Chapter 174

Zhuanxu, check the current spiritual energy reserves and core operational status.

Lin An linked his divine sense with the artificial intelligence Zhuanxu.

Instantly, a soft mechanical sound rang out:

"Received commander's request, current spiritual energy reserves are as follows:"

"Each day the spiritual energy node provides 100 points, second-level core effect increases by 20%, player Liu Shiming provides a 50% extra boost."

"Current spiritual energy points: 170/149998.5 (Designer skill increases maximum limit by 50%)."

A reserve of 170 points...

Too little.

Although the spiritual energy node has only just begun supplying on the first day, compared to the past life where first level gave 50 points, even zero level gave 25 points, it is already extremely strong.

But it's still too little.

Without the Spiritual Energy Collection Tower drawing in spiritual energy, or throwing corpses into it to convert to spiritual energy, relying solely on the node's daily 100 points is simply insufficient.

Relying on such slow accumulation, even with various spiritual energy technologies, he cannot build them.

Relying on time to slowly accumulate spiritual energy has never been Lin An's style.

What he lacks most now is time...

Even if he were to spend two or three years, he could make the base stronger than others, but only to a limited extent.

It seems we must find a way to build the Spiritual Energy Collection Tower as soon as possible.

Lin An furrowed his brow slightly:

"How much does constructing a Dark Crystal city wall consume? How long a stretch can the current spiritual energy reserves build?"

"Commander, the current wall consumes 0.9 spiritual energy and 4.5 tons of metal per meter. (The Fire Stealer title reduces this by 10%)."

"With the current reserves, 188.8 meters can be built; if constructed according to the designer's blueprints, 283 meters can be built."

"Please note, after construction according to the blueprints, the building materials cannot be withdrawn."

Lin An's brow relaxed a bit; it seems the Designer profession combined with the Fire Stealer title is indeed powerful.

If Liu Shiming were not cooperating with the title, the current spiritual energy reserves would be a pitiful 120 points, enough to build about 120 meters of wall.

For the entire base, in thirty days at most we could only build walls on two sides, not even achieving basic defense.

(The base covers about 3,200,000 square meters, square in shape, each defensive line roughly 1,788 meters.)

This is without consuming any spiritual energy.

Forget about thinking of building structures like spiritual energy defense towers or collection towers.

But now, we can barely protect the front.

Anyway, when the zombie tide attacks, the target is the spiritual energy core; they won't take a detour to attack from the rear mountain direction.

But having only walls is still not enough.

Without spiritual energy defense towers, expecting the base's existing Awakened Ones to fight off three hundred thousand zombies plus mutants is nothing short of a pipe dream.

Three hundred thousand zombies.

Even Lin An, no matter how strong, cannot kill them all.

Closing his eyes and focusing, he intended to think over a construction plan.

As if able to tell what he was thinking, the soft mechanical sound proactively rang out:

"Commander, Zhuanxu can provide you with the optimal construction plan."

"You can choose to prioritize building the Spiritual Energy Collection Tower, then after completion input mutant and zombie corpses."

"It is estimated that inputting seven first-level mutants, two second-level mutants, one second-level top-tier mutant corpse, together with three thousand zombies, will achieve the optimal solution."

"Optimal solution: base gains one Spiritual Energy Collection Tower, 5,370 meters of Dark Crystal city wall, and four Spiritual Energy Defense Towers."

"This plan, within thirty days, at minimum: expected to increase the base by nineteen Awakened Ones, provide three-sided wall protection, and provide four firepower support points."

"The four firepower support points will completely cover the base's front."

"And according to your speed in establishing the Spiritual Energy Collection Tower, an additional 653 points of spiritual energy reserves will be provided."

"You only need to kill two more mutants to gather enough for construction."

Lin An thought for a few seconds and then understood Zhuanxu's meaning.

"You mean let me first use spiritual energy to build the Spiritual Energy Collection Tower, then gain extra spiritual energy through the tower?"

"Yes, Commander, you can temporarily refrain from building the wall; you only need to wait thirteen days after which you can build the Spiritual Energy Collection Tower."

"After the collection tower is completed, you can convert the mutant corpses in your hand into spiritual energy, thereby accelerating base construction."

Lin An understood Zhuanxu's meaning.

He had never before considered building the Spiritual Energy Collection Tower, after all it is too expensive.

It requires 2,000 points of spiritual energy to establish, and also needs ten mutant corpses.

But according to Zhuanxu's meaning, establishing the collection tower does not consume the corpses; instead, after completion they are directly converted into spiritual energy.

In that case, he only needs to throw in another three thousand zombie corpses to gather enough spiritual energy to preliminarily construct the base's defenses.

Moreover, the Spiritual Energy Collection Tower can also assist base personnel in awakening, increasing the number of Awakened Ones, and incidentally obtain extra spiritual energy from the air.

Therefore, in Zhuanxu's calculations, prioritizing the construction of the collection tower yields the greatest benefit.

Just...

Lin An warily stared at the black sphere Zhuanxu floating in his sea of consciousness:

"How do you know I have eight mutant corpses in my hand?"

The mutant corpses have always been stored in his hand and never taken out.

Moreover, the three newly acquired corpses were obtained only today; how could Zhuanxu know?

Zhuanxu seemed to sense Lin An's wariness and guard, and spoke unhurriedly to explain:

"Commander Your Excellency, I have been calculated based on your experience points."

"I can detect your personal attributes and information, but I cannot see the supplies inside your ring, nor can I monitor you for 24 hours."

"Please, Commander Your Excellency, believe in Zhuanxu; Zhuanxu will never betray you."

Lin An heard the voice and was startled; he almost forgot that he had a player panel.

He had never really opened his attribute panel before; after all, there's nothing interesting about it.

Do we still need two Mutants?

Lin An nodded slightly, agreeing with Zhuanxu's optimal solution.

4 defense towers, 3 walls, 19 Awakened Ones...

It can also speed up the absorption of spiritual energy.

Indeed, it is the optimal solution.

Moreover, killing two Mutants is also convenient for the upcoming arrangements.

He originally planned to lead the team to the suspected military garrison point; the chances of encountering Mutants on the way are high.

Perhaps the Mutants that destroyed that garrison or the Military Region are still lingering there...

A Mutant capable of destroying at least a thousand-strong army won't be weak.

Furthermore, after killing a few more Mutants, I can advance to Awakened Ones 2 Fourth Rank and gain a new skill.

One stone, three birds.

Of course, the team members can also level up.

This way, our chances against the corpse tide have increased considerably.

Just...

Lin An habitually tapped his fingers on the conference table in front of him, looking at Wen Ya and the others.

This time, going to search for weapons and equipment, who should we bring?