Chapter 20 "Scavenger No. 2" and the New "Hunting Ground"

【Command confirmed.】

【Beginning repair and upgrade of "scavenger no. 1".】

【Energy consumed: 1,500 points.】

【Rare structural material consumed: "oracle-grade raider ship armor" fragment * 1.】

【Select upgrade path: E. Scanning and Detection.】

【Energy consumed: 1,000 points.】

【Upgrade initiated...】

After Lin Yuan made his decision, he immediately entered the connection room and placed one "ark reactor" and that last remaining piece of black armor fragment from the warehouse onto the materialization platform.

The system instantly absorbed their energy and matter.

The system interface in Lin Yuan's mind began to change rapidly.

【Repair complete.】

【Upgrade complete.】

【"scavenger" drone has evolved to LV3.】

【"scavenger no. 2"】

【Level: LV3】

【Energy reserves: 2,000 / 2,000 (capacity increased)】

【Load capacity: 100kg (slightly increased)】

【Stealth: Low】

【Functions: Basic Grabbing, Wide-Area Scanning (New), Energy Marking (New), Danger Warning (New)】

【Defense system: Locked】

【Salvage area: No. 001 Newbie Zone "Silent Star Sea" (10% explored)】

【New area unlocked: No. 002 "Ghost Route"】

Seeing the brand-new system panel, Lin Yuan and everyone in the Command Center became excited.

"It worked! The drone has evolved to LV3!"

"The name has also changed from 'scavenger no. 1' to 'scavenger no. 2'!"

"Look at the functions! There are three new functions! Wide-Area Scanning, Energy Marking, and Danger Warning! This is exactly as Comrade Lin Yuan envisioned!" Academician Wang said excitedly, pointing at the screen.

Lin Yuan carefully studied these new functions.

【Wide-Area Scanning】: Consumes energy to perform a large-scale scan of a designated sector, displaying the energy reaction intensity and general distribution of all debris within the area in the form of a heat map.

【Energy Marking】: Can mark specific energy sources scanned and continuously track them on the map.

【Danger Warning】: Passive skill. When a high-threat target (such as a "Void Devourer") enters the scanning range, the system will automatically issue an alert and predict its movement trajectory.

"This is too powerful! It's like evolving from the 'naked eye' to 'radar'!" Lin Yuan slapped his thigh in excitement.

With this system, when he enters the "Cosmic Graveyard" again, he will no longer be flying blind. He can first use "Wide-Area Scanning" to "light up" the map, then use "Energy Marking" to find high-energy reaction points that look like "treasure chests," while "Danger Warning" can help him watch for any "monsters" spawning.

This salvage experience is truly a qualitative leap!

"It's not just the functions; look, the energy capacity and load capacity have also increased!" Li Na noticed the changes with her sharp eyes.

The energy capacity increased from 200 to 2,000, a full tenfold increase! The load capacity also doubled from 50 kilograms to 100 kilograms.

"This indicates that the drone's level is the key to determining its base attributes. Every major level increase will bring comprehensive attribute growth." The Minister of the Technical Support Department immediately concluded.

"More importantly, look at this!" The Minister of Intelligence Analysis pointed to the last line of the panel. "A new area has been unlocked! No. 002 - 'Ghost Route'!"

Everyone's heart tightened.

"Did the system provide an introduction for the new area?" Chen Weiguo immediately asked.

Lin Yuan concentrated and looked at the newly unlocked area.

【Salvage area: No. 002 - "Ghost Route"】

【Area type: Ancient civilization migration route ruins】

【Area danger level: Medium】

【Area characteristics: This area contains a large number of civilian spaceship wrecks that failed to jump; there is a probability of discovering intact 'living quarters' or 'cargo holds.' At the same time, the spatial structure is extremely unstable, with a large number of natural spatial rifts and energy storms.】

【Warning: "Void Devourer" activity frequency is higher in this area.】

"Civilian spaceship wrecks? Living quarters? Cargo holds?" Academician Wang's eyes lit up instantly. "We can't fully grasp military technology for a while, but civilian technology—especially technology involving basic materials, biotechnology, and living facilities—is of equal, if not greater, value to us! It might even be easier for us to understand and absorb!"

For example, if we could find a complete "food synthesizer," it would be a groundbreaking contribution to solving the global food crisis.

If we could find a set of "personal medical systems," human life expectancy could easily exceed 150 years!

"But the danger level is also 'Medium'." Chen Weiguo's expression was very serious. "Spatial rifts, energy storms, and more frequent 'Void Devourer' activity. This 'Ghost Route' doesn't sound like a friendly place."

"We have two choices now." Chen Weiguo looked at everyone. "One is to continue developing in the No. 001 Newbie Zone 'Silent Star Sea,' using the newly upgraded scanning function to safely and efficiently clear the resources in the newbie zone. Two is... to go to the new 'hunting ground,' challenge higher risks, and seek higher returns."

"I suggest playing it safe." The Minister of Security was the first to state his position. "We have just mastered the 'ark reactor' technology and need time to digest and absorb it. Our strength is currently in a period of rapid growth, so there's no need to take unnecessary risks. Let's clear out the 'newbie village' first; it won't be too late to challenge the new map once our equipment is up to par."

His words made a lot of sense and represented the thoughts of most people.

You have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. The technology tree of human civilization has just sprouted, and it needs a stable environment and time.

However, Academician Wang shook his head.

"I disagree." He said in a deep voice. "We are out of time."

"Out of time? What do you mean?" Everyone looked at him, confused.

Academician Wang's gaze swept over everyone present and finally landed on Lin Yuan.

"Xiao Lin, do you remember what you were cutting when you first activated the system during your first salvage mission?"

Lin Yuan paused for a moment and recalled, "A... the bottom of a pressure vessel from an abandoned old factory."

"That's right." Academician Wang nodded, then pulled up a document and projected it onto the screen.

"This is the highest-level investigation we conducted on that vessel bottom afterward. We discovered that the vessel bottom was not a domestic product at all. Although its material composition is far inferior to 'oracle-grade armor,' it still exceeds Earth's current level. We traced its origin and found that it came from a... meteorite that crashed in our country's northwest uninhabited region thirty years ago!"

"That wasn't a meteorite!" Academician Wang's tone became incomparably grave. "That was a reconnaissance probe from an alien civilization! Before it crashed, it sent a distress signal—or rather... a positioning signal—to its home planet!"

"After we deciphered the 'Oracle Civilization' database, we compared the format of that signal. It was a kind of... a very domineering, universal cosmic distress signal with coordinate markers. It means: 'There is a habitable planet here, but we have encountered an unknown malfunction. Come quickly to rescue, or... clear it out.'"

The entire conference room fell into a dead silence.

Everyone felt a chill shoot from the soles of their feet straight to their scalps.

"Academician Wang, you mean..." Chen Weiguo's voice was a bit dry.

"Our coordinates were already exposed thirty years ago!"

Academician Wang looked at everyone and said word by word.

"How far away that civilization that sent the signal is, and how fast they travel, we have no idea. Maybe they will never come, or maybe... they will appear on the far side of the moon tomorrow."

"We don't have time to develop slowly anymore. We must race against time, use every means possible, and possess enough strength to protect ourselves before 'they' arrive!"

"Therefore, I suggest we enter the No. 002 area, 'Ghost Route,' immediately! We need more advanced technology! We need more powerful strength! We need to take a gamble!"