After thinking it through, Qi Xu decisively clicked "Yes."
The [Scrap Collector] work permit had brought him too many conveniences—the abundance of Survival Coins in his account was the best proof.
So... Qi Xu instinctively felt that aligning with his profession would bring him good fortune.
Immediately after, a ceremonious 10-second countdown began.
Then, a brand-new, pink garbage truck appeared!
The design closely resembled the Wuling E10 model, but the cargo bed was noticeably longer—about three meters in length (excluding the driver's seat) and two meters in both width and height.
Qi Xu excitedly rushed to the driver's seat and pumped his fist.
Finally, no more twisting the throttle—now he had a steering wheel and a foot pedal for acceleration.
The fully integrated solar panels seamlessly merged with the vehicle's body. Inside and outside the cargo bed, there were six power outlets each, allowing other devices to be charged.
Sitting in the driver's seat, Qi Xu took a moment to appreciate it. The ergonomic seat was far more comfortable than the makeshift padded plank on his old electric bike.
Thanks to the Beauty Magic Wand, the interior had also been redecorated—no tacky pink overload, but a tasteful blend of white, light pink, and rose-red accents.
On the central console sat a "Survival Calendar," while the front windshield was lined with tiny sprout ornaments, radiating vitality.
The top displayed the time, while the bottom read "Day 7 of Survival"—presumably auto-updating daily. The steering wheel was wrapped in a fuzzy cover, and the rearview mirror was adorned with a knitted "sweater" woven from three colors.
The overall aesthetic was elegant, stylish, and, most importantly, cozy. For someone like Qi Xu, used to rough living, stepping inside felt almost surreal.
Between the driver and passenger seats were charging ports, a small storage compartment, and cup holders.
The passenger side had another storage box upfront, and the seat could fold down into a mini-table or even be hidden with a single button if not needed.
Best of all, you could move directly from the passenger seat into the cargo bed!
In short, it was the perfect blend of looks and practicality. Qi Xu was beyond satisfied. Who dares call this a garbage truck? It’s downright luxurious!
Hopping out, Qi Xu inspected the cargo bed—solid and airtight, despite just being thick sheet metal.
With winter approaching, this upgrade was perfectly timed. At least now he wouldn’t freeze while sleeping.
The only downside? Higher power consumption—eight batteries at once. And with colder weather, batteries would drain faster. Stocking up was a must.
[Congratulations, Player Qi Xu, for being the first in the entire server to upgrade to a Tier-3 vehicle! Would you like to announce this globally? If chosen, you will receive a rare item. This is a one-time opportunity—choose wisely.]
Qi Xu didn’t hesitate. He clicked "Announce!"
In this game, staying low-key wasn’t always an option—or rather, if you wanted to thrive, you couldn’t afford to.
Passing up rewards out of fear of drawing attention would be downright foolish.
Of course, hiding his identity during in-game encounters was fine. Qi Xu had a clear philosophy: no absolutes, just maximizing gains.
No arrogance, no unnecessary showboating—but no backing down either.
Glancing at the notification again, Qi Xu realized—this wasn’t just a regional or district-wide announcement. It was server-wide.
His mind blanked for a second. Holy crap, I’ve just made history.
As far as Qi Xu knew, this game spanned the entire globe. His heart pounded—he was the first among all players dragged into this Highway Survival Game to reach Tier-3!
[Congratulations, Player Qi Xu, for receiving the global announcement reward! I have high hopes for you. Rather than dread the future, face it head-on. May you fear no end and give it your all!]
For a moment, Qi Xu felt like his breath had stopped.
This wasn’t a rebirth or some divine gift. It was the Jade Heart he’d risked his life to snatch from the Snake Den—a place no one else dared enter.
This was his rightful reward! He was always meant to be strong.
Now, Qi Xu’s doubts vanished. That line—"fear no end, give it your all"—struck deep.
If there was still a chance, he’d push his limits. Just one more kilometer than his past life would count as success.
And if he somehow reached the end...
He’d write this journey into a novel. Maybe even become one of those Tomato Novel legends raking in millions!
Qi Xu’s mind cleared, his spirit blazing with determination.
The impending end of the beginner protection period didn’t faze him—if anything, he was eager.
For these seven days, aside from the last silver supply crate, only wooden boxes lined the roads.
But once protection ended, silver, gold, diamond, even obsidian crates would start appearing.
More dangers, but also more opportunities.
Qi Xu swiftly claimed his rewards.
"Congratulations on obtaining: Survival Coins ×100, Clone Puppet ×1, Heart of the Strong, Site Selection Cards ×3, Auto-Retractable Shower ×1, Toilet, Fire-Attuned Red Crystal ×1, Basic/Intermediate/Advanced Vehicle Repair Kits ×3, and Small Group Owner Card ×1."
Another windfall, but Qi Xu had already spent his excitement. He’d expected nothing less from this reward.
With the poise of a seasoned pro, he pulled out the auto-retractable shower.
The shower could be installed anywhere in the vehicle—as long as there was water.
Since installing the auto-water condenser, Qi Xu had been storing every drop in a tank, even if he didn’t need it daily. Connecting the tank to the shower made it fully functional.
Closing the shower door, Qi Xu stared at the gleaming faucet as a dense spray cascaded down. He couldn’t resist belting out a triumphant song, punctuated by the occasional "Whoo!"
Outside the 8-meter safe zone, the growls of monsters paused for a second. They exchanged confused glances—had one of their own just breached the perimeter?
With water no longer scarce, Qi Xu had been washing and changing his underwear daily. But a shower this indulgent? That hadn’t happened in four years.
Hair scrubbed clean, body lathered in soap—he even smelled nice. Sinking into his bed, Qi Xu sighed in contentment.
Today had been thrilling, fulfilling, and wildly profitable.
Player Qi Xu was officially back in the game!
.........
