32: Chapter 32 Expedition to the Zerg Swarm Ranch

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[Successfully built the Steam-powered Mining Machine]

[Mining Machine base output: 30 units of copper ore resources/day]

[Environmental bonus: Abundant surrounding copper ore resources, increases production by 5 units per day]

[Civilization characteristic bonus: Great Qin craftsmanship allows the Mining Machine to operate efficiently: increases production by 15 units per day]

[Mining Machine output after bonuses: 50 units of metallic copper resources/day]

After all bonuses, the copper ore vein, graded as abundant, has a daily output of 50 units of copper ore.

Although it does not produce as much as a coal mine of the same grade, an output of 50 units/day is sufficient.

Most importantly, this is a major Breakthrough from zero to one, from nothing to something!

Now that he could produce copper himself, there was a solution for the Crossbowman ammunition and the upgrade and construction of various facilities.

When the first piece of metallic copper was mined and entered Su Yang's inventory, the System prompt sounded.

[Detected metallic copper output, obtained a new technology tree branch]

[Sonic Detector: A reconnaissance and defense device composed of sound-receiving equipment and biological signal fragments]

[Precision Mechanical Structure: Improves the crossbow firing mechanism, allowing the Crossbowman to load two crossbow bolts at once for continuous firing]

[Terrain Mapping: Unlocks terrain mapping knowledge, allowing the Scout to draw detailed maps of regions and architectural structures]

Gaining the ability to produce copper himself also unlocked three new researchable technologies.

Just like when he unlocked metal detection technology last time and gained the Scout unit.

The technologies displayed on the technology tree are not all of them.

As the lord explores and encounters various situations, it is possible to trigger the unlocking of new technologies.

This time, three technologies were unlocked directly within the Thousand Mechanism Tower.

One is for defense, and two are for unit upgrades.

With the Sonic Detector unlocked, the rare E-grade tissue fragments obtained at the beginning could finally be put to use.

The Sonic Detector can monitor sound signals within range, thereby scouting and monitoring activities.

With the Sonic Detector, he could discover the Insect Swarm further away and make defensive preparations in advance.

The other two are upgrade technologies for the Crossbowman and the Scout, respectively.

Among them, the upgrade for the Crossbowman made Su Yang very tempted.

After last night's battle, it was clear that the crossbow's power is extremely strong, and its range is very long.

The only thing limiting its output capability is the reloading time.

After each shot, the crossbow bolt needs to be reloaded, creating a period of output vacuum.

After unlocking the new technology, the Crossbowman will be able to load two crossbow bolts at once and fire them continuously.

This will be a qualitative improvement in the output capability of the crossbow troops!

The last technology is unlocking the Scout's ability to map terrain.

Currently, Su Yang only has a rough impression of the area around his territory.

A map can give him a macro perspective, allowing for a better understanding of the territory's situation and planning for development.

Furthermore, if a Scout encounters an Insect Hive, drawing a map will let him know the general intelligence of that hive.

All three new technologies will bring significant improvements.

Now, without command points, he could not decide which one to research.

Su Yang decided to take it one step at a time and choose the technology to research only when a need arises.

As time passed, with copper ore being produced bit by bit, the ammunition for all the crossbowmen going on the expedition was finally filled in the afternoon.

Su Yang did not hesitate and set off with an army composed of 15 Armored Elite Soldiers and 15 Armored Crossbowman.

The Insect Swarm Ranch is different from a normal Insect Hive; it is an important strategic point for the Insect Swarm.

And after being discovered during the last reconnaissance, the situation at the ranch will become more complex.

Only by deploying tactics in person could Su Yang feel at ease.

With the assistance of Armored Elite Warrior Chen Wu and Armored Elite Warrior Zhao Zhang, Su Yang and the troops rushed quickly toward the Insect Swarm Ranch.

It was already afternoon when they set off, and they had to return to the base to defend before nightfall.

Sending out almost all his troops for an expedition against the Insect Swarm in the afternoon was an extremely dangerous move.

If anything went wrong in the middle, the 10 soldiers left at the base would absolutely not be able to defend against the Bug Swarm Tide.

If it were before the ranking notification came out, Su Yang might have chosen to play it safe and set off the next day.

But now, the weekly stage ranking has added an exploration ranking.

It ranks based on killing enemies and exploring the map.

Although he had lifted the beginner protection early and theoretically had an advantage.

But other nations, upon knowing the territory rankings, would definitely also lift their protection to compete.

Those nations with strong combat power in the early stages are very likely to catch up from behind.

To ensure he takes the number one spot in the exploration ranking, he must explore and fight without stopping.

The lord ranked first will receive a special System item—a decryption card, and this reward is crucial.

The decryption card can unlock missions and rewards for ruins and a series of other special locations.

Previously, soldiers had discovered and marked a ruin.

The reason he didn't go was because he didn't know what missions would be triggered.

Ruin missions are extremely difficult and have high reward uncertainty.

Rashly attempting them in the early stages could likely lead to a total collapse.

But if he had a decryption card, he could know the missions and rewards in advance, greatly reducing the risk.

If one were to compare a ruin to a lottery ticket, the decryption card would be the ability to see through the coating.

If he could obtain ruin rewards in the early stages, it would definitely significantly increase the development speed of his territory.

With the extraction of oil resources, other territories will successively enter a stage of rapid development.

If he maintains steady development, the possibility of being surpassed is extremely high.

If he wants to continue leading, he must incorporate special methods like ruins.

The Forbidden Area Trial is a game where strength and luck coexist.

To win, one must advance by any means necessary, regardless of everything...

...

When the troops arrived at the Insect Swarm Ranch, it was nearing dusk.

Dusk is the boundary between day and night, and also the separation between life and death.

This saying was well reflected in the Insect Hive Forest.

The light from the sun dissipated, and the fluorescence of the plants had not yet lit up.

This made dusk the darkest moment in the Insect Hive Forest.

The whole world was dim yellow, as if it had fallen into a quagmire.

The visibility was shockingly poor!

The sounds of Imperial Armor operation and steam gushing alternated.

The troops slowed down and advanced cautiously through the dense forest.

Approaching the ranch, Su Yang split the team into five six-man squads.

Each squad had six members, three Armored Elite Soldiers and three Armored Crossbowman.

The five squads dispersed and advanced toward the ranch in an arc.

And long before the troops advanced, Su Yang had already dispatched a Scout to the ranch.

When two Scouts returned to the territory for supplies in the afternoon, Su Yang took one with the army.

As a professional reconnaissance unit, the Scout has very powerful scouting capabilities.

In a very short time, he had collected the situation of the ranch.

After hearing the Scout's intelligence, Su Yang frowned slightly.

The situation was a bit strange; after what happened last time.

The defense of the ranch had not been strengthened at all!?