Universe Infinite Canteen

"New and old value?"

"Yes, the essence of repair is to restore an object to its original state, so it consumes old value, while upgrading adds different aspects to an object, which requires new value. Additionally, to maintain its normal operation, Number 6 also needs to consume a certain amount of both new and old values daily."

Ma Lu thought for a moment, "I can understand the concept of new and old, but how exactly is it calculated? For example, if I make a slingshot with an old elastic band, is the slingshot considered new or old?"

"It's considered new," Old Wang answered crisply, "but if the process of making the slingshot only involves combining the elastic band with a branch, the new value provided is minuscule."

"So the new value is related not only to the item itself but also to the complexity of the production process?"

"That's right. The television it consumed earlier provided a total of 8 new value points and 46 old value points, while it used 100 new value points for the Collection Bag's upgrade.

"This upgrade almost depleted the new value it had accumulated over the previous period, which is why it's so listless now. If you want to continue upgrading equipment, you'll need to replenish its new value."

After Old Wang finished speaking, a metal wire extended from beneath his assault vest and inserted into Ma Lu's bracelet once again.

Seconds later, the Traveler's Bracelet activated a new function called equipment upgrade.

All four pieces of equipment Ma Lu owned were listed there, including [Collection Bag] Level 2, [Chef's Knife] Level 1, [Traveler's Bracelet] Level 1, while only [Gift of Fate] was marked as non-upgradable.

As if knowing what Ma Lu was thinking, Old Wang continued, "Not all high-dimensional artifacts can be upgraded. Some which are initially very powerful, as well as those with little potential, cannot be further enhanced."

"What about the bug egg?"

"Bug eggs are not high-dimensional artifacts. They have existed since the birth of the universe. Once enough mileage is accumulated, new routes can be opened."

Ma Lu then opened the [Collection Bag].

Level: Level 2

Function: Stores ingredients with an added preservation and portable lightweight feature. Current storage limit is 500 jin.

Upgrade Preview: The next upgrade requires 200 new value points and can increase the storage limit by 100 jin.

Next was the [Chef's Knife].

Level: Level 1

Function: Slices all ingredients, indestructible.

Upgrade Preview: The next upgrade requires 100 new value points and can increase damage by 10%, ingredient processing efficiency by 20%.

Next was the [Traveler's Bracelet].

Level: Level 1

Function: A feature-rich assistant for travel in different dimensions.

Upgrade Preview: The next upgrade requires 100 new value points and can extend the stay in a different dimension by 1 hour.

Finally, the [Gift of Fate].

Level: Divine Artifact

Function: Inserts a new rule accessible to the current holder into the universe.

Upgrade Preview: Not upgradable

After scanning through them all, Ma Lu couldn't help but be tempted; setting aside the Gift of Fate, which was already a divine artifact and non-upgradable, the upgrade effects of the remaining three pieces of equipment were quite enticing.

The Collection Bag could increase its storage limit, the Traveler's Bracelet could extend stay time, and the Chef's Knife had two extra buffs; not only would it increase damage, but it would also speed up the processing of ingredients.

Unfortunately, 6 only had 5 newness points left, enough for it to operate for 5 days.

Ma Lu thought for a moment, went to the bedroom to fetch an old tablet that he hadn't used in a long time, and placed it in front of the feeble 6.

As soon as he let go, the drainage pipe on the side of 6 eagerly stretched up, wrapped around the old tablet, but then there was no further action.

It wasn't until Ma Lu said, "Eat it," that the old tablet disappeared.

Ma Lu was also witnessing 6 consume for the first time. A 10-inch tablet was actually sucked in by a drainage pipe with only about a 1-inch diameter.

As it slid all the way into 6's belly, Ma Lu saw the newness value on the upper right corner of the bracelet change from 5 to 7, and the oldness value increased by 12 points, making him vaguely guess.

After eating the old tablet, 6 somewhat recovered its spirit, shook its body twice, and even affectionately rubbed Ma Lu's trouser leg with the drainage pipe, but it still looked a bit listless.

So Ma Lu went to fetch an old piece of clothing he didn't like and threw it to 6.

The drainage pipe came forward to "sniff" at it, then drew back again, until Ma Lu urged it, and it reluctantly swallowed the old clothes.

The bracelet showed that the oldness value increased by 1 point, but the newness value didn't change much.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. Ma Lu opened the door, and this time the real refrigerator had arrived.

After unpacking and checking that there were no problems, Ma Lu happily signed for it.

After the delivery guy left, Ma Lu decided to do an experiment.

He and Old Wang lifted the refrigerator onto the balcony, "This is for you too."

6 seemed to hardly believe that such good fortune had befallen it, showing no reaction at all upon hearing this.

It wasn't until Ma Lu repeated himself that 6 tentatively extended the drainage pipe again.

Seeing that there was no rebuke, it finally swallowed the refrigerator before it with great enthusiasm. Its body shook more violently, making noises on the ground, and the drainage pipe swung from side to side, showing its excitement.

However, Ma Lu's attention was not on 6 at that moment. Looking at the newness value that had just increased by 9 points on the bracelet, he felt he was touching upon some pattern of estimating newness and oldness values.

This gadget seemed to have a positive correlation with the retail price of the item, but not absolutely so, as 6 clearly favored electronic products with higher tech content, awarding more newness and oldness values.

Furthermore, as an item was used, its newness value would drop, and its oldness value would increase, but the total value should remain constant.

Ma Lu had no more things to feed at hand, so the experiment had to end there for now.

Functioning on a full belly, 6's drum began to rotate again, this time not as vigorously as before.

"It says it wants to stay and live with us," Old Wang said. "And it can promise not to consume anything without your permission from now on."

"Hmm, live together?" Ma Lu scratched his rear, "I have no objections, but won't the Artisan mind if it doesn't go back for a long time?"

While taking in an old washing machine with a taste for electronic products was odd, after living with Old Wang for a while, Ma Lu had somewhat become immune to such oddities.

Moreover, he indeed needed the upgrade function provided by 6. If 6 was willing to stay, it meant the upgrade function was available at any time, which also made it convenient for him to continue experimenting to find the most cost-effective feed.

"It says the Artisan made it to serve customers, and in this universe, we are the only customers of the Artisan. It has difficulties gaining newness and oldness values elsewhere and always runs the risk of being dismantled by others."

"That does sound tough for it."

Ma Lu looked at 6 again, and immediately, 6 started to sway the drainage pipe again.

"Alright then, next time we go out to stall, we'll have someone to watch the house," Ma Lu agreed.