The journey back was uneventful.
This was because the method Bai Ye provided was naturally feasible.
About two hours later, Bai Ye and his group appeared in an abandoned building in the slums.
Ji Ruyue closed her eyes, sensing for a moment, then opened them and said, "We're back."
Davis walked to the window and glanced out. "You don't need your detective skills for this, do you? You can tell just by looking."
Looking outside the building, they could see people walking on the street, with vendors around.
A strong man carried a large piece of mutated creature meat and walked slowly.
"Hmph!" Ji Ruyue looked at Allen and asked, "What do we do now?"
Allen pondered for a moment. "This matter needs to be planned carefully. I need to contact some people to discuss it. Also, I hope everyone can stay in the City of Ruins for now. As participants, we will definitely need your testimony about what you saw in Laboratory No. 3."
Gonzalez patted his chest. "It's my duty."
Ji Ruyue and Davis nodded. "We feel the same."
Allen looked at Bai Ye. "Bai Ye, I'm sorry, I wasn't able to help you this time when we entered that world. If you want to leave, you're free to do so. We are enough to handle what comes next, and the City of Ruins is likely to face a storm."
"It's fine," Bai Ye said with a smile. "Don't worry about me. You guys can go about your business. I'll still be in the City of Ruins for now. Find me if you need anything."
Allen nodded. "Good!"
There were further developments to this matter, but at least the first stage of the hidden mission was complete.
"You successfully led the Hunting Ground squad into the Mirror World for exploration. Completion: 80%. Reward obtained: Universal Mechanical Chip."
Universal Mechanical Chip (Item) (Gold): A masterpiece rumored to be from the God of Machines, capable of fitting into any mechanical product's chip slot.
Effect: Omnimechanical (Can be installed in any mechanical product's chip slot, and will produce different effects depending on the mechanical product.)
Unique (This chip cannot be repeatedly removed and installed.)
The moment Bai Ye saw this item, his first thought was that he was rich. Then he took a closer look...
Damn it, it's an item!
It's not that items have no value, especially a gold-quality item.
However, a crucial sentence in the description of the Universal Mechanical Chip is: "Capable of fitting into any mechanical product's chip slot."
Simply put, this thing is actually a component for super-quality items.
Even at gold quality, its rank immediately dropped.
Everyone knows that if super-quality items can be collected, then like the name "super-quality" suggests, they are items that surpass gold quality.
But if they can't be collected...
Just look at that damned incomplete Sunflower Manual. Bai Ye didn't even want to think about it; thinking too much just brought tears.
As for the Universal Mechanical Chip, it still has value.
For example, if Bai Ye found a mecha with eight components, and only the final chip component was missing, he could use the Universal Mechanical Chip as a substitute.
Or if Bai Ye found a modular mechanical armor and was only missing the chip, the Universal Mechanical Chip could also be used as a substitute.
Simply put, as long as it's a chip component slot, whether it's a mecha, mechanical armor, robot, prosthetic limb, or combat vehicle, it can be replaced.
At the same time, the God of Machines...
With such a grand title, Bai Ye felt that after installation, the effects produced by the Universal Mechanical Chip might be better than the original chip's effects, and the overall performance enhancement for the installed mechanical item would also be better.
However...
It's the same problem, Bai Ye only has one chip, it's useless!
This is the type of item that Bai Ye would weep with joy if he were short of a chip one day, but it's useless for now.
But what if he's short one day?
So, Bai Ye felt it was still okay!
After putting the chip away, Bai Ye looked at his other gains. The direct ones were the gains from the forbidden zone.
First, Forbidden Zone Mission 1 and Forbidden Zone Mission 2.
Bai Ye couldn't obtain any crystallization abilities from either.
For Forbidden Zone Mission 1, Bai Ye received Gonzalez's energy-powered Vulcan Gatling, a black-quality futuristic weapon.
The effect was average. The most crucial aspects for firearms, armor penetration, damage stacking, and bullet explosion were all missing.
However, it did have infinite ammo, which, combined with the Gatling's rate of fire...
It wouldn't be useful in high-level combat, but it was truly useful for dealing with cannon fodder.
Then, for Forbidden Zone Mission 2, Bai Ye obtained Allen's dual short swords.
The full name of this item should be the Rectangular Light Saw Cutting Short Blades, also black quality. The effect was passable, with a flashy effect called magnetic attraction.
It was the move where Allen's finger hooked, and the swords flew out of their sheaths.
Theoretically, drawing the sword like this saves time, but...
Bai Ye has the Steel Slime, and isn't directly wielding his sword with his mind more impressive than this?
Of course, there were highlights. The blades had laser serrations on both sides, causing secondary damage, and the cutting damage could break armor, with a certain degree of increase in attack power. Overall, it was a decent weapon.
But it held little significance for Bai Ye. Like the Gatling, they were items meant for trading.
However, the red-quality weapon from Forbidden Zone Mission 3 was finally a bit interesting.
No, it wasn't just a bit interesting; it was enough to make Bai Ye tear up.
Skywalker (Lightsaber) (Red): An energy lightsaber from a future technological civilization, lightweight and sharp, capable of easily cutting through high-hardness steel.
Effect: Lightsaber Flash (Upon activation, there is a 10% chance to shred the target item. Cooldown: 180 minutes after each use.)
Swift Swordsman (When holding this weapon, speed increases by 25 points, and sword-drawing speed increases by 100%.)
Light and Shadow (When holding this weapon, light and shadow will appear during attacks to confuse the opponent.)
High-Heat Energy Accumulation (Lightsaber energy increased by 300%. Unleashes a 15-meter aerial slash, projecting a high-heat energy wave.)
This thing...
Bai Ye's evaluation was: among lightsabers, it was the fighter jet of trash!
As a red-quality weapon, the effects were so bad!
Bai Ye felt it was the lowest tier of red-quality weapon standard.
A 10% chance to shred an item, with a three-hour cooldown, was pure scam.
Light and Shadow was somewhat interesting, but it was only good for bullying children. Masters were usually not fooled by such flashy things. High-heat energy accumulation also held little significance. Thunderous Shock and Electric Current, and Flaming Emperor Flying Fire, when directly conjured into lightning and fire by sword wielding, weren't they more powerful than this move?
The only heaven-defying aspect was Swift Swordsman!
A 100% increase in attack speed was truly terrifying. Coupled with Light and Shadow, it became quite interesting. In close combat, it would be explosive. Bai Ye believed the Skywalker was red quality entirely because of this effect.
However, precisely because it was red quality, it was somewhat of a dud.
But, did it matter?
This was a lightsaber!
A man's romance!
...