Blueprint Improvement

Cheng Shuili examined the list carefully. The items at the beginning were all common materials she already had in stock, but as for the last three...

She had the items, certainly, but why on earth would a workstation need one hundred wires? And what was the use of one hundred alloy parts?

Forget it.

Cheng Shuili’s gaze fell on the "Mechanical Heart" at the top. This was the most important component.

If it was like the "Heart of Creation" and had to be purchased...

How many game coins would this thing cost? At least over a hundred thousand, right?

A chill ran down Cheng Shuili’s back. She had the inexplicable feeling that the game coins in her pocket were being targeted.

She shook her head to dispel the unpleasant thought. After searching the system pages for a while without success, she suddenly remembered that the workstation came with a manual.

Cheng Shuili retrieved the manual and took a look. The new functions after the upgrade were indeed written there.

【Note: Crafting requires blueprints! Once a blueprint is obtained, it can be used infinitely!】

【Note: You cannot leave the workstation during the crafting process, no matter what happens. Please choose a safe time to craft!】

【Note: The workstation can be upgraded!】

【New feature from this upgrade: Blueprint Improvement!】

【Blueprint Improvement: There is a certain probability of improving your blueprints. Have you noticed that most of the blueprints you obtain are "simple" or "normal"? That is correct! Out of respect for human civilization, most blueprints directly obtainable are the simplest and most ordinary ones! If you want better blueprints... human! Use your intelligence!】

【Note: Consuming one energy stone allows for blueprint improvement!】

【Note: This can only be done once per day! If the blueprint improvement fails, the blueprint is returned, but the energy stone is not!】

The energy stone is not returned?

Cheng Shuili stared at these words, nearly grinding her teeth to dust.

This dog system—could it just admit it’s trying to torture them? What is this nonsense about "respect for human civilization"?

Does it not realize?

Dragging all of humanity into this highway survival game without any explanation is the definition of disrespectful!

And the energy stones, too—they are needed for so many things! If only the system would point out a clear path on how to obtain them!

Cheng Shuili paused. This... felt strangely familiar.

Wasn't it the same with game coins, not knowing how to obtain them at first? And yet, after the novice protection period ended, the system started issuing "wages."

So... what about these energy stones?

Cheng Shuili hadn't found a way to obtain them. Could it be that this item wasn't supposed to appear at this stage at all?

Did she trigger a bug?

Cheng Shuili recalled the scene where she first obtained the energy stone. Whether back then or now, she considered it quite normal, but that possibility couldn't be ruled out.

Complaints aside, she took an energy stone out of the Abyss Ring.

Now, she had to consider how to use the five energy stones she had on hand.

Saving them for the sunroom...

The sunroom...

Cheng Shuili checked the materials required for the sunroom again. Aside from the energy stone, she lacked none of the materials.

However, regarding the attached blueprint—the nutrient soil required for the flowerpot—even though she knew which monster dropped it, it was useless if she couldn't encounter that monster.

Cheng Shuili had originally intended to save the energy stones because that blueprint wasn't very useful to her, nor was it particularly helpful to the few people in her team. It would just gather dust in a corner if she made it, so it was better to keep the stones.

But now...

Cheng Shuili had to admit that plans could never keep up with changes.

The workstation's blueprint improvement could only be used once a day, so for today...

Cheng Shuili pulled the "Simple Hunting Trap Blueprint" from the bottom of the pile. Compared to water, which she could find in wooden supply crates, what she lacked more was meat.

Taking a deep breath, she placed the energy stone into the specially designed groove next to the blueprint.

Small metallic tentacles immediately emerged from the edges of the groove, locking the energy stone firmly in place.

The workstation emitted a low hum, and the entire surface began to glow with a pale purple halo.

【Detected improvable blueprint: Simple Hunting Trap】

【Consume energy stone x1】

【Improvement success rate: Masked...】

【Continue?】

"Masked?" Cheng Shuili widened her eyes. "Then why show this at all?"

Cheng Shuili paused, suddenly realizing that perhaps there was some item that could reveal this success rate, but she clearly didn't have it at the moment.

She gritted her teeth at the small text and firmly pressed the confirm button.

The workstation shuddered violently. The energy stone began to shrink at a visible rate, and the purple light flowed into the blueprint like liquid.

The lines on the blueprint began to twist and reorganize, and the crude trap pattern gradually became complex and precise.

Cheng Shuili subconsciously took a half-step back, watching the lines squirm like living creatures, rearranging themselves.

【Improving... 1%... 15%...】

The progress bar advanced slowly, and Cheng Shuili’s heart rate climbed along with the percentage.

She suddenly noticed a line of small text appearing on the side of the workstation that she had never seen before: 【Engraving the Improver's Mark...】

"Improver's Mark...?" Cheng Shuili leaned in to look, and what followed was her ID: Angry Crow Takes Flight.

A line of small text followed immediately.

【This mark will be engraved on all items crafted using this blueprint!】

Cheng Shuili: "!!!"

This was the best advertisement! And a free one at that!

【47%... 63%...】

Cheng Shuili held her breath, her hands gripping tightly without realizing it.

The energy stone had shrunk to half its original size, and its surface luster had dimmed.

It must succeed...

【89%... 97%... 100%!】

With a crisp "ding," the energy stone turned completely to ash, and the blueprint erupted in a dazzling golden light.

Cheng Shuili was forced to close her eyes. When she opened them again, the blueprint had completely changed its appearance.

【Congratulations! Improvement successful!】

【Obtained new blueprint: Refined Automatic Hunting Device Blueprint!】

Cheng Shuili picked up the blueprint in disbelief; the once-ordinary paper had become heavy.

【Refined Automatic Hunting Device Blueprint】

【Effect: Works for 24 hours after installation! It will capture available prey within a certain range for you with full effort! The capture probability is significantly increased. Possessing it is equivalent to owning a warehouse filled with fresh meat!】

【Crafting materials: iron block x8, alloy parts x4, wire x6, plastic x5, fiberboard x2, rubber x3, small motor x1, energy stone x4!】

After reading the effects, the corners of Cheng Shuili’s mouth rose involuntarily. She looked at the crafting materials with a smile, but when she saw "small motor," her smile immediately dropped.

Was this a new material?

Cheng Shuili immediately searched the regional channel.

Good news: She found it; one player said he had opened one up.

Bad news: This player’s avatar was already gray.

He was already dead.

Cheng Shuili remained silent for a moment. She edited a line of text in the regional channel, only realizing when she was about to send it that most people were still inside dungeons and hadn't come out yet.

Asking would be a waste of time.