Chapter 169: Thugs

Of course, sometimes meeting in person isn't a good thing, and because the Designated Player Duel Card doesn't notify the targeted user, many people on the regional channel have recently been sharing online that they used the card to meet their target, only to find the target already in a lovey‑dovey story with someone else.

What everyone is talking about now is exactly this.

Cheng Shuili found it boring, glanced at it and closed it.

Although it's not yet eight o'clock, it's already a new day, so the number of blueprint improvements should have refreshed.

Cheng Shuili took out an energy stone, placed it on the workbench, then pulled the Primary Condensed Water Device blueprint from the bottom, and just as she was about to press Confirm, she felt a pang of regret.

An energy stone is consumed each time; she wasted one yesterday, and if she fails again today…

Cheng Shuili suddenly grabbed the passing Su Rui, "Press Confirm for me!" she said, then covered her eyes and flopped onto the bed.

Su Rui: "……"

She recalled the gacha game she played in a past life; back then she also clicked and didn't dare to look.

Su Rui shook her head, smiled, and pressed Confirm.

Maybe yesterday's failure raised today's success rate, or maybe Su Rui's luck is good today…

A moment later, a brand‑new blueprint appeared on the workbench.

Cheng Shuili quietly opened her eyes a sliver and saw the system prompt chasing her.

【Congratulations! Improvement successful!】

【Obtained new blueprint: Advanced Condensed Water Device Blueprint!】

Luckily it succeeded! Otherwise it would have chased her to death!

Cheng Shuili sprang up from the bed and went to check the blueprint's details.

【Advanced Condensed Water Device Blueprint】

【Effect: Produces ten liters of pure water daily, with built‑in storage!】

【Materials: Plastic x16, Rubber x16, Alloy material x8, Fiber board x8, Wire x2, Energy stone x4】

These materials…

are okay.

Cheng Shuili frowned; after the upgrade, the blueprint seems to require energy stones as a necessity, and even the unupgraded, slightly magical 【Fuel Evolution Device Blueprint】 also needs energy stones.

She took out the remaining energy stones—exactly four—and after crafting she would have none left.

From now on, daily blueprint improvements will just be a mouth‑watering sight.

It was still her first time lacking a material like this; Cheng Shuili sighed and chose to craft.

After all, she has the blueprint; leaving it unused would be wasteful, right?

A completion sound rang, and a metal device about the size of a suitcase appeared on the workbench.

Cheng Shuili examined it and found the top water‑storage lid; the interior looked tiny, unsure how much water it could hold.

【Advanced Condensed Water Device】

【Description: Generates ten liters of pure water daily! The energy from four energy stones opens a huge space; you never have to worry about it filling up—it can't be filled! The display screen shows the current water amount in liters. Click the green button to draw water from the faucet!】

Cheng Shuili's eyes lit up; the description was well written! It explained storage capacity and how to use it. A description should be like this—everything clear!

After a moment of searching, Cheng Shuili indeed found a small inconspicuous display showing the number 10.

It means today's ten liters of water have already been accounted for.

Cheng Shuili called Su Rui over, carefully taught her how to use it, then went to the trade channel to handle the Primary Condensed Water Device she had swapped.

She was hesitant about the price; after searching other trades, she discovered it was being sold for 100 Game Coin each!

100 Game Coin!

When Cheng Shuili saw that number, she stood up immediately; others don't know the cost, but she does!

Four plastics, two rubbers, and two iron blocks! A cost that wouldn't even fetch a Game Coin! Yet it can sell for 100 Game Coin!

Of course, that cost is from Cheng Shuili's perspective. For others it's just a pile of materials plus a 50 Game Coin processing fee, and they have to queue; sometimes they wait two or three days to get it.

Compared to that, a Primary Condensed Water Device that requires no waiting and is only about twenty‑to‑thirty Game Coin more expensive is still very appealing.

Cheng Shuili fell silent; she really needs to consider whether to craft Primary Condensed Water Devices for sale herself.

She lacks materials for the Advanced device, but she has no shortage of Primary materials— they're piled like a small mountain.

She knows the high price is because Primary devices are scarce; if Cheng Shuili flooded the market with a large batch, the price would drop quickly.

Cheng Shuili had an epiphany; she had been wondering how to use the basic materials she'd stockpiled, and today she finally found a good use for them! For materials that anyone can produce, she should sell the finished product directly! For those that require especially picky processing, she should charge a processing fee!

But it's already too late; most people already have Condensed Water Devices, the market is saturated, and if she still wants profit she'll have to wait for the next server merge.

On this ordinary day, a certain swindler finally grew.

8:30 a. m.

Cheng Shuili suddenly received a specially‑highlighted reminder.

It was a message from the small group.

【Xin Xue Chuji】: @Wu Ya Zuo Fei Ji, Lao Da, drifters have appeared. According to the regional channel, these drifters swarm into your vehicle and take all food and drink. But we just encountered a wave; strangely, there were only three of them, and after seeing us they avoided our vehicle and left. Completely different from what the regional channel said.

How many of them?

Cheng Shuili thought for a moment and then remembered it's Ailin's designated training time, and several people used the Designated Player Duel Card together.

Designated Player Duel Card!

A flash of insight struck Cheng Shuili's mind, so… the system sent the Designated Player Duel Card to have them band together to survive the drifters' robbery?

If their numbers exceed the drifters', the drifters won't dare act?

Cheng Shuili opened the regional channel to see others' situations.

"Thugs! These beastmen are thugs! I was driving nicely, and two beastmen were standing right in the middle of the road, so I stopped the car for fear of hitting them. As soon as I stopped, those two beastmen smashed my car window and jumped in. I had no weapon and didn't dare to move, could only watch helplessly as they took all my food and drink! If I'd known I could have run them over, I wouldn't have stopped!"

"How could this thing appear on the road?"

"Haven't encountered it yet, thanks for sharing, I'll keep driving."