Through the tunnel, Lin Ye found the Eyeball Monster’s lair. There was a white portal there and some Waste Stone embedded in the walls. The number of Waste Stones wasn’t large, but they were likely the Eyeball Monster’s selected treasures.

The loot space was already full, so Lin Ye had no choice but to put those Waste Stones into woven bags. Then he slung two woven bags over his shoulder and left the Waste Zone through the portal.

To Lin Ye’s surprise, Number 43 had followed him through the portal into the station.

He didn’t think the system had malfunctioned. This might be related to the Waste Zone’s special nature—because the Waste Zone itself contained portals, it was likely connected to the system in some way, perhaps even part of the system.

The white portal might originally have had a function that connected to the station, so even if someone wasn’t a Survivor, they could still reach the station through it.

The question now was where Number 43 would be sent.

“A train will arrive at the station soon. We need to take it and leave. After that, where you go will be your own decision.”

Lin Ye leaned against the bench and said to Number 43.

“Thank you. I’m a little scared, but I’ll decide where to go… This is the first time I’ve felt this—this unknown feeling.”

Number 43 nervously touched her chest, but for the first time she showed a normal smile.

“That’s probably anticipation. When I first left my hometown, I felt something similar for a short time. Don’t be afraid—many places in this world aren’t as dangerous as that pitch-black station.”

Lin Ye taught Number 43 the basic spiritual energy circulation, synthesized the Eyeball and the Root Systems, and Number 43 was no longer an ordinary little girl.

Number 43 learned very diligently; she didn’t want to return to that pitch-black station, nor did she want to sit on the ground and wait to die.

Lin Ye: I’m out now, waiting at the station. How are you all doing?

Truso: I’m almost out too… though I might not make it.

Charlotte: I found a white portal, but I still have some things to finish.

Zhou Yi: I should be almost out as well. Sigh, I wasted a lot of time over there, otherwise I would’ve left earlier.

Lin Ye: Let me know if you need anything. I’m pretty free. If I knew it would be this simple, I should’ve mined a bit more before coming out.

Zhou Yi: I really want to swap places with you. Here I only have a school building I can’t find the exit of—there’s nothing worth taking back.

Lin Ye: I’d like to see your side too, but I can’t control the portals.

Charlotte: I don’t want to go there. Waste Stone isn’t something you can dig up casually.

Zhou Yi: Fine, I don’t want to go either.

Truso: Add me as a friend after we get out, though I might not make it out.

After a few words, the three teammates went silent. The chat room grew very quiet—obviously, things weren’t so easy on their end.

While teaching Number 43 energy circulation, Lin Ye studied the mental techniques in his head. Nearly an hour later, Charlotte finally stumbled out of the portal looking disheveled.

Next came Zhou Yi, who had it even worse than Charlotte—his clothes were torn off, and his exposed upper body was covered in scars.

There was no news from Truso until the train arrived. He barely burst out of the portal and nearly missed the train.

Charlotte had borrowed Lin Ye’s Lucky Coin; she wanted to use it to confirm her family’s situation, but the result didn’t seem favorable.

They all added each other as friends and rode the train back to the Shelter.

When Lin Ye got off, Number 43 was still on the train. They waved goodbye; Lin Ye didn’t know if they would ever meet again.

…………………………

[Station Mission completed — rewarded: special metal treasure chest *1]

[Extra Mission 1 completed — rewarded: extra mission treasure chest *1]

[Extra Mission 2 completed — rewarded: extra mission treasure chest *1]

[Extra Mission 3 completed — rewarded: extra mission treasure chest *1]

[Please draw today’s card]

“My turn! Draw!”

This time the card depicted a blood-red goat. The card dissipated, and a half-human-high blood-red baby goat appeared in the center of the Shelter.

The goat stepped forward a few paces and looked at Lin Ye with its flat, black, stripe-like eyes.

“Hello?”

Lin Ye touched the goat’s curved horn. Although he often ate mutton, this was the first time he had touched a live goat.

“Bleat bleat.”

The goat made a soft sound and bumped Lin Ye’s stomach with its head.

“Thanks. Do you want something to eat?”

Lin Ye picked up the goat and stroked its soft wool. The texture was excellent and carried a certain fresh scent.

“Bleat bleat.”

The goat leaned against Lin Ye and idly wiggled its hooves.

“Alright, wait here a bit.”

Lin Ye put down the goat and began sorting through his loot.

First, he transferred the Waste Stones into storage in batches—one batch chosen by Little Ye, the other batch he had taken from the Eyeball Monster’s lair.

He placed the two Waste Stones Little Ye had selected on the table; he planned to open them later.

After putting away the Waste Stones, Lin Ye returned to his bedroom and opened the four treasure chests in sequence.

First was the special metal treasure chest. A large pile of Waste Stones sat near the vanished chest; Lin Ye counted and found ten Waste Stones inside.

“…Where’s my reward?”

Lin Ye felt a little speechless—he already had plenty of Waste Stones.

The chest for Extra Mission 1 also contained ten Waste Stones.

The chest for Extra Mission 2 again held ten Waste Stones.

“Could this be a new reward system? You have to open and see what the reward is yourself?”

Lin Ye considered it and ultimately decided not to open these supposedly valuable stones right away. He wanted to find a chance to let Little Ye take a look and only open the ones Little Ye had picked.

“The last one shouldn’t be Waste Stone, right? I brought back so many Waste Stones—there should be valuable items among them.”

Eagerly, Lin Ye opened the chest for Extra Mission 3. Inside was only a white blueprint.

[Blueprint for Constructing a Special Spiritual Energy Core]

[A blueprint used to construct a special spiritual energy core. After use, it allows construction of a special spiritual energy core suitable for the user when advancing.]

[Note: This type of blueprint can be used repeatedly. The more blueprints used, the higher the quality of the constructed special spiritual energy core.]

Lin Ye used the blueprint immediately. Such blueprints could be used at any time; the system would help him construct the core when he reached the fourth rank.

“Looks like I need to collect more blueprints.”

A spiritual energy core was similar to an engine and fuel tank for a car. Lin Ye felt ordinary spiritual energy cores wouldn’t be able to support a body strengthened by God’s Blood, so he had to prepare early.

After finishing the chests, Lin Ye took out a bottle of shower gel—this was a gift he had received in his bathroom room.

[Purify Slime]

[After use, clears abnormal statuses on the user’s body.]

[Note: Ensure no large open wounds on the body surface when using.]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep