The Apocalypse Shelter System

Di Ping selected a three-story villa of more than 600 square meters as the building to be linked, thinking that its design resembled that of a tavern and that its size was just right. It was also conveniently located near the castle, and he intended to build all these structures around the castle for easier management.

Standing in front of the villa, Di Ping once again opened the system interface and excitedly clicked on the tavern icon.

"Beep… Would you like to bind this building to the tavern?"

The system emitted another beep.

"Yes!"

Di Ping quickly confirmed in his mind.

"Beep… Consuming 5 Crystal Coins to materialize the tavern."

A beam of light appeared above the villa once again, surreal and dreamlike, with magical light effects flashing back and forth. The villa began transforming, as if morphing into the shape of a tavern. In just one or two minutes, the light faded, and a three-story tavern, blending both Chinese and Western architectural elements, appeared. The tavern had traditional Chinese features, with intricately carved beams and flying eaves, but the windows were made of glass, allowing a view of the soft lighting inside. The interior featured traditional Chinese tables, but there was also a long Western-style bar counter. The tavern was an interesting blend of East and West, but the overall appearance was still harmonious and reasonable. In front of the tavern hung a flag with the Chinese character "酒" (wine), fluttering in the wind.

"Master, Steward Wu An welcomes you!"

At this moment, a burly middle-aged man of Eastern descent hurried out of the tavern, descending the stairs with a bright smile to greet Di Ping.

"Hello, Steward Wu!"

Having already met Barton and Derlin, Di Ping was no longer surprised, knowing this was likely another management figure provided by the system. He greeted him politely.

"Master, you humble me!"

Wu An bowed with an anxious expression, repeatedly saying he was not worthy.

"Alright, Steward Wu, no need for formalities. You can be casual around me from now on!"

Di Ping smiled and interrupted Wu An.

"Master!"

Wu An looked deeply moved, but also somewhat uneasy. He was about to refuse, but was immediately cut off by Di Ping's wave of the hand.

"Enough, Steward Wu. Show me around the tavern!"

Di Ping was eager to recruit heroes, and did not have time to engage in unnecessary pleasantries with Wu An.

"As you command, Master!"

Wu An, not daring to say more, led Di Ping through the tavern.

The tavern was spacious, with a floor area of about three to four hundred square meters on the first floor, filled with many tables. However, there was not a single person in sight. Only two servers were standing behind the bar, bored and wiping glasses. When they saw Di Ping and Wu An enter, they immediately straightened up and saluted Di Ping with respectful nods. At Wu An's gesture, they lowered their heads again and returned to their tasks.

Led by Wu An, Di Ping toured the various sections of the tavern and discovered that it served more than just as a drinking establishment. In addition to serving alcohol, it functioned as a task center, similar to a mercenary guild. At the far end of the first floor, there was a window with a large screen displaying scrolling task information. Mercenaries in the tavern could accept tasks from this screen and claim their rewards after completing them.

This function reminded Di Ping of a mercenary guild in a novel. He had a sudden flash of inspiration, though he knew it was still too early to act on it. When the time was right, he could implement the idea.

The first floor served as a gathering space for mercenaries to drink, socialize, and exchange information. The second floor was made up of private rooms for those seeking a quieter place to meet. There were about twenty rooms in total, and it was currently empty. Di Ping continued up to the third floor.

The third floor was not open to just anyone; there was a black iron door tightly shut with two armored guards holding large swords standing watch.

"Identity verification, access granted!"

As they approached, a green light scanned Di Ping and Wu An. Di Ping instinctively prepared to dodge but realized the light was just a scan. The light faded, and a cold voice from the guards confirmed their identity, causing them to step aside and open the iron door.

"Steward Wu, what are these guards?"

Di Ping was confused. The guards looked like iron statues, but their movements were fluid and lifelike. The sound of their voices also seemed off. He quietly asked Wu An.

"Master, these are the tavern's combat automatons!"

Wu An explained. Di Ping was astounded. The system was incredibly mysterious, now even providing combat robots. However, considering that even people like Wu An had been created by the system, it didn't seem too far-fetched.

They passed through the iron door and ascended to the third floor, which was the core area of the tavern. Here, Di Ping discovered that not only could he recruit heroes, but it also served as a place for career advancement. Anyone who had unlocked their potential could come here for career inheritance and skill learning. Additionally, heroes could return to further their skills once they reached certain levels.

As Wu An led him through the area, explaining its functions, Di Ping's excitement grew. This was exactly what he needed. He had unlocked his talent, but he didn't yet know any martial arts—just his brute strength. This tavern was a perfect fit for his current needs, and Di Ping realized that it would become a sacred place for many adventurers.

The third floor was simple and straightforward in design, with no complex structures. The centerpiece was a raised black platform about one foot tall, surrounded by a mysterious three-sided pillar. The pillar, which tapered from a thick base to a narrow top, was covered in dense, cryptic runes that seemed to swirl around it. The sight made Di Ping dizzy, and he quickly looked away, avoiding further inspection.

Wu An explained that anyone who met the requirements could place their hands on the pillar, which would guide them through the inheritance process and teach them skills.

"Where do I recruit heroes?"

Di Ping looked around, but could not find any recruitment area. Then, he had a sudden realization: "Could the recruitment also be done through the system?"

He quickly opened the system interface, and sure enough, the tavern icon was lit up. He clicked on it, and a familiar interface appeared, showing 10 hero slots, all currently empty. At the bottom were buttons for new recruitments, upgrading the tavern, and leaving. Di Ping was overjoyed. The recruitment system was just like in a game.

"Please, gods of fortune, let me summon a high-potential hero!"

Di Ping silently prayed, hoping to summon a high-level hero. In games, it was rare to summon high-level heroes without using special recruitment tokens. He was hoping for a lucky draw.

After a brief moment, the screen displayed three hero cards. Di Ping sighed in disappointment when he saw all three were D-level. "Such bad luck! Not even a C-level hero!"

But he didn't give up and tried again, hoping for better results.

The screen displayed the message, "Use 1 Crystal Coin" and another option, "Use Legendary Recruitment Scroll." Di Ping chose to use his Crystal Coins, as he couldn't afford the Legendary Scroll.

Once again, the cards shuffled, and Di Ping couldn't help but feel a mix of frustration and disbelief. There were still only D-level heroes. His hopes were dashed once again, but he decided to try once more.

"Use 5 Crystal Coins," the system prompted.

He felt a cold chill. He had already used 5 Crystal Coins on the tavern construction, and now he only had a few left. After exchanging some of his Crystal Cores for more, he was down to only 16 Crystal Coins. It would have to do.

After another tense moment, the screen displayed three heroes again, and this time, Di Ping could hardly believe his eyes. Among the heroes was one B-level hero. His excitement surged. He had finally managed to recruit a hero of higher potential.

"Choose!" Di Ping said eagerly. He quickly selected the B-level hero, only to be stunned again when he saw that recruiting the hero required 50 Crystal Coins. He had no choice but to settle for a C-level hero.

With only 16 Crystal Coins left, he opted for the C-level hero, a burly barbarian named Bu Ji. Although disappointed, he knew this was his best option.

"Confirm! Use 10 Crystal Coins!"

With that, the hero slot was filled, but the recruitment process was far from over.

"Where is he?"

Di Ping looked around in confusion, but just as he was about to ask Wu An, the mysterious three-sided pillar suddenly began to move. The center split open, and a bright light burst from within. A figure slowly emerged from the glowing energy.

Chapter 0032: Tavern Recruitment of Barbarians

The intense brightness forced Di Ping to shield his eyes, and when the energy suddenly contracted, a towering figure appeared in the center of the column space. A fierce, brutal aura erupted from this figure, slamming into Di Ping like a solid shockwave. It struck him like a powerful wave, forcing him to stagger back two or three steps before regaining his balance.

Di Ping was greatly alarmed; he had not expected this recruitment hero to be so powerful. Even before the figure revealed itself, the mere pressure from its aura made him retreat, despite his enhanced strength, which had surpassed three or four thousand pounds. If he couldn't even resist the aura, the hero must be incredibly strong. Di Ping felt a surge of anticipation for the hero.

"Boom!"

At that moment, the massive figure suddenly moved, stepping out of the light with a thunderous stomp. The ground shook as if a mammoth had just stepped down, the force of the impact reverberating through the space.

"Master, Bujie answers your call!"

The figure stepped out of the light and, upon seeing Di Ping, suddenly flashed a sharp gaze. He knelt on one knee, his voice thunderous, causing the entire space to hum with a deep resonance, nearly deafening Di Ping.

"Please rise! There is no need for such formalities, hero!" Di Ping placed his hands over his ears, trying to steady himself before addressing the kneeling figure.

"Thank you, Master!"

The massive figure stood up in response, and at that moment, Di Ping truly understood what it meant to be muscular. The figure was about 1.8 meters tall. While not extremely tall, his physique was imposing, with a broad chest like two hills, and arms like thick pillars, covered in veins resembling the roots of a sturdy tree.

Bujie, the barbarian, had a Western European appearance, with red hair, a bushy red beard, eyes like brass bells, a wide nose, and a rugged face. He resembled a barbarian from a dark fantasy world, exuding an aura of primal savagery. His sheer presence alone, despite not having any weapons or armor, exuded an immense pressure that made anyone reluctant to meet his gaze.

Di Ping was a little frustrated inside, as the system, much like the games he knew, hadn't equipped him with any weapons. It was stingy with such details.

The more Di Ping looked at the barbarian, the more he liked him. This was a C-rank hero, and while he wasn't sure of Bujie's exact combat strength, the mere pressure from his aura had forced him to retreat. Add to that his immense muscles, and it was clear that Bujie's strength would not be lacking.

"Race: Barbarian; Potential: C-rank; Level: 1st Stage Level 1; Skills: Strike, Cosmic Strike, Wild Dance; An underground race, but unlike his fellow underground dwellers, he possesses unique resilience. He longs for the surface world and was exiled from the underground. He answers the call of his protector to fight for his cause in the world above!"

Di Ping glanced at Bujie standing silently beside him. Unable to resist, he used the "Inspect" skill to check the hero's stats. The display was simple, only showing the hero's race, potential level, and profession level. Despite being enhanced several times, Di Ping felt that Bujie was clearly stronger. This feeling was strange but undeniable.

Looking at Bujie's listed skills, Di Ping suddenly realized the difference between himself and Bujie. He had strength and speed, but his skills, aside from the non-combat skill "Inspect" and the passive "Flame Enhancement" (which he still didn't know how to use), lacked any real offensive capabilities. His combat options were severely limited.

Filled with excitement, Di Ping turned his attention to the column. The system had been urging him to activate the tavern to complete his class transition. Now that the tavern was ready, and he had recruited a C-rank potential hero, his next step was clear: completing his class transition would greatly improve his strength and survival chances in this post-apocalyptic world.

"Wu An, do I place my hand here?" Di Ping, with a mix of nervousness and determination, stepped forward, pointing at the column that had returned to its original state, looking at Wu An, who had been following him.

"Yes, Master! Place your hand on it and focus your mental energy on the column," Wu An quickly explained.

"Alright!"

With a calm expression, Di Ping extended his hands toward the column. His movements were slow and deliberate, betraying his inner tension. Despite his composed exterior, his slightly trembling palms revealed his anxiety.

When his hands finally touched the column, it felt cold to the touch, like black iron. The chill ran up his arm, and Di Ping focused his mental energy on the intricate runes etched into the column.

As he did, his mind began to blur. The runes on the column seemed to come to life, flashing and changing colors. Suddenly, an even colder sensation surged into his body, sending a shiver down his spine, as if he had fallen into an ice cavern, causing him to tremble uncontrollably.

"Beep… Potential level B, profession activation conditions met. Please select your profession."

A cold voice echoed in Di Ping's mind, and at the same time, his vision darkened. He found himself standing in a vast plaza, over two hundred square meters, its floor decorated with white bas-reliefs depicting battle scenes. Warriors wielding swords, mages with staffs, and barbarians wielding axes were shown fighting various beasts. The intensity of these battles was palpable, even without looking at the details.

Surrounding the plaza were six statues, each representing a different profession. The warrior was holding a sword high, the barbarian wielding an axe, the marksman aiming a rifle, the rogue crouching with a short blade, and another statue depicted a priest wielding a hammer.

Di Ping quickly recognized the profession statues. He liked the warrior the most—charging forward with a sword in hand was the kind of fighting style that appealed to him. He was not one to hide behind spells or firearms, and stealthy rogue or healing priest were not for him.

Without hesitation, he stepped towards the warrior statue, sensing a mysterious energy emanating from it. When he reached it, the statue radiated a faint but unmistakable pressure, suggesting it contained great power.

"Beep… Select warrior, confirm?"

Without further thought, Di Ping confirmed his choice.

"Beep… Transition begins!"

The moment he confirmed, the statue's eyes flashed with a blinding light. The light shot directly at Di Ping, and before he could react, he was engulfed in a cocoon of energy. His consciousness faded as he sat down, entering a meditative posture, his hands forming a seal, and his eyes closed, as if deep in thought.

The process felt long but only lasted a minute. When the light retreated, Di Ping remained seated, still in his meditative posture, his expression calm. After a few more seconds, his eyes snapped open, a fierce glint flashing briefly across them.

"Beep… Warrior transition complete. Consumed five crystal coins."

A cold voice echoed in his mind, and Di Ping, startled, jumped to his feet. He was too frustrated to care about his new profession; the system had charged him five crystal coins for the transition, leaving him with only a single crystal coin.

"Dammit!"

He cursed loudly, feeling betrayed. All the coins he had painstakingly earned were now gone.

But despite the anger, there was no response from the system—it just carried on, as if indifferent to his complaints. Still, Di Ping was reassured by one thing: his profession transition had been successful. Strengthening himself in this world, he was ready for whatever came next.

When he focused on his newfound abilities, Di Ping couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. His strength had increased dramatically, going from over three thousand pounds to about four thousand. While he couldn't measure it exactly, he could feel the change. His strength had grown by at least a third, making him feel incredibly powerful—he now possessed two tons of raw power. The possibilities seemed endless.