CHAPTER 138: CHAPTER 139: THE UNDERGROUND RUINS ARE SIMPLY A TREASURE TROVE

[You have acquired a Golden Treasure Chest!]

The system’s voice echoed in Lin Yue’s ear, a sound that could drive all the Survivors in the Otherworld insane!

But for him, this was already an expected and definite occurrence, something he no longer cared about.

A mere Golden Treasure Chest, four or was it five already, how unoriginal.

Is there a more high-end chest?

Platinum, pearl, diamonds or something like that?

"How is a Golden Treasure Chest as good as Lion-headed Bear meat? Am I right, Bai?"

"Gawoo!" Bai wholeheartedly agreed, drooling uncontrollably, for the Lion-headed Bear meat was incredibly enticing.

So, so incredibly enticing!

Lin Yue crouched down, drew his dagger, and began dissecting the giant creature whose height was about the same as Bai’s now.

If entrusted to the system, there would only be a mere 30kg of meat, a hide, and two tusks.

Lin Yue decided to do it himself this time.

With the Lion-headed Bear’s massive size, let alone 30kg, surely 300kg of meat could be carved out?

The dagger in his hand, upgraded to excellent quality in the last design he acquired, was now sharp enough to easily slice open thick-skinned, tough creatures like the Lion-headed Bear.

Having become familiar with the dissection process on the Mutant Sheep, Lin Yue did not hold back on the Lion-headed Bear, and the excellent quality dagger made the process immensely smooth.

Soon, he peeled off the entire skin of the Lion-headed Bear and began to carve away the meat piece by piece.

Lin Yue was cautious, and just in case, used survival points to appraise the meat of different parts of the Lion-headed Bear.

If he carved out the toxic parts, it would all be in vain.

And indeed, as he feared, the liver and other organs of the Lion-headed Bear were toxic.

"No matter the toxicity, as long as it’s useful, it’s good," Lin Yue accepted it all without exception. The Tiger-striped Shadow Deer’s meat was toxic, and he still collected it, finding it valuable in the Secret Realm.

After some effort, he acquired 270kg of Lion-headed Bear meat, roughly 100kg of various organs, a hide, and two tusks.

Isn’t this better than what the system can do?

If there is a disadvantage, it’s that it requires some tiring work and leaves his hands full of blood.

However, with so much meat in hand, having a grand feast later is delightful. He was frugal before because he couldn’t find a second one. Now that the Lizardmen delivered it, how could he not accept?

Lin Yue also stored the metal chain and collar that had bound the Lion-headed Bear into his Storage Space, but before pushing open the large door, he suddenly took out the metal collar and chain again, as if struck by lightning!

Wait a minute, something’s not right. These things are metal. Though rough, they are incredibly sturdy, almost appearing alloy-made!

Lizardmen hadn’t mastered iron smelting, had they? Lin Yue remembered the Lizardmen’s weapons and armor he picked up before were crudely made of stone.

Yet, the chain and collar binding this Lion-headed Bear proved they had the capability to make metal tools.

This doesn’t quite add up, does it?

Lin Yue examined the chain and collar repeatedly.

The joints of the chain were rough, and the collar was similarly so. Moreover, the thickness of the collar was uneven; though all were heavy, they were extremely rough.

Lin Yue concluded that these were not system-crafted items.

What the game system produced could never be like this.

Given a design and the correct materials, the system could perfectly shape metal without needing furnaces or anvils, even producing ten or twenty identical items.

Like products off a factory production line.

Moreover, manufactured items wouldn’t bear such rough appearances as this chain and collar.

"If it’s not made by the system...who made it?" Lin Yue shook his head. The question was indeed bizarre now, but there were certainly too few clues.

Looking around, Lin Yue stored away the remaining body of the Lion-headed Bear into the Storage Space, then pushed open the door.

Beyond the door lay the control territory of the Lizardmen.

They had a total population of at least several hundred inside.

Last time at that altar, he had witnessed the bizarre ceremony held by hundreds of Lizardmen and had a rough idea of their numbers.

Those may have been all, or just a small portion.

Pushing open the door, Lin Yue and Bai entered, cold wind constantly blowing from within.

Lin Yue glanced at the area map, weapon in hand, and started exploring forward.

It didn’t take long before a crossroads appeared, and rustling sounds came from both sides.

Lin Yue pondered for a moment, then headed straight for the altar room.

If he got cornered there again like last time, he’d be pleased.

After all, things were different now; not only did he have Bone Armor but also an Exoskeleton, his weapon upgraded from the Steel Repeating Crossbow to an Alloy Compound Crossbow.

Not to mention, Bai by his side was much stronger than before. That group of Lizardmen with stone spears and wooden shields was no match!

Bai stayed silent without giving an alarm, and Lin Yue moved quickly, reaching the altar room in no time, pushing the door open.

The area remained eerily quiet, with only a few torches burning around, just like before, making the enormous room incredibly dim.

However, the stone wall Lin Yue placed here earlier was gone, and naturally, the Priest Lizardman’s corpse was nowhere to be found.

Yet, from the central altar came the constant smell of blood.

Lin Yue shone his flashlight in that direction, discovering only trickling bloodstains, nothing else.

"Did it just end?" Lin Yue recalled the eerie ritual he had previously witnessed firsthand, knowing another slaughter had just transpired here.

Moreover, gauging by the amount of blood, there was even more than last time!

Lin Yue suddenly felt heavyhearted.

Survivors coming from Earth had it incredibly tough.

Not only dealing with various disasters but also guarding against mutated creatures, internal raiders, now, even the stealth ambushes from these Lizardmen...

Shaking his head, Lin Yue, along with Bai, returned to the passageway, finding there was nothing to see if no Lizardmen occupied the altar room.

Upon returning to the crossroads, Lin Yue checked the map of the Underground Ruins.

"Going left seems less complicated, while the right appears more complex. Let’s sweep left first, then..."

"Gawoo!"

Just as Lin Yue decided to head left, Bai growled softly in that direction, and Lin Yue swiftly raised his Alloy Tactical Crossbow.

Enemies incoming?

Lin Yue quickly concealed himself against the wall, Bai mimicking him and hiding expertly.

As soon as enemies were mentioned, they appeared!

"Who’s there!"

Suddenly, from that direction came a human voice!