Ajin scratched his head, "Although I don't know what's written in the Dead Sea Documents...why don't you learn something ready-made? Like what the chairman is asking everyone to do?"

"Like the vast underground tunnels built by the sand rats, and collecting Light Soot Sand on the dam, these are things the chairman is encouraging. Why not give it a try?"

The Weapon Master was suddenly enlightened by Huo Ran, "You make a lot of sense."

It began learning from everyone around.

With its flexible and strong body, digging and using nets were easy for it. It twisted hay into ropes, wove baskets from branches, paved roads with stone slabs, and cooked in pottery... It seemed that there was nothing it couldn't do with its hands.

Ajin was astonished.

"You're too strong, how can you know how to do everything!"

"These aren't hard."

The other party raised its paws, "You can do it as long as you have hands."

"Do you want to become a Scavenger?"

Ajin proposed, "The chairman, who is your leader, is the top master of Scavengers! If you take up this profession, you should be able to approach his level."

"Really?"

The Weapon Master said, "Then please teach me!"

...

After hearing this, Zhou Yi said helplessly, "So you taught it how to be a Scavenger?"

"Yes, chairman, it's very talented! And it's very humble and eager to learn! It takes you as its goal, just like me!"

Ajin gestured excitedly with his hands, "Scavengers, what they pick up is the timing. Everything has its value, just store a bit more, and there will come a day when it appreciates in value."

"It is very sharp at finding things, not only identifying dangers but also using various tools to dig. It found quite a number of metals and stone tools under the Oasis, even though they were mostly broken, but that's already impressive. We used to sweep the Oasis every day, yet our haul was not as much as its..."

Zhou Yi turned his thoughts.

The samurai crabs ultimately still need to find a new direction, we can't keep letting them be security. Facing powerful enemies, their participation in battles would only increase the casualties, and with the security gate, weaker monsters dare not approach.

It was time to let the samurai crabs transform.

Since the Weapon Master had gained wisdom, letting them independently develop the resources under the Dead Sea was a way out.

Zhou Yi looked at the Weapon Master, who was about the same height as Ajin.

He thought for a moment.

He said, "As you are from the samurai crab clan, humble and eager to learn, let's call you Xie Xun."

The Weapon Master suddenly clenched its three fingers into a fist, raising its arms, "I am Xie Xun, I am Xie Xun! Thank Chief for the name!"

Now one thing needed to be confirmed first.

Zhou Yi asked it, "When did you start thinking about these things? The other Weapon Masters haven't shown this."

Xie Xun said, "I started feeling different slowly after testing the drug."

"Testing drugs?"

"It's the Wise Mushroom, the Lord of Mushroom Forest, Sun Chonglai had me test the Wise Mushroom, and ordinary samurai crabs, Hammerhead Soldiers, and Double Swordsmen have tried it too, all having some reactions. But my reaction was particularly intense, and the duration of impact was especially long, so Sun Chonglai let me try more, saying it might help me."

Zhou Yi was startled.

Could it be that the Wise Mushroom also has an enlightening effect on wisdom?

He quickly called the Mushroom Forest Bone People, using the Red Kestrel to contact Dr. Da Vinci.

Sun Chonglai frankly said, "Chairman, unfortunately, this was an accident."

"Xie Xun's reaction after taking the Wise Mushroom was particularly strong, and its thought and self-awareness were the most thorough. That situation reminded me of the moment I first awakened and became a Bone Man, so I communicated with it using a translator, letting it go with the flow, not to fear its own changes."

"Now that I think about it, Xie Xun has always been contemplating himself and the outer world, and the Wise Mushroom more so acted as a catalyst."

Da Vinci then said, "I've done a comprehensive examination of Xie Xun and found no physiological abnormalities."

"The biggest difference between the samurai crabs in the wild and the company's is that the company's samurai crabs are well-nourished, full of energy, and have lived in a stable environment for a long time," he explained. "This allows them to live longer, continually accumulate experience, and benefit from completing their own metamorphosis."

"Once they enter the Black Samurai stage, the samurai crabs have already completed their initial enlightenment. They learn how to survive in a group, how to work together to deal with crises, and how to respond differently to different situations."

"Please look at the physiological diagrams of three types of Black Samurai."

The images of the diagrams appeared on the screen of his imaging vehicle.

On the far left, the brain of the Hammer Claw Black Samurai was highlighted, showing just a tiny spot.

"Hammerhead Soldiers cannot execute complex commands and retain limited information, with a brain capacity of only 200ml-300ml."

In the middle was a Double-Sword Black Samurai lying on the ground, its skull also lit up with a small core.

"The Double Swordsmen have a larger brain capacity than the Hammerhead Soldiers, ranging from 500ml to 600ml, similar to that of apes."

On the right stood a Black Samurai, its brain considerably larger and its glow the brightest.

Da Vinci said, "The Weapon Masters' cranial capacity significantly surpasses the other two types, ranging from 1200ml to 1600ml, which is not far off from humans. Xie Xun's brain capacity reaches 1750ml, possessing innately stronger cognitive and activity abilities."

"Their exoskeleton is strongest at protecting their heads, and their physiological structure is the easiest for mastering tools. I surmise that this evolutionary direction is based on their imitation of you."

"The Weapon Masters naturally possess developed brains, and with prolonged receipt of extensive information and expertise in crafting tools, it's no surprise they are effective under the catalysis of the Wise Mushroom."

The Mechanical Doctor emphasized at last, "But I must remind you, the side effects of the Wise Mushroom are still unclear, posing unpredictable risks."

Zhou Yi closed his eyes, synchronizing his consciousness with the other six Weapon Masters.

—Would you be willing to use the Wise Mushroom, like Xie Xun, to further unlock intelligence? The cost might include unclear side effects.

—Willing! Willing!

Their responses were completely unanimous.

Although with their large brain structures, given enough time they would also complete enlightenment, Zhou Yi still respected individual wishes.

Then let's bring on the technology—there are plenty of mushrooms to go around.

In this era of the Wasteland, how else to rapidly gain strength without drugs!

...

Four days later.

Zhou Yi looked at the neatly arranged new team before him.

From left to right, the Weapon Masters were named Xie Xun, Xie Fei, Xie Tu, Xie Kai, Xie Fa, Xie Gong, Xie Si—for simplicity, Zhou Yi used the company's names for the last six.

Ajin stood on the far right, slightly out of place, but he stood tall and proud nonetheless.

Each carried a travel backpack, slung with pickaxes, shovels, and hammers, with climbing rope wound around their shoulders.

Zhou Yi said, "Team leader Xie Xun."

"Present."

Xie Xun stepped forward.

Zhou Yi commanded, "Starting today, the Wasteland Development Company's Scavenger Team is officially established, with the primary objective of developing utilizable resources in the Dead Sea and secondary objective of excavating land resources."

"Yes, Chairman."

"Begin work!"

The Weapon Masters jogged one by one into the Dead Sea.

Only Ajin, unable to enter the sea, turned and dashed toward the north of the land.

Zhou Yi couldn't help but remind him, "Be careful."

"Yes, Chairman!"

The young man turned his head and waved, his face full of spirited excitement.

"I'll find something great for you!"