A Brief Meeting (Part 2)

Bai Yi said no more. His dark-gold pupils flickered with an unsteady light.

It was Mu Mu's turn to speak. She seemed like a shy young girl; Bai Yi had rarely heard her talk. She had always stayed quietly to the side, drinking water by herself.

Seeing that no one else spoke, she gathered her courage and said:

"M-My shelter is an ordinary shelter. My talent lets me enchant equipment, granting it an additional skill."

After saying that, Mu Mu seemed relieved and took a sip of water.

Another powerful ability!

"Mu Mu, are you really that thirsty? You've been drinking water this whole time." Seeing Mu Mu constantly clutching her cup, the previously silent Li Zihua suddenly asked.

"It's fine, Zihua. It's only water—I've got plenty. Mu Mu, drink as much as you want!" Wang Ziyi said generously.

At that moment, Bai Yi paid no attention to any of that. He looked calm on the surface, but his thoughts churned like a raging sea as he looked at Zhang Zhen.

Is he really that lucky? Every person he found has something valuable to offer. Once they form a team, they'll practically have no weaknesses. Every single one of them complements the others perfectly!

How did Zhang Zhen do it? It's as if he already knew our talents beforehand. Wait, knew beforehand...

A flash of insight struck Bai Yi. He turned his head slightly, glancing at another person from the corner of his eye.

Precognition. If it's Xie Xu, then everything makes sense.

What a terrifying talent. I wonder just how much he knows!

"Brother Dog, Brother Dog, it's your turn!"

Wang Ziyi's words pulled Bai Yi back to reality.

Now it was Bai Yi's turn. He was the last one.

"Special shelter, 'Fleshweb Bone Nest.' It is a functional shelter that can record crafting blueprints and actively synthesize fine-quality equipment.

"It can upgrade weapon quality, up to fine quality. The only issue is that the weapons are made from flesh and bone.

"It can treat external injuries and modify the body. I already mentioned treatment. As for modification, it can break through human limits. At present, the modification limit is 12 points in Strength and Constitution."

After pausing for a moment, Bai Yi added, "It can also synthesize various animal-flavored... steaks."

As soon as he finished speaking, silence fell over the room!

Everyone was so stunned by the powerful functions of Bai Yi's shelter that they were speechless. Every one of its functions would have been incredibly practical on its own.

Yet Bai Yi had four... no, five such functions in total. Food barely counted as one.

Zhang Zhen rubbed his forehead in shock. "Manufacturing, strengthening equipment, healing, modifying the body... What an incredible shelter!"

Then he turned to Tang Zheng. "Little Tang, why not give Brother Dog the blueprint and have him make you a fine-quality pistol? You can negotiate the price yourselves."

"Hiss—"

Even Xie Xu could not help drawing in a breath. "Modifications that break through limits... Brother Dog, are your current Strength and Constitution both at 12 points?"

Bai Yi accepted the blueprint Tang Zheng handed him and nodded. "Yes. This limit should increase as the shelter levels up."

Then he added, "If you don't mind products made of flesh and bone, you can give me any fine-quality or lower crafting blueprints. I'll provide you with the corresponding number of weapons at no charge, along with warranty services.

"I can provide bullets as well."

Bai Yi added this to Tang Zheng.

Li Zihua was more interested in modifications. "Brother Dog, can other players undergo modifications too?"

"They can."

Bai Yi gave an affirmative answer. Seeing everyone's excited expressions, he poured cold water over them.

"Modification costs are quite high. Raising an attribute by just one point requires dozens of rotting corpses. The higher the attribute, the more expensive it gets. And that's only the cost price.

"Besides, I currently need a large amount of flesh and bone to upgrade my shelter. For now, I don't have spare resources for modifications or equipment crafting."

After thinking for a moment, Bai Yi added:

"However, if you're in a hurry, you can come to my place for an examination first to check the cost. Then prepare the modification materials yourselves. I won't charge extra. The same applies to equipment crafting.

"As for materials, any fresh corpse with flesh and bones will do."

Everyone understood. At the same time, they also understood why Bai Yi was so obsessed with corpses and organs.

Seeing that everyone had finished their introductions, Zhang Zhen clapped his hands and said, "Everyone now understands each person's specialties. If you have any questions, you can discuss them privately. Next, let's move on to the second matter: trade.

"As you can see, each of us has something we excel at. But within a team, simply taking from others is often the most unfair thing. Nothing is more expensive than something free!

"So even though we are in the same team, except under special circumstances, we cannot survive by giving each other resources for free. That would be extremely unhealthy.

"My suggestion is that internal team trades should be priced at sixty percent of the marketplace rate."

As soon as Zhang Zhen finished speaking, Tang Zheng chimed in, "Uncle Zhang is right. We can't just help each other for free within the team, or I'd be taking too much advantage of everyone. I wouldn't be able to live with myself!"

After saying that, he turned to Wei Fen. "Sis, how much is your crafting blueprint? I'll give you the Mist Coins later."

Wei Fen smiled and waved her hand.

"I agree with what Brother Zhang said, but let it take effect after this meeting ends. Otherwise, if we start nitpicking over all the back-and-forth deliveries between us before this, we still wouldn't be done counting after a full day and night!"

The others all nodded in agreement.

"Then it's settled. As for the last matter, it's information sharing.

"If anyone learns anything or makes a discovery, let the group know. We should avoid casualties caused by information gaps as much as possible."

As he said that last sentence, Zhang Zhen gave Xie Xu a meaningful look.

The latter raised both hands and smiled bitterly. "I've already said everything I could. I've been very careful. If I say something I'm not supposed to, forget casualties—we'll all be wiped out here."

Hearing this, Zhang Zhen shook his head helplessly. "Let's drop that. We'll start with a basic exchange of information."

With that, he uploaded all the otherworldly creatures and abnormal statuses from his log.

The others quickly followed suit.

After sending theirs, Bai Yi checked them. The abnormal statuses were all identical, but there was one new entry on an otherworldly creature.

[Rotting Marsh Gazer]: A cluster of wart-like eyeballs protruding from the swamp, its surface covered by a tar-like membrane. Being stared at causes muscle fibrosis.

It was the otherworldly creature Wang Ziyi had encountered when she first arrived. She had stomped it to death with her eyes closed.

Li Zihua spoke again. "Mu Mu, didn't you encounter some strange, weak otherworldly creature when you first arrived?"

"Ah!" Hearing her name, Mu Mu instinctively sat up straight, her fingers tightening around her cup.

"N-No. I listened to Brother Xie Xu and leveled up the instant I could."

"Oh!" Xie Xu also sensed that something was off. Li Zihua, usually so quiet, was interrogating Mu Mu today.

Xie Xu and Li Zihua exchanged a quick glance. He saw the deep concern in Li Zihua's eyes.

Is there something wrong with Mu Mu?

Xie Xu kept his expression unchanged and took over the conversation.

"Mu Mu, you reacted pretty fast!"

Mu Mu's face immediately flushed red, and her voice became as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "Mm—"

"I'm warning you, Xie Dog. Don't tease Mu Mu!"

Wang Ziyi threatened viciously.

Xie Xu wisely backed down and signaled Li Zihua with his eyes to take over from here.

"Ahem. Alright, everything's been discussed. Let's get back to our own business as soon as possible. The black fog outside won't stop and wait for us," Zhang Zhen said, clapping his hands.

"Hey, wait, wait. We haven't named our team yet!" Tang Zheng's words stopped everyone in their tracks.

"A name, huh? True enough. What do you all think?"

"Dawn Squad!" Wang Ziyi clenched her fist excitedly.

"Daybreak?" Li Zihua suggested.

"Doomsday Iron Fist!" Tang Zheng gave a thumbs-up.

"Ahem, how about... Survival Squad?" Zhang Zhen suggested dryly.

"Return Through the Mist. I hope we can survive the mist and return to our hometowns." Wei Fen.

"Ashen Echo. It means the faint echoes left behind by the mist, yet they endure without end, reverberating again and again." Xie Xu.

"I-I'll go with whatever everyone decides." Mu Mu.

"Dog Bro, what about you?"

Bai Yi fell silent beneath everyone's expectant gazes.

After a long while, he squeezed out two words. "Lonely..."

"Alright! I think Xie Dog's name is pretty good."

Wang Ziyi cleverly came to Bai Yi's rescue.

The others all nodded as well. Among them, Bai Yi nodded the most firmly!

[You changed the group chat name to "Ashen Echo"]

"Then, I hope Ashen Echo keeps moving forward, leaving behind echoes that belong to us. Let's do this!"

"Let's do this!" everyone shouted in unison.