Chapter 82: The Meaning of Human Existence
After sorting various items, Lin Ye opened the four treasure chests one by one.
First was the special metal chest, which contained only a single rune card.
[Basic Rune - Synthesis]
[A card that teaches the basic synthesis rune]
[Note: Use with caution if lacking spiritual energy]
"Hmm? This card..."
Lin Ye felt an urge to immediately use this rune card in the game room.
Although he suspected the synthesis effect wouldn't be as good as he imagined, he still held high expectations for this card.
Currently, Lin Ye had three unused rune cards: Synthesis, Shaping, and Weakening.
The Weakening rune card was obtained through trading with other survivors before the War Front activity began. Lin Ye decided to use the Synthesis rune card tomorrow afternoon in the game room, then use one rune card every other day.
Continuing to open chests, the first additional mission chest contained only a blueprint.
[Storage Room Blueprint]
[Required materials: Low-tier spatial crystals (0/5), Tier 1 mutation organs (0/5)]
[Note: Requires Shelter at Tier 1 or above]
'Not bad, but spatial crystals are too hard to get.'
Currently, the only known way to obtain spatial crystals was through chests, with an extremely low drop rate. Since many blueprints required this material, no one traded spatial crystals in the exchange area.
Lin Ye desperately needed a storage room - without the spiritual energy workshop, his shelter was running out of space.
"I hope tonight's Nighttime Activity is Maze Exploration. Opening more chests should help me gather enough."
After using the blueprint and submitting the frozen mutation organ, Lin Ye opened the second additional mission chest.
Inside were 10 bottles of low-grade nutrient solution.
Since advancing to Tier 1, ordinary nutrient solutions had become increasingly ineffective, forcing Lin Ye to drink multiple bottles per spiritual energy cycle.
Recently planning to try low-grade nutrient solutions, these additional 10 bottles brought his total to 15, enough for a while.
This reminded Lin Ye of the Low-Grade Concentrated Nutrient Solution Extractor Blueprint - if he could build that device, he wouldn't lack nutrient solutions until Tier 4.
Too bad Tier 3 mutation organs were hard to obtain.
The third additional mission chest contained a book.
[Emerald God Cult Initiation Guide]
[Records various basic rituals developed by the Emerald God Cult]
[Note: Introductory ritual studies textbook]
Lin Ye: ?
Opening the guide, its contents reminded him of cult pamphlets he'd received before.
The difference was, these actually worked.
Ignoring the brainwashing recruitment nonsense, the guide detailed over a dozen rituals with various effects, including ceremonies to connect with Emerald Capital and find/communicate with one's symbiotic plant.
'What if I performed this ritual in my shelter and planted the symbiotic plant here?'
Though tempting, Lin Ye ultimately dismissed the idea, unwilling to become symbiotic with a plant or be influenced by it.
After processing the loot, Lin Ye tended to the shelter's plants and animals while preparing breakfast.
Little Black had grown as thick as Lin Ye's calf, currently exposing its soft belly like a cat, enjoying Lin Ye's petting.
"Want to go outside? In a few days, I might not be able to feed you anymore."
The shelter still had plenty of food, but given Little Black's growth rate, it might soon become too large to exit.
Petting its belly, Lin Ye - being responsible - considered putting Little Black on a diet if it chose to stay.
"Meow~"
The abyssal worm wriggled its mouthparts, mimicking a cat.
"You want to go out? To ease my worries? No rush - wait a few more days until you're bigger."
Lin Ye stroked Little Black's nonexistent chin.
"Meow~"
It squirmed into a more comfortable position.
After breakfast, Lin Ye opened the group chat while pouring himself orange juice.
(535495/1000000)
"Brothers, everyone make it back alive? Dead guys squeak. (Loot pic)"
"Squeak. (Loot pic)"
"Damn, big shot got so many mutation organs! (Loot pic)"
"Not bad yourself - did you raid an armory? (Loot pic)"
"Stop flexing! How are us trash supposed to live? (Loot pic)"
"Fuck! You call this trash? I picked a high-difficulty site again - almost had to survive on water!"
"Pick urban sites next time - at least you can bring back food."
"I did! Then the city blew up - barely escaped!"
"Haha, unlucky!"
"Thanks stranger, you've put a smile on my face."
"Old Feng, how aren't you dead yet?"
Yu Feng: Not only alive, I'll take a stroll tonight too.
"Strong! Toilet working yet?"
Yu Feng: ...
...
After breakfast, Lin Ye lay in bed for his daily simulation.
[Select: New Simulation or Enter Simulation Base]
"Enter simulation base."
[Select simulation base to enter]
"Asylum."
There was no real choice.
…………………
[Simulation Base Personnel: Kevin]
[May end simulation anytime]
Lin Ye awoke in the staff dormitory bed, still in Kevin's body.
Leaving the dorm, he wandered the halls - the asylum now appeared completely normal, unlike before.
Several patients greeted him politely along the way, seeming perfectly ordinary.
"You're here."
Mia's cheerful voice came from behind.
"Yeah. Hi. What should I do?"
Unsure of this base's purpose or his role here, Lin Ye asked.
"Whatever. You're staff contracted by the director - no one can order you around. When I slack off, I stay with people I like. You?"
Mia walked alongside Lin Ye.
"I... rarely slack off. It makes me feel guilty."
Hesitating briefly, remembering previous simulations, Lin Ye neither dodged the question nor lied.
"That's wrong! Slacking is the most correct thing. Know why I work?"
Mia stepped closer with a mysterious smile.
"To slack off?"
Lin Ye easily guessed right.
"Bingo! Everyone needs work because work enables slacking. Therefore, humanity's purpose is to slack."
Mia declared matter-of-factly.
"Alright then. If I were to slack off, what could I do?"
Abandoning resistance, Lin Ye resolved to follow his senior's guidance.