After consecutive thunderstorms and windy weather, the Sand Port Region welcomed three days of heavy rainfall, plummeting the temperature from its high to around 12 degrees Celsius.

Previously, the staff who had been complaining about the heat suddenly had to wear heavy coats, and staying warm became a new consideration.

Autumn had arrived.

Previously, the days were long with plenty of sunlight and Death Light, but now the sun sets early, and the nights have noticeably lengthened.

Zhou Yi noticed that many artificial streetlights had been added around Jade City.

These were small yellow lights, laid out on both sides of Jade Avenue, in the central green belts of elevated bridges, and even inside the residential areas of Jade City... Many paths outside were illuminated by them.

The light-emitting objects were Yellow Firefly Mushrooms gifted by the tree ranchers.

Gong Zheng said, "Chairman, the Mushroom Forest has been mass-cultivating the Yellow Firefly Mushrooms. These luminescent mushrooms grow very quickly, and Sun Chonglai has moderately improved them."

"The biggest problem with Yellow Firefly Mushrooms is their short cycle. They only last 2-3 weeks from glowing to fading. Using the method of spreading Carpet Fungus, the Mushroom Forest has managed to maintain them for 1-2 months, increasing their brightness and elongating their growth cycle."

"Now Yellow Firefly Mushrooms are relatively mature lighting tools. Just using a pot or planter filled with soil, regularly watering, and sprinkling some fertilizer upside down allows the Yellow Firefly Mushrooms to survive."

"They can provide decent lighting indoors, although not comparable to Jade City, but they can replace rhombic stones. They are lighter, and their brightness can be increased by adding more of them."

"Sun Chonglai has spread Yellow Firefly Mushrooms on the roads, allowing clear visibility of roads and surrounding areas at night, eliminating the need to always hold a rhombic lamp, and making it safer for vehicles to travel on elevated bridges."

He said with a smile, "Next, Sun Chonglai wants to improve the Yellow Firefly Mushrooms to be bigger and brighter, to provide better quality lighting. However, it will take time, generation by generation, to select excellent individuals."

Zhou Yi quite liked these lighting mushrooms.

He also got a planter and grew one indoors.

A few more days passed.

The Weapon Hunter Fang Qiao came again to the outskirts of Jade City.

"Mr. Zhou, this is the modified weapon, I've brought it. Have a look."

The bald young man put down the large wooden box he was carrying on his back.

Zhou Yi opened the box lid.

The Gatling gun had changed from black to golden.

He took it out, holding it single-handedly with his left arm, clearly feeling much heavier. The gun had been coated with a layer of metal, but it was unclear whether it was copper or another metal.

"Mr. Zhou, this gun is now Grade B. I've done tests. Its damage has increased from 18-22 to 24-41, the cooldown has been reduced to 0.2, and the range has been further enhanced from 1500 to 1750."

Fang Qiao's face showed a confident smile: "Long-range firepower, the core concept is that an inch longer is an inch stronger. This prototype weapon had an excellent initial range, and now it will possess stronger suppression and destructive power."

"Besides, it comes with a new ability 'explosive point.'"

"When performing continuous shooting, after sufficiently warming up, if this gun hits the same wound consecutively three times, it will cause point-to-point explosive damage, which is quite substantial. Though it's a low-probability event, sometimes if the luck is good, it might cause severe damage to the enemy immediately."

Zhou Yi was a bit surprised.

The all-around enhancement of the Gatling could be understood, but what exactly was this 'explosive point'?

He immediately asked Fang Qiao.

"This belongs to our technical secret, I cannot disclose it."

Fang Qiao diplomatically said: "Our method of weapon enhancement is different from any technology out there, not related to Light Imprint Skill, nor mechanical modifications... but please feel assured in using it, as when it comes to the realm of weapons, we are one of the most deeply researched groups."

He kept tight-lipped, and Zhou Yi found it inappropriate to inquire further.

Just looking at the golden Gatling in his hand, he felt like he had become a pay-to-win player, receiving a custom-made weapon through spending money.

Fang Qiao cautioned him again: "Please do not dismantle this modified and upgraded gun, once opened or damaged, its current traits and enhancement effects will disappear."

It even came with a self-destroying secrecy mechanism.

Zhou Yi nodded: "Understood. If there are issues with the weapon, can I come to you for repairs? I will pay accordingly."

"Of course, no problem."

Fang Qiao handed Zhou Yi a cylindrical communicator — surprisingly, the same model as Qin Xie's.

"If you need to repair this weapon, you can contact me with this."

"Alright."

"There's one more thing."

Fang Qiao said solemnly: "The Lord of Soldiers asked me to convey a message to you, if interested, you can visit the Golden Elephant Valley, the Aliens there also need help diagnosing."

Golden Elephant Valley?

One of the Forbidden Wonders.

Zhou Yi was surprised: "Is the Lord of Soldiers now on the Forbidden Continent?"

"Uh."

Fang Qiao explained: "Our main base has always been in the Golden Elephant Valley on the Forbidden Continent."

Various thoughts flashed through Zhou Yi's mind.

The Forbidden Continent could block the surveillance of Heavenly People, and was completely independent from the world.

For those from the lineage of the Lord of Soldiers who wanted to stay out of affairs, it indeed was a good place.

"If I finish my work here and have free time, I will visit the Lord of Soldiers."

"Then we await your significant presence; I shall take my leave now."

With that, Fang Qiao departed by boat.

Zhou Yi immediately called his assistant: "Yuan Xiao, has the Lord of Soldiers always been in Golden Elephant Valley?"

"Yes."

Angel of Death nodded, then expressed a look of surprise: "You didn't know?"

"..."

Zhou Yi helplessly said, "You mentioned forbidden wonders, I thought those places were all no-go zones where entering meant certain death, places no one has ever visited."

"Most lives that go to these three places are indeed seeking death... But the Lord of Soldiers is different. He is a top-tier Light Core Body, on par with the Black Emperor and the Old King, and cannot be described in ordinary terms."

Mentioning this name, Yuan Xiao's tone also became cautious.

Zhou Yi confirmed again: "Golden Elephant Valley is the Lord of Soldiers' territory?"

"Not exactly."

Yuan Xiao thought for a moment: "Because the forbidden wonders themselves are very special, the Lord of Soldiers does not own Golden Elephant Valley but has spent years there researching weapons and understands the valley far better than any other life."

"Then, do the other two places, Meat Mountain and Spark Plain, also host similar Light Core Body lives?"

"That I don't know."

Zhou Yi pondered internally.

This Forbidden Continent could be considered the top instance of the Wasteland World, with all manner of powerful men appearing there.

"What do you know about the Lord of Soldiers?" Zhou Yi asked further.

Yuan Xiao paused for a moment before responding: "The Lord of Soldiers is a human, at least he appears to be human. It's said that he likes beautiful women; he's always surrounded by several women, and then there's his well-known penchant for collecting weapons. That's about it."

Likes beautiful women.

At least it shows the Lord of Soldiers' taste is on point.

Loves beauties, loves weapons.

Zhou Yi involuntarily pictured a strong military otaku.

...

Later that day, another visitor arrived.

It was a large Red-eyed Vulture.

Equipped with a translator and a transmitter, it landed at the entrance, nodded to Zhou Yi, and from the microphone on its leg, a synthetic voice emerged: "Mr. Zhou, it's an honor to meet you. I am an envoy from Mechanical City, Jiu Jinshan."

"Because your company has been cut off from stack services and can't communicate through regular channels, I flew over from Mechanical City."

"Your company and Mechanical City have both been sanctioned by the Mechanical and Electrical City Group; we are both in the same predicament. Facing such external difficulties, we sincerely hope to cooperate with Wasteland Development Company to overcome these hard times."

"Our side hopes to represent your company in manufacturing and processing various goods."

"What Coral Port can make, we can make; what it can't make and dares not make, we in Mechanical City dare."

Zhou Yi scrutinized the other party.

This one came looking for orders.

Jade Soup and Flame Cup have opened up the market completely with their high quality and low prices, and the demand has always been significant.

Mechanical City hopes to replace Coral Port's position.

However.

The external reputation of this city isn't very good; it's a place that enslaves semi-civilized beings for various criminal labor and reportedly still operates a slavery system.

It's more like a massive underground workshop disguised as a city.

In terms of price, Mechanical City can reduce costs by exploiting these laborers, but maintaining quality is difficult.

More importantly, Zhou Yi had already made plans for domestic production, having transferred and distributed the industry to various sea lords of the Development Alliance for production and sales.

He responded directly: "Then it seems you've come in vain, as there are no plans for this currently."

Jiu Jinshan didn't give up, continuing to lobby: "If you're worried about our products not being good enough, you can inspect them at any time. Although Mechanical City has a long tradition of using slave labor, we never skimp on materials or cut corners. After all, we aim for sustainability. We don't want to offend any buyers or collaborators."

"Do you think our reputation is too bad?"

"There's no helping it, slavery is ultimately the foundation of Mechanical City's system. But slavery itself is not a crime; we only purchase those who sell themselves and mechanical beings, and then use them as slaves to earn revenue for our city."

"Furthermore, semi-civilized beings in Mechanical City receive the same slave treatment; in Mechanical City, there are only slaves and slave owners, and the slave owners are only the masters of Mechanical City. We are all slaves, each slave is equal, and everyone is protected by Mechanical City."

"Slaves are the cornerstone of Mechanical City, as well as its most important core productive force. The city provides us with food, energy, medical check-ups and treatment, regular maintenance, including solving marriages, and there are high rewards for procreation... In the outside world, many residents aren't even as well off as slaves."

Zhou Yi was greatly shocked.

He synchronized his thoughts and sought confirmation from Red Kestrel.

"Indeed."

The drone affirmed: "The slaves of Mechanical City include not only humans, semi-civilized beings, and mechanical life but also Guangna Species, all of whom have sold their freedom to Mechanical City."

"Mechanical City reviews Mechanical City for enslaving mechanical life, among other issues like their frequent hacking and imitation of the various technological products of Mechanical City."

Mechanical City essentially operates a collective slavery system.

Everyone is a slave, no one to mock another.

While the term 'slave' sounds harsh, the residents of Mechanical City are able to live a stable life during this turbulent era of the Wasteland.

No need to worry about where to find food or employment; just work and live according to the arrangements of Mechanical City.

An idea popped into Zhou Yi's mind that even he found a bit far-fetched.

Slavery... might also have its merits.

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