Soon, a blazing bonfire was lit.
On the extremely cold snow-capped mountain, the bonfire provided endless warmth.
Rocks blocked most of the wind, and the last opening was shielded by the panda's broad back.
Dai Xiaomei and Zhou Niannian were exhausted, lying by the fire, already snoring.
With the giant rocks as a windbreak and the panda as a shield, this was a rare haven.
Yao was massaging his leg, appearing to have sustained a minor injury when he accidentally fell into the bottomless abyss.
Jiang Fan, however, gazed at the skeleton, a pitiable victim who had frozen to death here due to the lack of fire.
He suddenly thought of something, stood up, and surveyed his surroundings as if searching for something, his expression shifting.
Yao looked at Jiang Fan and asked in surprise,
"What are you looking for?"
"Since they were professional mountaineers, they must have carried professional climbing tools."
"They are in trouble now, but where are the equipment?"
After explaining to Yao, Jiang Fan began searching the vicinity for the deceased climber's belongings.
After all, a mountaineering backpack contained many treasures, essential items they desperately needed.
Before entering, Jiang Fan had not anticipated climbing a snow mountain.
Thus, they had to rely on makeshift tools, which were no match for the gear of professional climbers.
Logically, a mountaineer's backpack should be large and easy to find.
However, Jiang Fan searched the entire surrounding area and could not find the backpack.
Could it be that a companion had taken the backpack away?
Jiang Fan pondered and deemed it unlikely. There was an unwritten rule in the mountaineering community: if a climber died, their backpack must be left with them.
This was because the backpack contained the climber's most cherished equipment, intended to be buried with them.
Besides, extra climbing gear would be useless and only add weight, wasting energy; at most, they would take food.
Jiang Fan sat down cross-legged to think and suddenly remembered something, starting to search the ground.
Even though the ground was covered by thick snow, Jiang Fan could discern that the soil layer in one spot was distinctly different from elsewhere.
Picking up the entrenching tool, Jiang Fan dug fiercely into the ground.
Indeed, after a few digs, Jiang Fan immediately discovered that the soil layer was hollow underneath.
He dug with renewed vigor, discovering a large hole beneath the soil layer, containing a thick mountaineering backpack.
Jiang Fan immediately became excited, waking Zhou Niannian and Dai Xiaomei to examine the backpack's contents together.
Upon seeing treasure, Zhou Niannian and Dai Xiaomei instantly regained their energy.
The backpack held a surprising amount of treasures, like a small vault.
Jiang Fan found a windproof lighter inside and flicked it. The flame was strong, indicating ample fuel.
There were also a pickaxe and an entrenching tool, along with a coil of climbing rope, all of which Jiang Fan happily accepted.
Additionally, there were some precious climbing bolts, used to secure ropes in rock crevices.
There were three sets in total, a small number, suggesting the rest might have been taken.
Jiang Fan also discovered a small gas canister.
He picked it up and shook it, greatly disappointed. Judging by the sound, it was empty; the gas had long been used up.
Perhaps he could find a place to refill it, so Jiang Fan kept the canister.
Next, he found several pairs of goggles.
These were precious items. Jiang Fan put a pair on each of them and even the panda, with some left over.
"It seems five people have already died..."
Zhou Niannian said, shivering beside him.
Jiang Fan's heart lurched. Yes, Zhou Niannian's guess was highly probable, otherwise, so many goggles wouldn't be left behind.
The others might have perished elsewhere, perhaps burned by a volcano or eaten by dinosaurs.
It appeared to be a professional expedition team, with more than five members.
They carried abundant supplies, even more than Yao, indicating thorough preparation.
Yet, this evidently professional expedition team had succumbed to the snow mountain, highlighting the terrifying nature of this secret realm.
"Look, what's this!"
Dai Xiaomei found a blue glass bottle, shaking it in her hand and showing it off to Jiang Fan!
Jiang Fan's face turned ashen. He suddenly lunged at Dai Xiaomei, pushing her aside.
Dai Xiaomei lost her balance and landed with a splash in the snow.
The glass bottle slipped from her grasp. Jiang Fan caught it, carefully checking for damage before setting it down.
"What are you doing!"
Dai Xiaomei, having finally climbed out of the snowdrift and spitting out ice and snow, said angrily.
"This is used to blast open covered caves on the snow mountain."
"If you shake it too hard, it will explode directly, and it will also explode if exposed to the sun for too long."
Hearing how dangerous it was, Dai Xiaomei's legs trembled with fear.
"Don't mess with it. Let Jiang Fan handle it."
Yao could not bear to watch and warned Dai Xiaomei.
The livestream audience was abuzz with discussion.
"My god, such a dangerous thing."
"Fortunately, Dai Xiaomei took it out to show off. What if she thought it was fun and hid it..."
"Hiding it would be bad enough, but what if she drank it..."
"These women are too much of a hindrance. If it were me, I'd tie them up."
Jiang Fan rummaged through the backpack from top to bottom, finding nothing else.
Unwilling to give up, he searched further below and this time found a blue medicine box.
"What's this?"
Zhou Niannian asked curiously.
"It's an adrenaline shot. When you're at your limit, one shot will make you full of energy."
"When climbing, don't think you're safe as long as you don't fall. Because there's too much moisture in the air, it can unknowingly enter your lungs."
"In such a condition for a prolonged period, symptoms of pulmonary edema will occur, and you might cough up blood."
"If trapped in a sealed cave, it's even worse."
"This is when an adrenaline shot is needed to save your life."
Jiang Fan recounted the climbing knowledge taught by the system, explaining it thoroughly.
"So it's a treasure! Hurry and put it away."
Zhou Niannian immediately reached out to grab the needle case.
"It's empty. Do you think such a treasure would be left behind for burial?"
Jiang Fan chuckled and casually tossed the box away.
Zhou Niannian, still not giving up, picked it up and looked. Indeed, it was empty, and she was instantly disappointed.
After searching the backpack inside and out, the last item found was a diary.
It seemed to have been written by the skeleton during its lifetime.
"Haha, what proper person writes a diary?"
Jiang Fan quipped, but still opened the diary.
After all, a diary could reveal a lot of information.
The diary recorded the sights and sounds experienced by its owner, the skeleton, during their life.