Apocalypse Descent: Farming with My Harem

: Ice Seal Age Open Beta Begins

"Axing, big brother is dead!"

"They say he was beaten to death by some workers at the construction site for owing them money!"

Xiangjiang, inside an office building.

Cao Xing heard someone calling his name, glanced at the other party indifferently, and saw a young man in a suit with slicked-back hair.

Then, Cao Xing looked down again.

He was playing a survival adventure game on his tablet called "Ice Seal Age." The art style was realistic, making it a more hardcore survival game.

Players started next to a bonfire because, in this world's extreme cold weather, they could only move safely within the fire's range.

If they stayed away from the fire for too long, the game character would freeze to death.

Players needed to build shelters and unlock various basic constructions.

These constructions could be upgraded by collecting materials; for example, a bonfire could be upgraded to a big bonfire or a melting furnace, and eventually even to an energy tower in later stages.

Apart from that, players could develop a military force or territory technology to unlock different paths...

According to the official announcement, a team mode would be released later.

However, since the game was still in beta testing, Cao Xing didn't see anyone around him playing it, nor could he find any information online.

At this moment, a prompt appeared on the tablet screen.

[The game will enter public testing in two hours and will soon enter maintenance status.]

[More content is being unlocked, stay tuned...]

Was it finally going public?

Cao Xing felt a little excited, and at this moment, the young man with slicked-back hair naturally sat beside him.

Wu Jiahui put an arm around Cao Xing's shoulder, "Axing, you followed the big brother for a while, and he was your boss."

"Aren't you upset that he died?"

Cao Xing put down the tablet, glanced at him, and said: "Come on, after he founded Yongsheng Group and cleaned up, he cut ties with us."

"I've just been his dedicated driver all these years, it's not like there was any real connection."

"Besides, with a heart so black, being beaten to death is nothing unusual."

"True," Wu Jiahui nodded.

At this point, an intriguing smile appeared on his face, "It's a pity big brother spent so many years pursuing Liu Muxue. Just when he was ready to get married, this happened."

"Speaking of which, Liu Muxue is truly a remarkable woman!"

"That figure, and those long legs, tsk tsk, anyone would be mesmerized."

"Too bad big brother couldn't savor it..."

Cao Xing didn't respond to this because his phone vibrated.

After checking it, Cao Xing got up from the sofa, turning to leave.

"Axing, where are you going?"

Cao Xing shrugged, "I'm a driver, where can I go? Of course, I'm off to pick someone up."

...

Cao Xing went to Yongsheng Group's underground garage, expertly finding a deep brown Maybach among the luxury cars.

Entering the car, the interior was extremely luxurious.

The car's value, including the interior, was at least over seven million.

Of course, this car was certainly not his.

Cao Xing was alone, with no family, making it tough to live in a city like Xiangjiang.

Let alone have the money to buy such a luxury car.

Half an hour later, the Maybach stopped at the entrance of a five-star hotel in the city center.

Cao Xing took out his phone and sent a message.

"Sister-in-law, I'm downstairs."

A message came back.

"Okay."

A few minutes later, a tall woman in a black dress walked out from the hotel's entrance.

Her demeanor was poised; the tight-fitting dress outlined a perfect body curve, with her long legs moving gracefully, like exquisite jade artifacts.

This woman was Liu Muxue.

Cao Xing didn't get out of the car; the woman naturally sat in the back of the Maybach.

"Axing, to the funeral home."

Cao Xing nodded, and the car started.

On the way, Liu Muxue took a call, her eyebrows furrowed, seemingly troubled by something.

"I said, agreeing to marry Yongsheng Group was something you requested back then. Now that Chen Jiang is dead, I have no relationship with him."

"Don't think you can use me as a bargaining chip for profit!"

She seemed quite angry, but due to her good upbringing, she quickly calmed the anger in her heart.

"Sorry, Axing," Liu Muxue said softly.

Cao Xing shook his head.

He knew Liu Muxue's character; she wasn't the type to berate people below her because of her status.

On the contrary, she had always been nice to her subordinates, and her reputation outside was good.

Since Liu Muxue quickly rose to fame, the media had done detailed reports on her family and personal experiences.

Her original family wasn't particularly wealthy.

But due to her outstanding looks and figure, she quickly rose to fame after becoming an adult.

Naturally, she attracted attention from many who had ulterior motives.

Yongsheng Group's chairman Chen Jiang, aka Cao Xing's big brother, was among them.

...

The car soon arrived at the funeral home.

Before exiting, Liu Muxue put on a sad expression.

She knew that no matter how much she disliked that man in her heart, she still had to put on a show.

Cao Xing remained in the car waiting.

An hour later, Liu Muxue returned.

It was clear she had cried, her makeup was slightly messed up, with a subtle smoky look.

Her elegant aura was accompanied by a touch of decadence, giving her a unique beauty.

Back in the car, Liu Muxue's expression calmed down, then she said, "Axing, take me back to the hotel."

"Okay."

Cao Xing nodded.

Just as he was about to start the car, everything suddenly went black.

Then, everyone heard a synthesized mechanical voice by their ears.

"The new version update of 'Ice Seal Age' is complete, officially opening the era of public testing. In a minute, all humans on Blue Star will enter this game."

"Game instructions: This is a world where the sun does not shine. It is vast and boundless, but shrouded in cold all day. Your task is to survive in this world."

"Once the game begins, you'll appear next to a bonfire, your flame of survival. Remember! Do not leave the space illuminated by the firelight easily!"

"Your goal is to gather more supplies, expand your territory, and develop more units."

"The new version features family survival mode, with families as units, up to four people per group."

"If you have no relatives, you'll be randomly grouped with people around you."

"So, in this brand-new world, strive to live on..."

...

When Cao Xing regained his sight, he suddenly found himself in an icy snowfield.

Everything before him was covered in ice and snow.

"What the hell, where's my Maybach?"

Before his words finished, an icy coldness swept over him.

Cao Xing felt like he would freeze stiff on the spot in an instant.

"Hiss!"

Cao Xing took a deep breath, instinctively hurrying close to the burning bonfire before him, finally feeling a trace of warmth.

At this moment, a character panel appeared before him.

[Name: Cao Xing]

[Race: Blue Star Human Clan]

[Level: Level 1, 0/100]

[Profession: None]

[Life Value: 100.]

[Power: 4, Agility: 3, Spirit: 5, Constitution: 5]

[Lord Interface: Not open]

[Current Status: Cold]

[Current Temperature: -31°C]

"Damn... this system panel is exactly the same as the one I played on the tablet!"

Then, the second system prompt appeared.

"All Survivors, please choose your professional system as soon as possible."

"Currently, there are five major systems: Cold Iron Mechanic, Polar Warrior, Frost Mage, Aurora Knight, Snow Hunter."

Cao Xing's eyes lit up with joy.

He could choose a profession!

Clearly, these professions were the same as the ones he had played before.

Of course, Cao Xing knew that these five professions did not have significant combat power in the early stages.

For instance, the Cold Iron Mechanic's early skill was summoning a small self-destructing robot, and its power wasn't even comparable to the firecrackers we used to blow up outhouses in childhood.

The Polar Warrior just had a simple slash attack.

The Frost Mage was a little better with an initial Ice Ball Skill.

As for the Aurora Knight and Snow Hunter, they had Purification Skill and Hunter Perception, respectively.

To truly gain extraordinary power, one needed to continuously develop and acquire more skills.

Cao Xing thought, "I have experienced all five professions before when playing this game."

"The strongest is naturally the Mechanic, but it's a late-game profession, and the material consumption is too high."

"In the early stages, both Polar Warriors and Snow Hunters are strong, but they become weak in the late stages."

At this moment, realization dawned on Cao Xing's face.

"I see, this game introduced the family survival mode so we Survivors can allocate professions reasonably, safely passing through early, middle, and late stages, and survive better."

However, Cao Xing glanced beside him.

Apart from him, there was only Liu Muxue here.

Although he didn't know why he was grouped with her, now was not the time to think about it.

She was looking at the bonfire with a bewildered expression, seemingly trying to digest the system's prompt.

Cao Xing understood, "It seems that achieving the four-person cooperation mode is not possible."

So... What profession should he choose?

After a moment of contemplation, Cao Xing directly chose "Frost Mage."

A system prompt appeared.

"Congratulations! You have successfully chosen the profession: Frost Mage. Elemental Affinity unlocked, slightly increased Cold Resistance, and initial equipment placed in Storage Box."

Cao Xing breathed a sigh of relief, and just as he was about to search for the initial Storage Box, a second system prompt solemnly appeared!

[Detected that Survivor 'Cao Xing's fate aligns with this world. Personal Talent: Eternal Power has been activated.]

[Eternal Power (Hidden Unique Talent)]: Causes all friendly units within the territory to gain permanent enhanced status when receiving temporary enhanced status.

Cao Xing was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed, "Holy shit! Cheat mode activated!"