Chapter 66

Among the many common bits of knowledge passed down among the Awakened, although everyone acknowledges that the Ember lineage is truly incapable of fighting, one must simultaneously acknowledge another point—the Artisan's dominance within their own workshop is absolute.

Never mind those of the same rank or stage as the workshop master; sometimes, even a Heavenly Human can find themselves in a tight spot when faced with the ghastly things collected within certain workshops.

It is just like facing a heavily fortified fortress with bare hands; not to mention the ballistae, arrow carts, falling rocks, and rolling logs, there are some disgusting fellows who will simply boil excrement on the ramparts, waiting to splash it onto the faces of intruders.

Ji Jue is deeply convinced that even if the world outside were to crumble and the entire Haizhou were to vanish in an earthquake or be flooded, as long as Professor Ye remained in her own workshop, she could still go about her days as usual.

Its defensive power and suppression capability are just that terrifying and overpowered.

The pity is that a qualified workshop cannot simply be a room with a furnace placed inside. Just as installing electric curtains does not mean the whole house is smart, a workshop is not something as useless as "whole-house smart" technology.

A qualified workshop requires over three generations of Artisans to spend over a hundred years to complete.

It requires a full set of tools covering every aspect of alchemical application, and even specialized modifications based on the techniques inherited from one's own school—and this is merely the foundation of the foundation.

It requires a power source capable of providing all the spiritual quality consumption—in the official channels of the Taiyi Ring, the cheapest mobile small "Sun of Spiritual Quality" is priced at 242,009,411 coins. Don't ask why it has such a specific number; Ji Jue used every coupon he had and was still short by that much.

At the same time, the laying of full-space spiritual quality circuits and the pre-embedding of rune containers involve secret rites and blessings from various Supreme Virtues; Metamorphosis provides a higher yield of excellent products, Heavenly Origin grants the Artisan stronger control, and Vortex allows the Artisan to remain unscathed even if the furnace explodes right in their face.

Not to mention the external defense portion, the risk control system that monitors the overall situation at all times, and the necessary alchemical assistance—each is a bottomless pit, and each is a part that would take an Artisan over a dozen years of painstaking effort to complete.

And the fact that this entire set can be lightweight enough to be compressed and tucked into a pocket to wander around with—the gold content of the Ghostly Work Sphere as a mobile workshop is evident.

It contains all the simple processing tools for temporary emergencies, and the underlying instructions inscribed within its hub are as vast as the sea, sufficient to respond to all unexpected situations in a timely manner. It can even, given its own size, go head-to-head with Mercury's workshop defense system!

Unfortunately, a simplified version is a simplified version after all, and the operator is still Ji Jue, an apprentice who knows nothing but pressing buttons; just defending against the attack was already enough to make it nearly crash.

And now, what they have to face is a Grandmaster who encompasses the entire Rift Realm within their own workshop domain!

A god who is omnipotent within the workshop!

The tragedy of this situation is like Ji Jue, this male brat, entering Mercury's amusement park, leaving only the result of being at the mercy of others. They can flatten him if they want, or roll him into a ball... It wouldn't be surprising if he were thrown into the furnace and refined into a literal thermal weapon.

The good news is that Mercury is dead.

Truly dead!

The bad news is also... Mercury is dead. There is no longer any administrator permission to control the workshop to let them out; they must go head-to-head with a workshop packed with various defense instructions and sterilization programs.

No, what if they didn't die completely...

At the thought of an old ghost from who knows how many years ago staring at him from the shadows, Ji Jue's hair stood on end.

Fortunately, at least Brother Sphere is tough enough.

After taking a direct hit from a spiritual quality invasion and an EMP, it could still reboot and self-start, and was even enough to shake off the workshop's search and help Ji Jue with signal shielding, so he wouldn't be treated as a pest the moment he entered and have to face the workshop's sterilization measures.

At least for now, he is safe.

After the Ghostly Work Sphere unfolds, it can form a safe space with the nature of a primary workshop, and even comes with a shower room and restroom, maximizing the avoidance of the troubles of field survival for the user.

Under the protection of Brother Sphere, Ji Jue and Little An managed to get a good night's sleep.

Five hours later, after both had recovered their states, they set off again, following the clues provided by Brother Sphere, cautiously approaching the church in the center of the city.

To be precise, it was the towering bell tower that remained intact, standing out like a crane among chickens in the Rift Realm filled with ruins and wreckage.

Based on the brief skirmish upon entry, Brother Sphere had already precisely captured the flow of spiritual quality within the entire Rift Realm and marked many key locations.

Among them, the place most likely to be the workshop hub was that bell tower.

Regrettably, the bell tower was far too conspicuous.

It wasn't just them who could notice it; anyone with eyes, after searching a circle, would likely detect the anomaly of the bell tower. Whether there were clues or evidence didn't matter; anyway, one should always take a shot at the tree to see if any dates fall—Rift Realm exploration requires patience and thoroughness.

And some people had already very wisely set their sights on other Awakened.

I can't handle the bell tower, but surely I can handle you?

Who doesn't drop gold coins when they die?

Twenty minutes after setting off, Ji Jue had already dismantled a second tripwire mine from the ruins on the only path... He was truly slightly worried about the mental state of the contemporary Awakened.

How can you all turn every game into a battle royale?

Where did love and peace go?

But since everyone had stopped being upright gentlemen, Ji Jue... was sorry.

He directly reinstalled the tripwire mine in a different direction, then installed a new one in the most conspicuous spot opposite, and issued an instruction with his ability—if anyone tried to dismantle the wire, it would detonate immediately!

"Truly devoid of conscience."

He denounced the despicable and base nature of other black-hearted explorers, while helplessly and indignantly blending in with them.

"Brother Ji Jue, how upright!"

Little An, who had witnessed all of Ji Jue's actions, picked up a pen and recorded in his notebook: He actually didn't deliberately use a maiming gunpowder load to set an ambush after attracting others to approach, but instead gave his opponent a clean and swift death that left no bones behind—truly noble and kind!

Such a firm character shines brightly even in the dark Rift Realm.

And just as he was observing and learning earnestly, the young man's expression changed slightly.

Bai Lu's blessing, premonition of killing intent—Cicada Knows!

"Brother Ji Jue, someone is coming."

The young man, who had difficulty walking, braced his body up from Little Niu Ma, and the sound of iron plates rubbing beneath his sleeves rang out, gradually becoming clear: "It's probably aimed at me. Sorry, I've caused you trouble again."

He took out his folding crutch and was about to get off Little Niu Ma, but was pressed down by Ji Jue.

"Stay put on the vehicle."

Ji Jue shook his head, "I don't have the habit of selling out my teammates."

Not to mention his relationship with Sister Wen, just since entering the Rift Realm, Little An had saved him more times than he could count. If he were to turn tail and run just because of a little trouble now, Ji Jue would look down on himself.

Anyway, it wasn't his first time doing PvP.

He reached out, pulled the shotgun from the gun rack on Little Niu Ma, and racked the slide.

The moment the drone took flight, a loud noise and roar erupted!

Overhead!

The shattered skylight collapsed in an instant!

A massive figure descended from the sky!

At the same time, sharp killing intent came from behind his head!

"Found you!"

Two minutes ago, in a dilapidated building, the Awakened holding a water basin was overjoyed: "They are right in front of us, less than five hundred meters away."

"Can you be sure it's him?"

The burly leader asked vigilantly: "Don't make a mistake."

"Absolutely, the Path of Bai Lu, and he looks like a woman—it can only be the An family. Plus, he has short hair and a limp; it's definitely the target. He's done countless heaven-defying deeds in the Anquan Bureau, and the crowdfunding bounty on the Wild Market is a full seventy million!"

"Don't let the one next to him get away either; he also has a large sum of money on him." The woman sharpening her blade grinned: "I've kept an eye on him, especially before the Rift Realm opened; another large sum was added."

"Very well, stay sharp, everyone."

The leader raised his hand, pressed the pneumatic injection gun against his neck, and pulled the trigger. A full tube of medicine was injected into his artery. Visibly, his face turned crimson, and even his physique expanded further.

A thick carapace grew out from beneath his skin, and in an instant, he transformed into a giant monster over three meters tall. His five fingers were as sharp as knives, yet his movements were incredibly soft. In an instant, he nimbly climbed up the ruins, lurking forward under the constant navigation of the Aether Awakened.

The moment everyone was in position, they grinned silently.

The giant beast clenched its fist and slammed it down onto the floor that could no longer bear the weight.

And so, descending from the sky!!!!

At the same instant, Ji Jue saw Little An, who was sitting on Little Niu Ma, suddenly turn around, and the iron light from his sleeves whistled toward Ji Jue!

In the sudden moment, Ji Jue didn't even move, maintaining his aiming posture.

Aiming at the Awakened falling from mid-air.

Pulling the trigger!

Bang!!!

Two loud noises overlapped, ringing out one after the other.

The slug, inscribed with the Great Group emblem, hit the giant monster Awakened who was pouncing down, causing him to fly backward in mid-air. On the arm protecting his face, the carapace and bones had already developed deep cracks, and he was sweating profusely.

And just behind Ji Jue, a shadow that had appeared inexplicably had its dagger knocked away and broken by the iron plate thrown by Little An. But the counterattack of the two did not stop the attacker's movements.

The giant monster's wounds contracted in an instant, forcibly closing. Amidst the loud noise of the earth shaking, it slammed into the two of them.

At the same time, the attacker lurking in the illusion lunged forward again, aiming for Ji Jue, dealing a ruthless blow. Halfway there, the woman's other hand swept out.

In an instant, five colors emerged from the void, flashing and erupting violently. The scene before them actually began to spin crazily, as if they had been thrown into a tumble dryer.

The world spinning!

Nothing could be seen clearly at all!

Ji Jue only had time to follow Old Zhang's teachings, strengthening his legs with the Bai Lu emblem, springing forward, pouncing, and lying prone.

Marveling and shivering at this skillful and deadly ambush.

To be fair, having a Vortex-line blood-cow Awakened as a tank and main attacker, a Mirror-line Awakened hiding behind as support, then casting control skills, and then assisting others lurking in the dark to attack in coordination... and they even got the first move.

The location was also in these ruins where mechanical creations were few and far between.

Heaven's timing, geographical advantage, and human harmony—they had it all.

If it were just Ji Jue, he would have absolutely died beyond death in this first wave.

Fortunately, there was Little An.

And even more fortunately...

The woman who was following closely behind, the tactical belt around her waist.

You say you're ambushing, fine... but why carry a grenade on you?

Ji Jue, falling in mid-air, crawled on the ground, skillfully assumed a prone position to prevent impact, and clenched his right hand.

——【Explode】!