However, after this upgrade, Dong Qi realized he still didn't fully understand his awakened ability.

  The information that appeared in his mind was only based on his own knowledge and awareness.

  If something was beyond his understanding, no corresponding information would surface in his thoughts.

  But since the Life-bound Artifact can be powered by electricity, could it potentially be driven by steam in the future?

  To be honest, if it truly comes to the apocalypse, neither electric nor fuel power is as practical as steam power.

  However, most steam-powered engines are not small.

  While it's not impossible to install steam power in a car, it would require at least a large heavy-duty truck to accommodate it.

  The reminder given to Dong Hao yesterday was also a reminder to himself.

  Originally, quite a few supplies were stored in the basement, but most of them were ready-to-eat products.

  Although they are convenient and can be stored for a medium to long term, these items are not suitable for long-term stockpiling.

  Only things like vacuum-sealed rice, compressed biscuits, and various canned goods or military-style rations are suitable for long-term storage.

  More importantly, the water reserves in Dong Qi's basement are not plentiful, and most of it consists of various beverages.

  While there is purified water, the stock is not substantial.

  Therefore, after daybreak, Dong Qi went to the market again to purchase the urgently needed supplies.

  To be honest, although the snow disaster has just ended and there is a shortage of supplies in the urban areas, it doesn't mean the entire city is lacking.

  The shortage in the urban areas is due to the prolonged snow disaster, which caused some people to panic-buy and hoard, while some unscrupulous merchants took advantage to corner the market and stockpile goods.

  In reality, major supermarkets and wholesale companies have basically built professional storage warehouses in the suburbs, each with ample reserves.

  If it weren't for the roads being blocked by snow, daily life for urban residents wouldn't have been greatly affected.

  The wholesale market near Dong Qi is actually established around the warehouse cluster area, so most goods available in the city can be purchased in bulk here.

  Compared to the daily consumables bought last time, even if no natural disaster occurs in the future, Dong Qi alone can slowly use up those supplies.

  This time, Dong Qi purchased reserve supplies.

  If his guess is correct, it will be fine.

  But if the snow disaster turns out to be just a one-off event, and he later wants to clear out the stockpiled supplies, he will probably have to sell them at half price to second-hand dealers.

  Dong Qi's premonition was not wrong.

  This snow disaster did not occur in isolation, and the emergence of the Awakened has had a significant impact on Blue Star.

  In fact, on the day the snow melted and recovery work began, an Awakened who had developed the ability of foresight had already sensed signs of the next disaster.

  Perhaps because he had just awakened, the prophet only predicted that a disaster was imminent but did not foresee the specific time of its arrival or the exact nature of the disaster.

  Although the imperial authorities learned of this prophecy in time, because they did not obtain specific information about the impending disaster, they initially only formulated various disaster response strategies.

  This meeting was not like previous ones, dragged out and protracted.

  Although many different disaster response strategies were developed, the entire meeting was precise and efficient.

  Everyone attending the meeting knew that natural disasters would not show them any special favor because of their status.

  If they did not prepare in advance, they too could die due to insufficient preparation.

  Therefore, during the meeting, when it came to some response plans that harmed their personal or factional interests, they not only did not evade or oppose them but quickly nodded in agreement.

  However, even though this meeting was highly efficient, many people, intentionally or unintentionally, purchased and stockpiled large quantities of supplies in advance.

  By the time some people heard the news and wanted to stockpile supplies in large quantities, the vast majority of commodities across Great Xia had already begun imposing purchase limits based on identity cards, restricting each person to buying no more than a one-week supply of essential goods at a time.

  After receiving Dong Qi's reminder, Dong Hao originally hadn't planned to purchase much—just a small reserve.

  However, because his work schedule was quite busy and he couldn't get leave approved, he could only inform his parents and ask the retired couple to help with the shopping.

  When Dong Hao's parents learned about this, having lived through years of famine, they didn't follow his suggestion of buying only a small amount. Instead, they spent a large portion of their pension funds in one go to stockpile a significant quantity of goods that could be stored long-term.

  Dong Hao never expected his parents' shopping efficiency to be so high. In just one day, by the time he returned home from work in the evening, the house was already filled with a large stockpile of supplies.

  Seeing the various supplies piled up throughout the house and learning that the elderly couple had spent most of their savings in a single day, Dong Hao did not blame his parents.

  Even though his parents had used up a large part of their savings at once, it was done at his suggestion.

  As Dong Hao's father put it, "No matter the circumstances, having reserves brings peace of mind." If no further disasters occurred in the future, the family could gradually use up the stockpiled supplies, so it wouldn't be considered a waste.

  After hearing his parents say this, Dong Hao checked the types of stockpiled goods again. Noticing there was no purified water, he then suggested, "Dad, since we've already stocked up on so much, why not go buy some purified water to keep at home too?

  Also, I remember Uncle's second son sells filtration materials. Let's buy some of those as well. If a disaster really happens as Dong Qi said, having clean water will be crucial."

  "Why buy purified water?" his mother interjected before he could finish. "Your father and I can just find some buckets and fill them with tap water. A few bottles of mineral water cost as much as a ton of water fees!"

  Before Dong Hao could respond, his father directly countered, "Son is right. Tap water isn't always available. Have you forgotten the pipes freezing during the snow disaster? Although we could melt snow then, that water wasn't clean.

  If we'd had filtration materials at home, we wouldn't have been so worried about drinking water.

  Since we've already stockpiled so much, and water isn't expensive, let's listen to our son. I'll go buy more tomorrow.

  As for the filtration materials, that's easy too. We'll buy some to keep at home. If we end up not needing them, as long as they're unopened, we can always sell them at a discount later."

  Seeing her son and husband in agreement, Dong Hao's mother didn't say anything more.

  Their initially anxious feelings about stockpiling such a large amount of supplies became mixed with complexity when they heard the authorities had started limiting purchases of daily necessities.

  On one hand, they felt justified in having prepared supplies in advance.

  On the other hand, they sincerely hoped their actions would prove unnecessary, as that would mean future stability.

  However, regardless of the authorities' reasons for limiting supplies, one thing was clear: life from now on might become less stable.