Survival in the Core: I'm writing a guide for the entire server.

Back on the Gold Rush ship, Lin You took the pile of bluish-gray metal scraps out of his backpack and placed them on the worktable.

The advanced forensic eye activated automatically, and lines of information appeared before his eyes.

……

Tungsten carbide metal scrap

Grade: 8 (Green)

[Note: A hard alloy that can be used to make tungsten steel props]

[Additional Information: You have unlocked the following recipes]

……

[Tungsten Carbide Handgun: 10 pieces of tungsten carbide metal scrap, requires an anvil]

[Tungsten Carbide Controller: 10 pieces of tungsten carbide scrap, anvil required]

[Tungsten Carbide Drill Bits: 10 pieces of tungsten carbide scrap, requires an anvil]

[Tungsten Carbide Prosthesis: 10 pieces of tungsten carbide metal scrap, requires an anvil]

[Tungsten Carbide Detector: 5 x Tungsten Carbide Metal Scrap]

[Tungsten Carbide Repair Tools: 15 pieces of tungsten carbide scrap, for advanced workbenches]

……

"Tungsten steel scrap has a wide range of uses."

Lin You scanned the formulas and quickly determined their respective values.

Tungsten steel firearms are ranged weapons that are more lethal than hand crossbows, but have a slower rate of fire.

Tungsten carbide drill bits can replace pickaxes and can automatically excavate, saving a lot of physical effort.

The tungsten steel detector can scan for high-value items in the surrounding environment and may be useful when exploring hidden realms.

But Lin You noticed a detail.

The only material used to make these props was scrap tungsten steel.

There are no other special materials.

"Are there even more advanced recipes yet to be unlocked?"

He focused his attention on the scrap on the worktable, his discerning eye scanning it once more.

[Additional Information: Higher-grade tungsten steel armor requires "Energy Core" as a material]

[Energy Core: The power unit for tungsten steel machinery, obtainable from the Tungsten Steel Machinery Workshop on Hard Mode]

"really."

Lin You nodded secretly, not too surprised.

It seems the recipe I just unlocked only contains some simple tungsten steel equipment.

Higher-level items always require more effort to obtain.

"I have 35 pieces of scrap material on hand."

"It should be able to make 3 large items, or 2 small items, plus one or two miscellaneous props."

"Um……"

After thinking for a while, Lin You walked to the anvil and began to make it.

[Making a "tungsten steel handgun", 15 minutes remaining]

The 15-minute preparation time is not long.

Lin You casually opened the game menu and clicked on her email.

You have a new email. Please check it.

Lin You directly selected to receive the attachment.

Within seconds, a bluish-gray backpack appeared in his hand.

The backpack is made of a dense fabric with a metal nameplate sewn on the front, engraved with a cross pattern of gears and wrenches.

……

Tungsten steel engineering backpack

Grade: 10 (Purple)

[Capacity: 32 slots]

Weight loss: 30%

[Effect: Adds 3 extra toolbar slots, which can be used to place tools such as torches, lanterns, grappling hooks, and detectors, and will be used automatically]

……

"Automatically use tools?"

Lin You's gaze fell on the last line of effects, and she read it carefully.

For ordinary players exploring, switching tools alone can waste a lot of time.

With this backpack, he doesn't need to worry about these things at all.

It automatically lights up torches when lighting is needed, automatically uses grappling hooks when climbing is needed, and automatically retracts when finished.

It's like having an extra pair of hands.

"This backpack...is perfect for me!"

Without saying a word, he replaced his old backpack with the new one and transferred all his supplies into it.

With a capacity of 32 compartments, there's still plenty of space left after filling up all the stock.

After packing up my backpack, I also finished making the anvil next to me.

[Crafting complete! You have obtained "Tungsten Steel Musket" x1]

A ruggedly designed single-shot musket lay quietly on the anvil.

"Finally, we have a firearm."

"I don't know how to get ammunition..."

As he pondered this, Lin You picked up the musket and browsed its attributes.

……

Tungsten steel handgun

Grade: 8 (Green)

[Attack: 22x6]

[Durability: 900/900]

[Requirement: None]

【Effect ①: Uses tungsten carbide scrap as ammunition, allowing for 30 shots per reload】

【Effect 2: Each attack fires 6 shrapnel projectiles, ignoring 5 points of defense】

……

"Wow...this is practically a beginner's dream!"

After reading about the properties of the tungsten steel musket, Lin You couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

This evaluation seems a bit too high.

But a comparison with the "Crimson Crossbow" in his hand reveals the difference.

The tungsten steel musket can deal a total of 132 damage, while the average damage of a hand crossbow is only a fraction of that.

Although tungsten steel firearms require tungsten steel metal scrap as ammunition.

But one piece of scrap material can be used to attack 30 times, making it extremely cost-effective.

The key is--

Tungsten steel handguns have no level or attribute restrictions!

Even level 1 new players can use it without any barriers!

"Weapons made of tungsten steel are pretty powerful."

"It should be fine to use it up to about 10 layers deep."

Lin You weighed the musket in his hand and casually put it into the backpack behind him.

He originally wanted to make another tungsten carbide drill bit.

But since the muskets use tungsten steel scrap as ammunition, let's wait and see.

However, the tungsten carbide detector can be made directly, requiring only 5 units of waste material.

[Crafting complete! You have obtained "Tungsten Carbide Detector" x1!]

……

Tungsten steel detector

Grade: 8 (White)

[Durability: 10/10]

[Effect: Releases a detection signal upon activation, marking potentially high-value items within the field of vision. Only effective within the "Tungsten Steel Machinery Workshop" instance.]

……

"A special detection tool for secret realms... Alright, I'll give it a try later."

Lin You put the detector into the toolbar of his backpack, then looked in the direction of the entrance to the secret realm.

"Time to challenge the hard mode."

[Would you like to challenge the underground secret realm "Tungsten Steel Machinery Workshop (Hard)"?]

"Yes."

A flash of white light, and Lin You reappeared in the underground workshop.

But it's different from last time.

All the indicator lights on the workshop walls lit up, flashing red.

A silent pressure permeated the air.

As soon as Lin You landed, he noticed a new line of values ​​in the corner of the minimap.

[Emergency Alert Level: 0%]

[Note: Opening supply crates or triggering combat will increase the alert level. Once it reaches 100%, an "Emergency Alert" will be triggered.]

[After the emergency alarm is triggered: the remaining time in the secret realm is halved, and all security machines will enter active pursuit mode]

Lin You glanced at it and memorized the information.

"Just as I guessed, this is a mechanism that prevents you from being greedy."

"If you open every crate and shoot every enemy you see, your alert level will be maxed out!"

"Not only will we gain nothing, but we'll also lose the equipment and supplies we brought in..."

"We must proceed with caution."

Lin You thought to himself, already drafting a plan for the next move.

This secret realm will open in 24 hours.

If we release the guide together, we'll definitely gain a lot of guide points.

However, he has strict requirements for his strategy posts.

Unlike those toxic strategy authors on public forums who just try to fool people, I won't do that.

I must experience every detail of the secret realm before I can put pen to paper.

"Let's go and scout ahead."

Lin You moved forward along the passage on one side, taking much lighter steps than on the normal difficulty level.

He didn't bring Flame Spirit this time, firstly because the little guy wasn't in good condition, and secondly because he wanted to avoid a fight.

The enemies along the way are still mainly tungsten steel drones, hover tanks, and walkers.

However, all levels were raised to level 9, and both health and defense increased significantly.

However, for Lin You, the difference was not significant.

"There's a lone tungsten steel drone ahead... I can't avoid it."

Lin You glanced at the mini-map; there were no accessible routes nearby.

All he could do was raise the newly made tungsten steel musket and aim it at the drone not far away.

"Bang!"

Gunshots rang out in the workshop, and six bullets flew out.

Each projectile was imbued with frenzied elemental power, engulfing the tungsten steel drone!

boom!!

The drone disintegrated in mid-air, with its parts scattered all over the ground.

[Alert level: 5%]

"That's 5% already?"

Lin You curled her lip, thinking to herself that the hard mode was basically a stealth game.

He continued, stopping to observe the rate of increase in the warning value after opening one or two boxes.

[Open a regular supply crate: Alert level +3%]

[Opening a premium supply crate: Alertness level +7%]

Destroying a drone: Alert level +5%

"The pattern has been found."

He quickly wrote down a formula in his mind.

"High-value boxes saw a larger increase in their alert level, while low-value boxes saw a smaller increase."

"If you want good things, you have to take on higher risks."

As he was taking notes, a peculiar blue light suddenly illuminated the passageway ahead.

Lin You stopped and turned to look.

A device unlike any of the previous machines stood at the corner of the passageway.

It resembles a metal cone fixed to a support, with an antenna-like structure at the top.

In his field of vision, it was constantly spreading outward in concentric circles of translucent blue pulse ripples.

When those ripples covered the patrolling drones, the latter's speed noticeably increased.

……

Tungsten steel amplifier

[Level: 9]

【Life: 200】

[Defense: 40]

[Note: This is a fixed support unit. It has no offensive capabilities itself, but it will enhance all tungsten steel machinery within its range.]

[Additional Information: Destroying it will guarantee the drop of an "Energy Core"]

……

Upon seeing the additional information at the end, Lin You's spirits immediately lifted.

"The core of energy!"