Li Ye immediately waved his hand, signaling to Lin Xia aboard the Tomorrow to shine the spotlight onto the cannon.
The moment the light fell upon the cannon, his expression changed dramatically.
The cannon used by the zombies was not a conventional regular cannon as commonly understood, but a twisted and grotesque fleshy artillery piece.
The surface of the barrel was covered in dark red wriggling flesh, filled with pulsating blood vessels and mucous membranes. The barrel was inlaid with white bones, and the base of the cannon was completely fused with the armor plating.
Not only Li Ye, but even those around him turned pale.
Li Ye carefully examined the shells used by the zombies. The material of the shells was a combination of metal, gunpowder, and flesh.
"Lord, did you notice?" a combat personnel member said in a trembling voice. "This cannon has absolutely no operating mechanism."
Li Ye was startled and looked again with closer scrutiny.
Aiming device, cast-iron breech, hydraulic bolts... Just as he said, there wasn't a single control mechanism on this cannon.
"Then how did the zombie operate and fire it?"After searching carefully around the cannon, Li Ye found a slot.
The slot was neither too large nor too small, just the right size to fit an arm.
He couldn't help but close his eyes and focus his thoughts.
During battle, the zombie gunner placed their arm into the slot, and the fleshy cannon connected to their consciousness, aiming and firing with their thoughts...
That was probably the only explanation.
But why did zombies possess such advanced technology?
"Let's go take a look at the cockpit," he said.
The cockpit of this zombie mobile city was even more astonishing.
It resembled a living, fleshy chamber.
The walls were covered in a semi-transparent biological membrane, within which a network of pulsing blood vessels and glowing neural bundles could be seen, seemingly able to transmit messages at any moment.
Instrument panel, steering wheel, throttle, brakes... there were no driving controls in the cockpit, only a few slots identical to those on the cannon body.
Most likely, the zombie helmsmen operated the entire mobile city by inserting their arms into those slots.
Flesh-tech.
This term suddenly emerged in Li Ye’s mind.
It was originally a concept from science fiction novels and games.
Usually referring to technology that merged organic biological tissues, nervous systems, and even living organs with mechanical systems.
Such buildings and ships would exhibit a bizarre hybrid style of living tissue and machinery, combining the softness of biological organs with the precision of mechanical structures.
At this moment, flesh-tech was so vividly displayed before Li Ye’s eyes.
"I’m afraid that inserting their arm into the slot not only allows them to control the cannon and city, but also enables a mental link through these vascular networks and glowing neural bundles," Lin Wu speculated. "In that way, they can share combat information in real-time and execute combat commands immediately."
Li Ye nodded gravely. He had already faintly suspected this.
His gaze couldn’t help but pass through the cockpit window, looking deeper into the Eternal Night Zone.
Clearly, many secrets were hidden here.
"Let’s go, we’ll check out the production workshop," he waved.
Even monstrous mobile cities must have a series of production projects in their production workshop.
Li Ye intended to take a look, and perhaps find something usable.
A living, breathing industrial organism.
That was Li Ye’s first impression upon seeing the production workshop.
It didn’t look like any mechanical structure; instead, it resembled some kind of massive flesh organ, and it even radiated warmth.
Li Ye tentatively approached the device in the production workshop and verified his Lord’s Wristband.
A series of Level 1 production projects immediately appeared on the screen.
Everyone was shocked when they saw it clearly, and Li Ye’s expression also changed.
What lay before them was a list of production projects that were utterly—
【Flesh Cannon: Requires 200 units of Flesh, 100 units of White Bone, 150 units of Iron Ore to craft】
【Skeletal City Armor: Requires 300 units of White Bone, 100 units of Flesh, 300 units of Iron Ore to craft】
【Heavy Bone City Tires: Requires 500 units of White Bone, 150 units of Iron Ore to craft】
【Stitched Treads: Requires 150 units of Flesh, 200 units of White Bone, 100 units of Stitching Thread, 200 units of Iron Ore to craft】
【......】
"Disgusting, this is just too disgusting!" Old Zhou couldn’t help but speak up.
Li Ye also shook his head repeatedly.
He hadn’t expected that the city accessories of a Zombie Mobile City would actually require flesh and white bone.
This was far beyond what he had imagined.
These grotesque Level 1 production projects—he didn’t want a single one.
After all, he was still human and could not accept the idea of using flesh and bones to enhance a city.
Moreover, he had no idea where to gather those materials.
Upon hearing what Li Ye and his group had seen in the Zombie Mobile City, Zhou Xing’s expression also changed.
This Lord did not return to his own Mobile City, but instead, under Tang Fang’s lead, briefly toured the Tomorrow.
After seeing the Tomorrow’s series of configurations and Level 2 items, he couldn’t help but feel envious.
Seeing Zhou Xing hesitating to speak, Li Ye gently nodded.
In truth, this visit was arranged by him with the very intention of stirring Zhou Xing’s interest in the Tomorrow, so that he could naturally bring up his offer.
"Would you be willing to join my City Alliance and become my companion?" Li Ye asked.
Zhou Xing thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.
For a Level 1 Mobile City, exploring a Level 2 Zone like the Eternal Night Zone was simply too dangerous.
Having a Level 2 city as a companion would undoubtedly allow for better development.
In fact, for the vast majority of Level 1 cities, once they reached full configuration at Level 1, their development within Level 1 Zones hit a bottleneck.
At that point, the choices became very limited.
First, find a location with abundant freshwater and mineral resources and settle there as a Level 1 Fortress.
Second, within Level 1 Zones, try to collect Mobile City Promotion Blueprint, City Structure Blueprint, City Crystal, City Alloy, and other resources to upgrade to a Level 2 City and head for a Level 2 Zone.
Of course, this would involve fierce competition, and some might be stuck for years.
Third, proceed to a Level 2 Zone as a fully equipped Level 1 City.
As for the addition of the Engineer, Li Ye naturally welcomed it with open arms.
A fully equipped Level 1 engineering-type city—such a functional companion was a rare find.
If resources were gradually invested to nurture the Engineer, it could become a tremendous asset to the Alliance in the future.
"Then I’ll set the invitation code for Channel K1 and send it to you," he said.
Zhou Xing was instantly stunned upon hearing that.
"You actually have a City Radio?"
Upon learning that Li Ye not only had one but that it was also a Level 2 Radio, he was so excited he didn’t know what to say.
Energy Shield, Storm Infantry Vehicle, City Camouflage, and now a Level 2 City Radio—this Level 2 City’s configuration was utterly outrageous! Clearly, he had found an exceptionally powerful ally.
"What a twist of fate," he couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
After encountering the Zombie Mobile City and losing his fellow companions, he had been completely disheartened. He never expected such a dramatic turnaround, leading him to such a promising path.