Chapter 6: Desert Endurance

“Endure for a month?”

Xu Hao glanced at his toolbox.

He wasn’t planning on lasting just a month—the vast desert challenge was his, and even without this event, he would push on.

After all, his assets were nothing more than a paltry 150 yuan in his bank and this desert. He couldn’t just toss it all away.

“Of course, if he’s unbelievably lucky enough to hunt a camel in the desert and snag some water from an oasis, there might be a chance to succeed.”

At that moment, Zhu Qiang cast a look at the other international contestants.

Sure enough, these folks came with the same idea—a single camel could turn the tide.

“Hunt a camel (not the protected species, but a regular wild one)? It’s not that simple!”

Xu Hao gave a bitter smile.

Even if a stray camel did wander into the desert, he didn’t have the bow and arrows needed to take down such a big game.

“Contestants, please note: dinner is served now. After dinner, you’ll have five hours of rest. Five hours later, a helicopter will take you to your assigned oasis. The challenge begins at 7:00 tomorrow morning!”

Before Zhu Qiang could add anything, a staff member stepped forward with a loudspeaker to announce the next phase.

You had to admit…

Tianchen Culture’s knack for organization was impressive. From early morning until now, every contestant and spectator had followed their schedule, leaving no time for independent thought.

“Time to eat?”

Even heavyweights like Lord Bei and Lord De perked up at the announcement.

This was essentially the last official supply drop—eat as much as you can.

After all, even though they were used to harsh survival conditions, spending 100 days in a desert was entirely new; nerves were inevitable.

“Alright, contestants, follow me!”

Snapped back to reality, the staff member, acting like a tour guide, raised a small flag and led the way toward a makeshift tent in the distance.

“Uncle Wang, do these scruffy folks really think they can survive 100 days in the desert? I’m dying to know what they’ll eat and how they’re going to set up camp.”

“Keep it down—if they start making a scene, they’ll be gone in no time!”

Watching the challenge teams file into the tent, a youth in a red high school jacket couldn’t help but sneer.

He had grown up here, yet he doubted anyone could make it even one day in the desert.

“Mind your own business! Once the excitement dies down, go home and sleep. Tomorrow, you’re off to plant boundary stakes in the desert! These slackers will only stick around for three months before packing up. The mysterious buyer is the future of our village!”

At those words…

An embittered, weathered Northwestern man glared at the youth.

The man, Wang Jianhuan—a local born and raised in Hongsha Gang Village and the village chief—spoke up.

A few days ago, county officials notified him that a large area of desert five li from Hongsha Gang had been sold. He was instructed to organize local youths to plant boundary stakes for 100 yuan a day.

After hearing the news, Wang Jianhuan was so excited that he barely slept that night.

It wasn’t for the money—it was for the future of Hongsha Gang Village.

He refused to believe the buyer had snapped up the desert for fun.

“Exactly, that mysterious buyer is our village’s future. If he bought 250 square kilometers of desert, he has grand plans. Once he starts wind-breaking and sand stabilization, our village can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”

Beside him, another man chimed in.

“Alright, alright! Can’t I just listen to you uncles? Worst case, I’ll catch the livestream tomorrow!”

Chastised by his elders, the youth snorted.

But as he turned away, he muttered quietly, “Wind-breaking and sand stabilization? Easier said than done. With all the money spent here, not a single tree can survive. The dunes keep advancing every year—and that capitalist? No amount of cash can burn off all that sand!”

Time seemed to stretch on, but Xu Hao didn’t mind.

Thump, thump, thump! As dawn broke with a hint of light, Xu Hao surveyed the endless, tawny desert and his toolbox before turning toward the sandy hollow behind him.

Last night in the tent, the ten challengers had eaten like there was no tomorrow.

They had devoured every kind of meat and vegetable without discrimination.

To ordinary people, it was food; but to wilderness experts like Lord Bei, Lord De, and Matt, it provided essential amino acids, vitamins, and unimaginable energy.

Dinner passed in quiet—there was no need for chatter when none of them were in direct competition.

Tianchen Culture’s rules were clear: whoever endured 100 days would win 5 million, regardless of who lasted the longest.

They ate until nearly sick, then fell asleep, conserving every ounce of energy in a fiercely competitive manner.

Xu Hao had planned to check his phone and glance at his freshly registered KuaiDou account.

But perhaps due to being overly full or still adjusting from the southern climate to the northwest, drowsiness overwhelmed him within minutes.

When he finally opened his eyes again, the staff were already shouting for everyone to get ready to board the helicopter to their challenge zones.

“Oasis 7!”

Coming back to his senses, still groggy, Xu Hao noticed a sign beside the sandy hollow. As expected, this hollow would be his future camp.

However, when he took a closer look at this so-called oasis, Xu Hao couldn’t help but burst out with a curse, his morning grump instantly evaporating.

“Damn it! You call this an oasis? Where’s the green? Where’s the water?”

The sandy hollow stretched about 400–500 meters. Sure, there were some poplars and sand willows, but most lay haphazardly or with yellow, lifeless leaves—none looked inviting.

Keep in mind, it was summer—a season when trees should be lush and vibrant.

Beside the grove lay a small puddle, roughly 7–8 square meters in area.

The water was nearly gone, the bottom exposed, surrounded by countless animal tracks and even the remains of a creature that had been trapped in mud and eventually dried out to death.

It gave off an ominous feeling…

If it didn’t rain in another 18 days, that tiny puddle might vanish entirely.

“What is this mess?”

Xu Hao felt an urge to shout a curse.

In his mind, a true oasis should be a lake dotted with lush trees and teeming with wildlife.

But what about his?

In all honesty, it was just a barren plot—no green, no water.

No wonder the animals searching for water would avoid it. How could they hunt or survive later on?

Before Xu Hao could vent further, the satellite communicator provided by the crew suddenly sprang to life with a staff member’s voice:

“Attention, contestants! All participants have now been deployed. Please place your livestream equipment in the designated area within half an hour. The challenge will officially begin in half an hour.”

“If any contestant fails to place their equipment in the specified area within the allotted time, it will be considered a forfeit.”