Making an Inflatable Puppet was actually simpler than imagined.
Aside from the intelligent chip, which had to be purchased from Lost Paradise with Constant Gold Coins, Xu Nan could basically find all the other materials ready-made in the base.
According to the blueprints, once inflated, the puppet should be roughly the same height as a real person. With lambskin and alchemical hardening, it could look almost lifelike.
When Xu Nan got to work, he did not think too much about it. He only felt that this thing met all his requirements.
But when the limp puppet finally took shape, Xu Nan suddenly realized something.
Did this thing look a little too much like an adult product?
Although he had deliberately chosen a relatively inconspicuous model, the thought of a group of inflatable blonde women planting rice seedlings in the fields still felt rather jarring.
"Let's try it first. If I'm worried about getting censored, I can just put some clothes on it later."
Xu Nan did not dwell on it.
The blueprints did not provide an exact formula for inflation, so Xu Nan had to figure it out himself.
It was mainly a mixture of hydrogen and several inert gases.
Hydrogen could make the entire puppet lighter and reduce energy consumption. Since Xu Nan did not know the proper ratio the first time, he greedily added a little too much hydrogen.
It was only after he finished inflating it that he realized something was wrong.
Before he could even activate the intelligent module, the entire Inflatable Puppet floated upward!
Xu Nan was horrified. He hurriedly tossed aside his tools and tried to jump up after it, but his athletic ability was clearly lacking. The Inflatable Puppet mischievously spun around near the ceiling of the alchemy workshop before suddenly drifting outside!
Xu Nan's scalp went numb. Fortunately, there were not many people in the base. Otherwise, if everyone saw a blonde woman floating through the air, how awkward would that be?
He hurriedly chased after it.
Just then, A-Tang walked by with headphones on, stepping to some inexplicable dance rhythm. When she saw a blonde woman flying through the air, she could not help but exclaim, "I never thought you were this kind of Xu Nan!"
"Is she your girlfriend?"
Xu Nan could not be bothered to waste words on her. "Help me get that thing down!"
A-Tang was reluctant in every possible way, but she still leaped high into the air, trying to pluck the Inflatable Puppet down.
Unfortunately, the Inflatable Puppet was far too light and quick. Even with A-Tang's agility, she could not handle it right away.
Xu Nan watched her bounce around uselessly for a while and began to suspect she was doing it on purpose!
Gu Xiaomeng was still in the base!
If she saw this, Xu Nan would not exactly care, but it would still be rather embarrassing.
However, reality was far crueler than Xu Nan had imagined.
The blonde woman drifted toward the residential area, and she was not moving slowly.
Xu Nan and A-Tang chased after her for a while before their expressions suddenly changed!
Ahead was Xin'er's house!
And, as if cursed by fate, the Inflatable Puppet crashed straight into a second-floor window!
Thump!
It was quite loud.
Unless Xin'er was asleep, she had probably heard it already!
At the thought that Xin'er might misunderstand, Xu Nan grew anxious.
He rushed over, intending to cast a Spiderweb Spell and cover the thing.
However, at that moment, the second-floor curtains were pulled aside, and Xin'er's curious face poked out.
Xu Nan made a snap decision and hurled a Melf's Acid Arrow over without hesitation!
Bang!
Xin'er opened the window in confusion, only to see fragments of lambskin scattering down through the air.
"Good morning!" Xu Nan waved calmly.
Xin'er's face reddened, and she quickly shut the window.
Xu Nan sighed in relief and rushed over to clean up the mess.
By the time he had nearly finished gathering everything, A-Tang finally arrived late.
"Where's your girlfriend?"
"Huh? Did she explode?"
Xu Nan slapped her on the forehead.
"Never mention what happened today again."
Clutching a pile of lambskin, he fled back to the alchemy workshop in shame, heart aching over the wasted materials.
Inflatable Puppets truly had outstanding performance, but Xu Nan realized that he could not blindly follow the blueprints when it came to appearance.
Who knew whether the alchemist who designed this thing had been some kind of shut-in pervert or gentleman?
All nineteen models of the Basic Inflatable Puppet were, damn it, images of women of every race, from plump to slender.
Even more outrageously, there was a female minotaur!
There was a reason the Arcane Empire had been exiled!
Xu Nan ignored the various uniforms and outfits included in the later appendices and decided to design the appearance of the Inflatable Puppets himself.
Without compromising their functions, Xu Nan simulated many possibilities, only to discover that his designs... really were no good!
The design of every alchemical product had gone through who knew how many experiments by the alchemists of the Arcane Empire. The specific data and detailed specifications all contained subtle mysteries.
The result of Xu Nan altering their appearances on his own was that, while the Inflatable Puppets he designed were neither erotic nor perverse, they were also useless.
Later, unwilling to waste materials, he simply slapped his forehead and made one in the image of Baymax from Big Hero 6.
After all, appearance was not important to him.
By sheer coincidence, Xu Nan's first usable Inflatable Puppet was born.
Watching the Inflatable Puppet operate automatically and provide a certain degree of intelligent response to his commands, Xu Nan was filled with emotion. Since he had difficulty naming things, he simply named this Inflatable Puppet Baymax.
Baymax's success boosted Xu Nan's morale to some extent, but it also made him completely abandon the idea of using Inflatable Puppets for farming.
This thing was more suited to serving as an alchemy assistant. In a sense, it could indeed replace Mage Hand.
But planting rice seedlings and farming could wait.
Since that was the case, it was not suitable for mass production either.
That meant Xu Nan had spent two days working for nothing.
"It wasn't entirely for nothing. At least my alchemy proficiency has improved quite a bit."
Xu Nan ordered Baymax to build an assembly line for making Mechanical Ghosts in the alchemy workshop. Baymax had decent learning ability and quickly figured it out.
Once the assembly line was complete, semi-automated mass production of Mechanical Ghosts would not be difficult.
Xu Nan bought quite a few sapphires. In the future, the base's cheap labor would mainly consist of ghosts.
Inflatable products... would be shelved for now.
Then he went to sleep.
When he woke up, it was already the next morning.
His interview with the Thousand Rays Society mentor was scheduled for that evening at his university.
Xu Nan took it seriously. Zhang Yingluo had implied that every professional qualified to serve as a mentor at this stage was at least second-tier.
Sorcerers walked different paths, but if he could receive guidance from an experienced senior, Xu Nan would never miss the opportunity.
His plan to join the Thousand Rays Society was also meant to give him access to more information and resources concerning professionals and other worlds.
After the gnolls had been wiped out, the dungeon was temporarily safe. With A-Tang holding down the fort, Xu Nan was not too worried about Xin'er's safety.
He also had the dwarf imps build eight of the most basic defensive arrow towers around the area. That way, any monster approaching would be detected and attacked by the towers.
After finishing all that, he left the dungeon.
During the day, he had originally planned to attend class. After all, he had not gone in a long time, and Xu Nan rather missed his adorable classmates.
But before he could reach the school, a message from Qin Lele arrived.
"Lord City Lord, my mom wants to see you!"
Xu Nan replied, "??? Didn't you say you wouldn't let her meet me?"
"No, we can't hide what happened between us anymore! Otherwise, she won't let me leave." Qin Lele sent a crying emoji.
"Make yourself uglier. Don't be too handsome. I'll wait for you at Dafang Square."
Xu Nan had a headache.
Logically speaking, he did not want to get involved in Qin Lele's affairs. But he had foolishly asked whether she needed help before. Now that she needed help, could he really claim he was unavailable?
That might earn him Activity Points, but it would also hurt someone on his own side.
If Xu Nan wanted to fleece someone, he would not start with his own people.
After thinking it over, he reluctantly agreed. In truth, he was rather curious what kind of person Qin Lele's mother was.
After learning a bard spell—Disguise Self—Xu Nan leisurely boarded a bus outside the school gates.
To make sure Qin Lele could recognize him, Xu Nan even sent her a selfie.
In the photo, Xu Nan looked like a forty-year-old uncle. His entire body radiated sleaziness, with absolutely nothing to do with the word handsome.
"??? Xu Nan, did you secretly get plastic surgery behind my back?" Qin Lele exclaimed.
Xu Nan felt rather pleased with himself. He had long wanted to learn a disguise spell. After all, as his charm kept rising, there would only be more trouble in the future.
His new image might not be attractive, but it could save him a great deal of trouble.
On the bus, almost no one gave him a second glance.
Well... there were exceptions. The high school girl sitting beside him looked at Xu Nan more than once, but her eyes were full of disgust.
Xu Nan ignored her.
He was still worried about the monthly event.
Honestly, picking fights with people for Activity Points was not Xu Nan's style at all. Snapping at couples once before had already been his limit.
Was there not some better way to earn Activity Points without offending people?
Xu Nan thought about it. Since he was helping Qin Lele solve her problem, that clever girl should help ease his worries too.
So he carefully phrased his question.
"City Management Captain, I have a question for you!"
"How can I elegantly make everyone around me uncomfortable?"
Qin Lele answered confidently, "Easy. We'll talk when you get to Dafang Square."
Dafang Square was in the city center. Even on a weekday afternoon, it was packed with people.
Xu Nan got off the bus and made his way toward Qin Lele's location amid the crowd.
The tide of people surged around him.
Suddenly, he saw a beautiful figure dart through the crowd and pounce toward him!
The figure was accompanied by a loud cry—
"Godfather!"
"I missed you so much!"
Xu Nan expressionlessly watched Qin Lele cling to him like a koala while everyone around them stared with strange looks.
Activity Points +1000, from...
...!
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