation Realm opponents, ensuring your safety in critical moments."
System Advice: "Consider becoming a small-time merchant. While you do this, gather information from your customers by selling defective or flawed items related to the Whisperpine Expanse. It is recommended to set your market value between 10 to 50 Bronze Scales for these defective or flawed items. Good luck, Alistair!"