124: Chapter 124 unlocks a new building: the Underworld Automated Armory!

Lin Chen's Mother's humble yet firm request was like a pebble thrown into an icy lake, sending subtle ripples through the chilling atmosphere of the hall.

All eyes, including those of the subordinates whose gazes remained fanatical after the recent bloody purge, turned toward Lin Chen on the throne, then stole glances at Su Qingyu, whose expression had instantly become incredibly complex.

Su Qingyu had just composed herself in the inner hall, suppressing the slight discomfort from the cracks on her neck, only to hear her mother's words as she stepped out. Her heart felt as if it were suddenly gripped by an invisible hand, and her breath hitched. Her mother... wanted to be reincarnated? Then what about her? She had just... An indescribable bitterness and bewilderment welled up in her heart.

Lin Chen's gaze swept over Lin Chen's Mother's longing soul and then landed on Su Qingyu's suddenly pale face, his expression unchanging. He didn't answer Lin Chen's Mother directly but instead said to Su Qingyu:

"You will formulate the details for the contribution points. You set the standards."

These words seemed like a delegation of power, but in reality, he was passing the ball back to her, giving Su Qingyu both a buffer and the power of decision. Whether to give her mother a back door or to handle it officially was for her to weigh.

Su Qingyu was highly intelligent and immediately understood Lin Chen's meaning. Taking a deep breath, she forced down the turmoil in her heart and gave Lin Chen's Mother a gentle yet distant smile (she had to start getting used to this distance): "Mom, the acquisition of contribution points mainly depends on one's contribution to the Fortress and the Lord of the Underworld. You've only just recovered; focus on resting for now. There will be opportunities in the future."

She neither agreed nor refused, giving a vague sense of hope.

A flash of disappointment crossed Lin Chen's Mother's eyes, but she still nodded obediently and silently retreated to the corner. However, the fire of longing in her eyes did not go out.

This little interlude did not affect Lin Chen's rhythm. He needed greater power and a more stable rear to deal with the upcoming liquidation and the "Void Devourer" hidden behind the scenes.

"Dismissed, everyone return to your duties," Lin Chen waved his hand. "Zhang Hao, Lei Xiao, continue the deep screening and expand the scope to the entire Fortress."

"Yes!"

The crowd took their orders and quickly retreated with various thoughts. Soon, only Lin Chen, Su Qingyu, and... Little Red Clothes, who was squatting in a corner trying to piece together a strange shape using broken bones she had picked up from somewhere, along with her quiet doll, remained in the hall.

Lin Chen ignored Little Red Clothes and pulled up the nether domain asset system interface again. Besides information and permissions, the inheritance from the Tombstone Guardian had also lit up several building icons that had yet to be activated.

His gaze locked onto the most sinister-looking icon, one that exuded a cold metallic feel and an aura of efficient slaughter—

[Netherworld Automated Arsenal (Basic)]

[Function: Consumes nether talismans and basic materials (Nether Iron, Soul Crystals, etc.) to produce standard nether artifacts (Yin Soldier Standard Warblades/armor/bows and arrows) and basic energy talismans (Yin Gathering Talismans/Evil Breaking Talismans, etc.) on an automated assembly line. Production efficiency and quality increase with the resources invested and the strength of the core 'Artifact Spirit.']

[Construction Requirements: 10 billion nether talismans, 10,000 units of Nether Iron ore, 5,000 units of Soul Crystals, 1 Core 'Artifact Spirit.']

[Status: Ready for construction.]

10 billion nether talismans! To Lin Chen, who had just consumed trillions to suppress the curse, this was mere "pocket change." Nether Iron and Soul Crystals weren't particularly rare minerals in the Netherworld; a significant amount had already accumulated in the warehouse from developing the Barren Bone Plain and taking down several Thousand Faces Cult strongholds.

The only requirement was an "Artifact Spirit."

An Artifact Spirit is the core that grants spirituality to inanimate objects, allowing them to operate autonomously or even optimize themselves. A powerful Artifact Spirit could make the arsenal twice as effective with half the effort.

Lin Chen's gaze naturally fell upon Little Red Clothes in the corner of the hall, who was focused on tinkering with bones and exuding a pure and powerful resentment.

Was there anyone more suitable than her?

She was a powerful Rule-based Bizarre Monster herself, filled with resentment and possessing an almost instinctive preference for "manufacturing" and "stitching" (one look at her doll was enough to know that). Furthermore, after the previous "labor contract" and "factory director appointment," a level of loyalty (or rather, dependence and a desire to please Lin Chen) had already been established.

"Little Red Clothes," Lin Chen spoke.

Little Red Clothes paused her movements. Holding her doll, she raised her pale little face, her hollow, bleeding eyes "looking" at Lin Chen.

"Come here."

Little Red Clothes floated over obediently and landed in front of Lin Chen. The ragdoll in her arms also tilted its head, "looking" at Lin Chen with its button eyes.

Su Qingyu also watched curiously, wondering what Lin Chen was going to do.

Lin Chen pointed at the virtual projection of the arsenal on the system interface and said to Little Red Clothes, "See this? From now on, you will live inside here. You'll be responsible for helping me make things—lots of swords, armor, and glowing paper."

His tone was like he was coaxing a child, but the content concerned the very foundation of the legion's military power.

Little Red Clothes tilted her head, looking at the complex and sinister virtual building. A light seemed to flow within her pale eyes. She reached out a greyish-blue little finger and cautiously touched the virtual projection.

"Buzz..." The projection rippled.

The ragdoll in her arms also reached out its hand made of scraps and imitated her by touching it.

A strange resonance seemed to emerge between Little Red Clothes, her doll, and the virtual concept of the arsenal.

"Like... here..." Little Red Clothes uttered a few words haltingly. In her hollow eyes, an excited light actually appeared... similar to that of "finding a new toy"?

"Very good," Lin Chen nodded with satisfaction. "Then from now on, I'll leave this place to you. You are the... well, Chief Engineer here."

He didn't care if Little Red Clothes understood what a "Chief Engineer" was and directly confirmed the construction!

[Ding! Consumed 10 billion nether talismans, 10,000 units of Nether Iron ore, 5,000 units of Soul Crystals...]

[Detected suitable 'Artifact Spirit' unit (Little Red Clothes and her symbiont)... Beginning binding...]

[Netherworld Automated Arsenal (Basic), under construction... Estimated time: 10 minutes.]

Following the system prompt, the ground in a designated open area within the Fortress suddenly split open. Countless shimmering metallic components and runic circuits surged from underground like living things, automatically piecing together and assembling!

A thunderous roar echoed, accompanied by a soaring nether energy!

A massive building, tens of meters high, with a sinister style and sharp lines, constructed entirely of dark metal, rose from the ground at a speed visible to the naked eye! Cold energy luster flowed across the building's surface, and several giant chimneys began to breathe in and out pure Yin energy, emitting a low hum.

In just ten minutes, an arsenal that blended futuristic sci-fi with the deathly style of the Netherworld stood within the Fortress, forming a sharp contrast with the ancient buildings around it!

All the ghosts who witnessed this scene were dumbstruck.

What... what kind of miracle was this?!

The arsenal's gates slowly opened. Inside was a brightly lit complex automated production line, with countless mechanical arms suspended in mid-air in standby mode.

"Go in and get familiar with your new home," Lin Chen said to Little Red Clothes.

Little Red Clothes held her doll and, without the slightest hesitation, floated into the arsenal's gates as if she were going home, cheerfully (if her ethereal posture could be considered cheerful).

The moment she stepped through the gate, the entire arsenal shuddered! All the standby mechanical arms lifted simultaneously, and the blue ghost fires suddenly blazed bright! A thicker, purer Yin baleful energy, carrying Little Red Clothes' unique resentment attribute, spread from the arsenal!

She had perfectly fused with this arsenal!

[Ding! Netherworld Automated Arsenal (Basic) construction complete! 'Artifact Spirit' binding successful! Current production list unlocked! Production efficiency +50% (Artifact Spirit bonus)!]

Lin Chen casually threw in a batch of basic materials and a small amount of nether talismans as start-up energy.

The next moment, the rhythmic sound of clashing metal and the hum of flowing energy came from within the arsenal! The production line had started!

Just one minute later, the first batch of products slid out from the exit assembly line—

One hundred sets of [Yin Soldier Standard Warblades], their cold light shimmering and their edges flowing with soul-tearing runes!

One hundred sets of [Yin Soldier Standard Soul Armor], engraved with strengthening and defensive arrays!

And one thousand [Basic Evil Breaking Talismans], filled with energy and ready to be activated at any time!

The efficiency was astonishing! The quality was superb!

Zhang Hao had just finished dealing with a batch of low-level lackeys found during the screening and ran back to report. Seeing the arsenal and the first batch of products, his eyes nearly popped out of his head: "Holy... Holy crap! Boss! This... this efficiency! Can we just lie back and collect equipment from now on?!"

Lin Chen ignored him, a flash of satisfaction crossing his eyes as he watched the efficiently operating arsenal.

With this, the overall combat power of the Yin Soldier Legion would experience a qualitative leap!

(Hook: Just as everyone was excited about the arsenal's efficiency and the first batch of products, Little Red Clothes, who was curiously tinkering with a mechanical arm inside the arsenal, seemed to have triggered a deeper level of permission. On the main control screen in front of her, a hidden item suddenly popped up in crimson, marked with a skull warning, which did not appear on the standard production list—[Forbidden Blueprint: Flesh Golem (Unit 01)]. Little Red Clothes tilted her head, her pale eyes staring at the blueprint, and she stuck out her tongue, licking the corner of her mouth.)