Chapter 191

Yang Yixie is now fully focused on dissecting the blueprint, so we must mention the new function unlocked after his 【Modification】 successfully leveled up.

The blueprint design function allows modification and creation based on already obtained blueprints.

However, the system does not grade or categorize the player's results; everything requires the player to research and modify themselves, and if the blueprint design is unreasonable, it will lead to manufacturing failure.

Yang Yixie originally planned to finish this task, then slowly study it after returning to the safe zone, but he couldn't resist the fact that after downloading the game on the computer, the screen became much larger than before, making blueprint assembly much easier.

He quickly succeeded in dissecting the blueprint of that "cleaning robot," and just happened to encounter a plot cutscene, so he decided to take this opportunity to study it thoroughly.

There's no way around it; the time he can spend playing this game each session is really limited.

Ying Duo followed Luo Jinyou in activating "auto-follow," and Yang Yixie also began modifying the blueprint himself.

"Hmm...... It feels like doing a physics experiment problem."

"But the difference is still significant; when doing problems he directly solves for the value based on formulas and principles, whereas this thing is much harder than doing problems."

"Fortunately, he had previously collected many books on runes from Shen Zexi, which allowed him to refer to the text while modifying the blueprint according to his own ideas."

"As long as the rune patterns match up, picking up this thing is still quite quick."

"His biggest problem right now is that the weapons lack variety; they are merely numerous in quantity. Variety can be researched later by himself, but the issue is how to make so many weapons useful."

"He only has two hands, with a limited number of equipments he can wear, so isn't the only option to approach from another angle?"

"Under Chen Mo Zhi's occasional gaze, the fluorescent green energy lines extending from Ying Duo's hands danced about as if alive."

"That poor cleaning robot had already been dismantled by him into a heap of unrecognizable parts, while Ying Duo kept pulling out all sorts of strange and oddly shaped objects."

"They had the Aberrant Species Cores they had just hunted, plus various metal pieces of different sizes, and the fluorescent green lines were rapidly etching runes onto them."

"Just speaking of this, Ying Duo's weapon‑making process is indeed flashy; aside from being a bit hard on the eyes, its entertainment value is maxed out."

"However, Ying Duo's manufacturing is obviously not going smoothly; the few components with etched runes emitted a clear, audible 'hiss' when joined, and the fluorescent green light flickered unstably a few times."

"\"Boom! \""

"A muffled bang sounded, and sure enough, the manufacturing failed."

"The noise was especially harsh in the empty, quiet corridor; besides the failed explosion sound, Ying Duo's hand occasionally sputtered tiny sparks and a wisp of black smoke."

"\"Ying Duo, can you keep it down? \""

"Shen Zexi spoke up in time; he and Min Tianyou were wits‑and‑courage battling ahead, while the unlucky kid behind started causing trouble again."

"Really, they can't have a moment of peace......"

"Ying Duo paused his hand movements upon hearing that, but he obviously had no intention of stopping just then."

"He thoughtfully pulled out two familiar flat‑round devices from his backpack and slipped them into the hands of Luo Jinyou, walking ahead, and Chen Mo Zhi, walking behind."

"Chen Mo Zhi was caught off guard when something was shoved into his hand; he turned it over confusedly to observe it."

"He is only familiar with the instruments possibly used for potion‑making; as for other rune‑based mechanical devices, he knows nothing at all."

"Upon looking up, Luo Jinyou ahead was already quite adept at channeling energy into the device, while Chen Mo Zhi could only imitate him, pouring his own energy in."

"\"Hum...... \""

"The device in his hand emitted a humming sound, proving that this thing had been successfully activated."

"Barely visible energy membranes emanated from the two devices, forming a barrier that enclosed Ying Duo."

"The next moment, a small cluster of firelight flashed in Ying Duo's hand, yet it made no sound."

"Chen Mo Zhi was somewhat surprised; he glanced at the flat‑round device in his hand, then at Luo Jinyou, who habitually just silently poured energy into the device."

"He couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth; Ying Duo, this guy, is really........"

"All ready."

"After dealing with Ying Duo, this noise source, the corridor finally regained its quiet."

"No one knew how long they had walked; the winding upward passage seemed endless."

"Just as everyone began to doubt whether Min Tianyou really knew the way, the one leading at the front, Min Tianyou, suddenly stopped."

"He raised the ore lamp in his hand, illuminating the passage ahead."

"This long dark passage finally reached its end."

"No, more accurately put, it was blocked off."

"A large amount of rubble and broken metal supports mixed together, sealing off the forward passage completely, leaving not even a crack."

"\"Tsk...... \""

"Min Tianyou set down the ore lamp in his hand, feeling that today's plan had gone wrong everywhere. \"Troublesome. \""

"\"What's wrong? Is this road blocked? \""

"Qi Hengyu squeezed to the front to check the situation, tapping with his hand on the rock that blocked the passage."

"\"Did it collapse on its own from age? \""

"After all, this underground base can be traced back to the Old World; even if it has been reactivated in recent years, it's impossible to have renovated it entirely."

"Shen Zexi also stepped forward to inspect; the collapse surface looked uneven, appearing as if it had only recently given way."

"It surely couldn't have been caused by the vibrations from those earlier explosions, could it?"

"Shen Zexi inevitably let his thoughts wander; after all, those one or two individuals fundamentally lack any awareness of being underground."

"But he cannot be certain either, since they now don't even know which part of the underground they have reached."

"\"It's probably not just simple aging disrepair. \""

"Shen Zexi said in a low voice, it likely isn't due to vibration effects; it looks more like something heavy directly crushed and severed it."

"\"Can it be cleared? \""

"Luo Jinyou estimated the volume of the collapse; given the passage's original structure, if he proceeds carefully, perhaps he could slowly carve out a passage."

"But this would take time, and it's still uncertain whether it might trigger further collapses."

"\"Or...... \""

"Qi Hengyu unconsciously glanced behind at Ying Duo, who was still enthusiastically engaged in \"R&D\"."

What this "or" refers to goes without saying.

No way!

Shen Zexi and Min Tianyou almost simultaneously vetoed.

If we really let Ying Duo take action, let alone the risk of explosion, this would be no different from openly telling the Co-Absorption folks what difference there is for them here?

Min Tianyou stared at the collapsing cavern, fell silent for a moment, then quickly made a decision.

"Let's go back to the previous intersection; taking another route can lead us to a safe house where we can rest for a while."

Although they had done considerable disguise along the way, it was only a matter of time before the Co-Absorption people tracked them down.

Because of Ying Duo's meddling, the story's direction increasingly deviated from the script they had written.