“Wow, it’s huge!”
“And so empty!”
“Is this… the main city of the Nightmare Space?”
“I’m not sure. It does look like a place where humans might live.”
“Those little robots seem to be patrolling!”
“You don’t think they’ll suddenly attack us, do you?”
The group had just entered the city, and everyone was talking at once.
It was hard to tell whether they were trying to forget the fear they’d just experienced—or if they truly felt safer now.
Boyang cautiously scanned the surroundings, his heart full of unease.
There was something about this place that gave him a strange, foreboding feeling.
He’d felt something similar once before—on the battlefield.
And back then, that feeling had proven right.
Their team had been hit by a missile strike. Everyone was killed—everyone except Boyang.
He had survived only because he’d sensed danger and left the armored vehicle alone.
Now, that same premonition had returned, warning him to get out of this city.
But after everything they’d just gone through in the wilderness, that option was off the table.
No matter how dangerous this place was, it still had to be safer than what lay outside.
The group looked around like bumpkins entering a grand palace, curious about everything they saw.
After confirming that the mechanical puppets had no interest in them, the others grew bolder.
Even the way they walked changed—their backs straighter, their steps more confident.
Only Boyang remained tense, his expression tight, refusing to let down his guard for even a moment.
“Doesn’t look like there are any people around,” one of the players at the front said.
“Yeah… it’s really quiet.”
“If it weren’t for those robots wandering around, I’d think this place was completely abandoned.”
“You think it’s just robots here?”
“A city of machines, huh? Why don’t we stop one of them and ask?”
“Great idea. Why don’t you go do it?”
“Exactly—whoever suggested it should be the one to act!”
“Come on, man. Be brave!”
Hearing those words, the player really wanted to slap himself.
As expected, running your mouth never ends well.
“Go ask it. If anything happens, we’ve got your back,” Boyang said.
The team leader had spoken—hesitating any longer would only make things worse.
This player, like Boyang, was from the [Black Gold] organization.
Even outside the game, Boyang was his superior.
Sighing internally, the man still stepped forward and stopped one of the mechanical puppets, nervously saying, “Um, Mr. Robot, is there anyone else in this city?”
The puppet stood still, showing no reaction.
Seeing this, the man tried again.
“May we have the honor of meeting your master?”
This time, the puppet finally reacted.
It turned its body slightly, raised a long arm, and pointed ahead.
“Captain, I think its master is just up ahead,” the man called back.
After pointing, the puppet seemed to think it necessary to lead the way.
It turned around and began gliding forward slowly.
“Let’s follow it,” Boyang immediately ordered.
The group quickly followed behind the mechanical puppet.
***
At the same time, thanks to the efforts of many mechanical puppets, the basic renovation of the [Silver Alchemy Workshop] had been completed.
Inside the workshop, Ye Lian was in the middle of refining a basic [Mental Recovery Potion], while Bai Xue assisted her.
And would also be the taste tester in a moment.
With her divine-level alchemy skills, Ye Lian didn’t have to worry about quality.
Any potion she made would only be more effective.
Watching her master refine potions with movements that looked like magic, Bai Xue couldn’t help but show a trace of amazement in her eyes.
After all, the steps of extraction, distillation, mixing, purification, and synthesis had all been completed in less than ten seconds.
And this was Ye Lian’s first attempt—she’d only get faster from here!
“Here, try it.”
As soon as the potion was finished, Ye Lian handed a small bowl to Bai Xue.
Bai Xue accepted it, removed her mask, and drank it without hesitation.
It was as if she would’ve drunk it even if it were poison.
Her behavior made Ye Lian quite fond of her.
“How is it?” she asked after Bai Xue finished.
Bai Xue savored the taste for a moment before replying, “Sweet and refreshing, smooth going down—very delicious.”
It sounded more like she was reviewing a drink than a potion.
“I tweaked the formula a little. Sounds like the flavor turned out fine. Open your panel and let me check your pollution level,” Ye Lian said.
“Yes, Master,” Bai Xue replied obediently, opening her interface.
Her eyes naturally landed on the pollution value—and her pupils instantly shrank!