After finishing the delicious duck blood vermicelli soup, Lin Ye felt slightly better and began examining the complex machine at the center of the room.

[Consciousness Upload Device]

[An organization-developed device that can upload consciousness to the spiritual world. However, due to the randomness of uploads, many D-Class personnel have died during testing.]

[Note: Can be exchanged for a boat ticket.]

The Consciousness Upload Device was the same complex instrument that had stood beside Lin Ye's hospital bed. The device had numerous buttons with unclear purposes and no instruction manual.

After studying it for a while, Lin Ye realized he couldn't even turn it on. The device seemed to have some sort of security authentication technology that required meeting certain conditions before use.

"Exchange for a boat ticket."

Though he didn't know what the boat ticket was, it would be more useful than a pile of scrap metal, at least taking up less space.

The Consciousness Upload Device disappeared, replaced by a white boat ticket of unknown material appearing at the shelter's center.

Lin Ye picked up the boat ticket and checked the system description.

[Boat Ticket]

[A pass for entering the spiritual world with consciousness. Upon use, randomly enters a relatively stable spiritual world.]

[Note: The ticket changes color after each use. White represents shallow, safe areas.]

'Oh? The spiritual world? Seems a bit dangerous. I'll keep it for now and use it when needed later.'

After storing the boat ticket, Lin Ye opened Little Ye's gift box.

Inside was only one intricately patterned black card.

[Basic Rune - Collapse]

[A card for learning the basic collapse rune]

[Note: Those with insufficient spiritual energy should use with caution, except Lin Ye]

"...As expected of Teacher Little Ye."

Lin Ye didn't use the card immediately. He hadn't fully digested the Protection Rune yet and wasn't ready to learn new knowledge.

Looking at the final system notification:

[Awakened Consciousness]

[You woke from a dream only to find yourself still within a dream]

[Note: In the spiritual world, consciousness is the foundation of everything]

After reviewing his gains, Lin Ye poured hot water for the Abyssal Egg and Mutated Egg before organizing and studying the Protection Rune. He hoped to learn simple spiritual energy protection techniques before the Nighttime Activity began.

After all, the three-day beginner period had ended. According to system prompts, he might encounter first-rank spiritual energy creatures tonight.

And there was no telling which activity would occur tonight.

.........

The afternoon passed quickly, and the Nighttime Activity was about to begin.

Lin Ye prepared his equipment and finished his last bowl of duck blood vermicelli soup before the activity started, petting the duck for a while too.

After all, when the Nighttime Activity ended, it might already be tomorrow.

With some time left, Lin Ye opened the group chat.

"What activity will it be today?"

"Any news from the experts?"

"Probably not. The expert traded his talent for duck blood vermicelli today."

"Damn! I want duck blood vermicelli too!"

"Are you joining tonight's activity? According to the system hints, we might encounter ranked creatures today."

"I'm already itching for it. Just need one more mutation organ to upgrade my shelter. I don't even dare go near the bathroom now. Really want a hot shower. I'll bring back extra mutation organs to sell to you guys."

"Damn! I still need four!"

"Fuck, I haven't gotten the shelter upgrade blueprint yet. The mutation organs I've collected are starting to smell!"

"Whose fault is it for not joining nighttime activities?"

"My talent can make money. Why should I take risks? Buying shelter upgrade blueprints at high prices!"

"Damn, so you're a resource expert. My apologies."

"Has anyone tried Brother Lin's martial arts manual?"

"Try what? It's too abstract. Can't understand it at all."

"Don't trash talk randomly. The pictures are abstract, but the expert marked each organ's position. I've already started strengthening my body following the diagram. The effects are quite good."

"Huh? How do you guide the spiritual energy? Besides, shelters don't have spiritual energy, right?"

"Anyone who's used Mutation Cards can sense spiritual energy flow. The expert probably hasn't used Mutation Cards, so he wouldn't know. As for spiritual energy, isn't there nutrient solution? That contains spiritual energy. Drinking one bottle at first can sustain half a cycle."

"Holy shit! That awesome?"

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"It's not just me strengthening my body. Many people are progressing faster than me. The expert already published the routes. If you don't use your brains, whose fault is that?"

"Damn, you make a good point! I'll try it now, aiming to strengthen my body once before the activity."

[Nighttime Activity Begins]

[Tonight's Activity: Maze Exploration]

[Will you join?]

[09:59]

"Join."

Before the countdown ended, Lin Ye decided to rest while holding the duck.

[00:01]

[00:00]

.........

[Beginner Period Ended. Increased mutation creature appearance rate. Decreased treasure chest appearance rate. Lowered treasure chest drop quality. Extended activity duration.]

[Nighttime Activity Begins]

[3:59:59]

Lin Ye got up from the dark red floor. At the corridor's end, a blood-corpse had just turned the corner.

"Now that's... an intense welcome."

Lin Ye drew his Red Blade. Even without wearing the Cross Necklace now, he could easily sense the blood-corpse's mutated parts.

A flash of blade light later, the blood-corpse's upper body was severed by Lin Ye, who pulled out the mutation organ from its abdomen and tossed it into his empty backpack.

The Red Maze had extremely high spiritual energy density. Lin Ye randomly chose a room and began absorbing surrounding spiritual energy while performing energy cycles along his evolution path. His evolution path was extremely complex—even though his body could operate it automatically, he still needed to focus his attention internally.

With the Spiritual Energy Ring's help, it took Lin Ye half an hour to complete his first cycle. Just one cycle made him feel his physical condition had improved slightly.

'Just starting out now. Two cycles a day should suffice. Can gradually increase frequency later.'

Lin Ye stood up and stretched, deciding to explore the maze first and perform another cycle near the activity's end.

Leaving the room, Lin Ye began jogging slowly through corridors. Ordinary rooms with just one or two red coins no longer interested him—only locked rooms were worth stopping for.

Every corridor or two, Lin Ye would encounter a mutation creature—sometimes blood-corpses, other times mutated animals. The system had indeed increased mutation creature appearance rates.

These creatures didn't waste much of Lin Ye's time. After passing eight corridors, he finally encountered his first locked room.

Using a red key to open the door, he found only a red wooden treasure chest inside.

Opening the chest revealed a 10-pound bag of rice.

"...Not bad. Not too heavy."

Lin Ye carried the rice and continued jogging through corridors. After six more corridors, he found another locked room.

Using another red key, he found—yet another red wooden treasure chest.

"Don't tell me..."

Lin Ye had a bad premonition.

Opening the chest revealed boxed meat and vegetables totaling three or four pounds.