Translator: AnubisTL
"..."
Biaozi remained silent, retreating behind Lord Mang. The times had truly changed. Not long ago, his memory of Neon City would have fetched a high price in the memory bank.
What a pity.
Chen Mang turned his head, gazing thoughtfully at the store clerk beside him.
As the saying goes, a single leaf reveals the autumn. Since Biaozi's memory was valuable in Neon City but worthless here, it suggested that goblins were scarce in the Mechanical Civilization, while they were abundant in the Kasha Civilization Federation, even having their own Goblin Civilization.
Excellent.
It seemed his promise to Doba was finally within reach. He could finally make Doba the true Goblin King.
Meanwhile—
The cultivator in the daoist robe had finished his transaction with the store clerk and entered a small room nearby. Since he had arrived late, he hadn't heard what project he had chosen.
Chen Mang decided to sit on a sofa in the main hall and wait patiently. He would ask the cultivator when he emerged.
The other store clerk approached them with a beaming smile, his service impeccable. "What project would you like to choose? We offer Memory Deletion, Memory Implantation, and Memory Sales, with a variety of options available."
"No need," Chen Mang waved his hand casually. "We're waiting for someone. We won't be having any memories implanted."
"Then how about selling your memories?" the store clerk asked tentatively. "Perhaps a seemingly ordinary phase of your life could fetch a high price. Memory evaluations are free and completely confidential. We guarantee your privacy will be strictly protected."
"No, thank you," Chen Mang shook his head again. He knew one memory of his was worth a fortune—his memory of time-traveling. It had even been appraised at a high price in Neon City. But he had no intention of selling it.
To him, losing a memory was no different from losing a limb. It would leave his life incomplete and fragmented.
Painful memories were unpleasant, of course. But it was precisely through these painful memories that people learned valuable lessons and gained a deeper sense of their own existence in the world.
The Tier 200 God-Tier Overpowered Effect of the Steamed Bun Production Line allowed him to erase portions of his own memories. He had certainly experienced his share of painful events, but he had no intention of erasing those memories.
He thought it was quite good.
Sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy flavors are defined by contrast. If someone's life is filled only with happiness and they never experience any hardship, their ultimate fate is self-destruction. Without contrast, life remains perpetually stuck in a low valley.
"Alright, let me pour you all some water."
The store clerk, hearing this, said nothing more. With a respectful demeanor, he picked up the teapot from the table and poured each of them a glass of water.
"You're quite interesting," Chen Mang chuckled wryly. He hadn't expected such good service from this store. They were clearly not intending to make a purchase, yet the clerk showed no sign of dissatisfaction. In fact, he even poured them water.
It made Chen Mang feel slightly uncomfortable.
It had been a long time since he'd encountered such kindness.
"Sir, you flatter me," the store clerk replied with a smile, playing along. He then retreated, but inwardly, he couldn't help but grumble. What nonsense! Anyone who can even enter this store is of a certain Tier—basically all train conductors!
Without a train, their mental power wouldn't even meet the minimum standard for surgery.
These were all figures with connections that reached the heavens!
And him?
He was just a lowly wage slave, earning 12,000 a month at the unit's iron ore mine. How could he dare turn away a customer? They weren't even on the same level. One word from the other party could not only end his career but seal his fate.
He said, "All who come are welcome."
But what he really thought was, "All who come are masters. Who but extraordinary people would dare step into this shop?"
Forget about not spending money—even if they spat in his face, he'd have to greet them with a smile.
This wasn't about service attitude.
It was the wisdom of survival.
Not long after, the cultivator strode out, walked to the counter, pulled out a few pieces of iron ore from his pocket, placed them on the table, glanced at Chen Mang and his group sitting on the sofa, and then headed for the door.
His expression was grim, as though burdened by something.
"Follow him," Chen Mang said, looking at the middle-aged man leaving the "Memory Bank." He rose and followed.
The middle-aged man, now walking down the street, seemed to notice them. He quickened his pace, weaving through the streets until he stopped in front of the Sanshui City Enforcement Bureau. He turned to face them. "Young friends, what can I do for you?"
"Uh..."
Chen Mang stood still, leaning on his cane, and gazed at the sign of the Sanshui City Enforcement Bureau. He sighed, remarking, "I'm increasingly unable to understand how people play their cards these days. I thought you'd take us down a deserted alley to talk."
"Do I look like an idiot?"
The middle-aged man calmly surveyed Chen Mang's group, jingling the steel ring on his wrist. "You're many, and I'm alone. I'm also locked up. How could one person stand against so many? If we went to a deserted alley, I'd die there unnoticed. Wouldn't that be suicide?"
"Whatever your purpose in seeking me," he continued, "please state it here. I won't wait past this moment. I trust the Sanshui City Enforcement Bureau, and I believe that even in the Peace-Seeking Civilization, they won't turn a blind eye to violent crimes. If you're here for robbery, you've come to the wrong person."
Chen Mang studied the middle-aged man. Aside from his daoist robe, there was little to suggest he was a cultivator. After a moment's pause, he smiled and said, "Relax, brother."
"We're good people," Chen Mang said.
"No bad person would admit to being bad," the middle-aged man retorted softly.
"We're genuinely good people. It's just that this is our first time meeting a cultivator, and we're curious. We'd like to ask you a few questions, like what your cultivation (realm) is and what the general environment of the Cultivation Civilization is like."
"Of course, we wouldn't ask for free. I'll offer a generous reward."
"No need."
The middle-aged man casually took a few steps closer to the entrance of the Sanshui City Enforcement Bureau, his eyes filled with wariness. "If you're curious, just go to the Black Tortoise Star yourselves. Train tickets aren't that expensive. I doubt fellow daoists like you would have trouble affording them."
By this point, the commotion had already caught the attention of the guards at the entrance of the Sanshui City Enforcement Bureau.
"Come back here!" Chen Mang gestured impatiently. "I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you in good faith. If you take another step, you'll be inside the Enforcement Bureau. You're making it look like we're about to rob you!"
"My leg just went numb. I was just stomping my foot to shake it off."
The middle-aged man, his face devoid of expression, took another few steps toward the Sanshui City Enforcement Bureau. He had already entered the bureau's main gate and continued to advance.
"..."
Chen Mang sighed softly before tapping on his smartwatch. Zhou Shen's voice soon emerged from the device, accompanied by faint background noise.
"Hello?"
Zhou Shen's voice was low, clearly speaking from a hidden corner.
"Do you know anyone at the Sanshui City Enforcement Bureau?"
"Which bureau? I happen to have a few bureau chiefs here at a celebration banquet."
"Let me see... the Seventh Bureau."
"He's here too, but... we just met. I can't ask him to do anything major."
"It's a small matter. A friend of mine ran into the Seventh Bureau's courtyard. Just have him give the word to bring my friend out."
"No problem. What does your friend look like?"
"He's wearing a daoist robe. He's a cultivator."
"Alright, hold on."
Three minutes later.
The expressionless middle-aged man was escorted out of the Sanshui City Enforcement Bureau by two uniformed officers and brought directly to Chen Mang.
"Leader, this is your friend. We've brought him out for you," one of the law enforcement officers said respectfully to Chen Mang.
"Thank you both for your hard work," Chen Mang replied, waving his hand. Old Pig pulled out two units of Tier 4 Iron Ore from his pocket and handed it to the officers. After thanking them, the officers returned to the courtyard.
"So, how was it?" Chen Mang asked, unable to suppress a smile as he looked at the middle-aged man. "Why don't you try stomping your numb feet now?"
"..."
The middle-aged man remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. "Before coming here, I had always trusted the Law Enforcement Bureau of the Peace-Seeking Civilization. Now, it seems they're no different from the ones back home."
"Seniors, what do you want to know? I'll tell you everything I know."
"Now you're calling us seniors?"
"When you're outmatched, you naturally become a senior."
"Follow me."
Chen Mang leaned on his cane and began walking along the sidewalk.
Zhang Yi and Zhang Er, who were following behind, exchanged grins as they looked at the middle-aged man. "Let's go, young friend," they said.
They turned left and right, winding through the streets.
They entered the alley.
The familiar dimly lit alley, a dead end. Zhang Yi, Zhang Er, and Qiu Yisao were blocking the entrance.
"Hmph," Chen Mang exhaled, glancing around and up at the starry sky. He nodded with satisfaction. "This place has a much better atmosphere."
"Name."
"Zhang Qiudao."
"Cultivation."
"Seventh Layer of Golden Core."
"Hmm," Chen Mang mused. "Seventh Layer of Golden Core... that's roughly equivalent to the power of a Tier 27 Seven-colored grade firepower accessory, right?"
"It's even stronger."
Though Zhang Qiudao was currently posturing humbly, his voice was filled with pride. He tilted his head slightly. "At the Seventh Layer of Golden Core, a full-power strike can achieve the power of a Tier 27 Seven-colored grade firepower accessory."
"A Seven-colored grade accessory," he emphasized. "Not some trash like a white-grade or green-grade accessory."
"If I were to risk my cultivation and use a desperate technique, the power would reach the equivalent of a Tier 28 Seven-colored grade firepower accessory!"
"You seem rather proud of that," Chen Mang said with a slightly odd expression, staring at the middle-aged man before him. He couldn't understand what there was to be proud of. Was the power of a Tier 27 Seven-colored grade firepower accessory really something to boast about?
"Of course."
Zhang Qiudao snorted coldly. "If I weren't locked up, you few wouldn't stand a chance."
But he quickly realized his current disadvantage and cleared his throat before continuing.
"It's just a minor dao, far inferior to the mechanical train."
"How long did it take you to reach the Seventh Layer of the Golden Core?"
"I am the Third Elder of the Venomous Serpent Sect, blessed with exceptional talent. At sixteen, I was found to possess the extremely rare Dual Spirit Root during my sect's aptitude test. I entered the Qi Refining Stage at eighteen, broke through to Foundation Establishment at twenty-nine, and became a Golden Core Ancestor at eighty-nine. This year, at one hundred and ninety-eight, I am at the Seventh Layer of the Golden Core."
The man spoke with immense pride, as if his cultivation speed was exceptionally fast.
Chen Mang counted on his fingers, realizing it had taken him 182 years to reach this point. That was a long time. If he didn't die in the next 182 years, he might not be able to blow up the universe, but he could certainly wipe out both the Kasha Civilization and the Zerg Civilization with ease, based on the progression speed of Stellaris.
This Immortal Cultivation was indeed far too time-consuming.
"Very good, impressive," Chen Mang said, offering some praise before getting to the point. "Does your Cultivation Civilization have a 'Marrow Cleansing Pill'? It might not be called that, but it's something that purges impurities from the body."
"Yes, that's the name. It's a medicinal pill prepared for Qi Refining Stage cultivators. Taking a total of 108 pills during the Qi Refining process can completely cleanse the body of impurities, enhancing one's potential and raising their cultivation ceiling."
"It also significantly increases the chances of achieving Perfect Foundation Establishment."
"It can be purchased using Sect Contribution Points and spirit stones. Spirit stones are what you call iron ore. If you're short on funds, you can opt for the 64-pill or 18-pill options, but the effects will be slightly weaker, and they won't completely cleanse your body of impurities, resulting in a lower cultivation ceiling in the future."
"How much does a Marrow Cleansing Pill sell for in your world?"
"Marrow Cleansing Pills are considered low-grade medicinal pills, suitable only for Qi Refining Stage cultivators. They're not expensive, and many pill refiners can mass-produce them, with a single batch yielding hundreds of pills. The price is around 100 Low-Grade Spirit Stones per pill."
"That's equivalent to 100 units of iron ore."
"That's not expensive at all."
Chen Mang nodded thoughtfully, then reached over to Old Pig and took a bottle of Cola. He held it out to the middle-aged man, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. "Try this. It's my newly developed 'Marrow Cleansing Pill.' See how it works."
"..."
The middle-aged man stared impassively at the opened can of Cola in his hand, and the dark, murky liquid within, without taking a sip.
"You might not recognize it," Chen Mang said. "This is called Cola. It's..."
"I know," the man interrupted. "It's produced by the 'Cola Production Line' on the mechanical train. It's also sold in the Cultivation Civilization, though not many people buy it. I've tried it before."
"That's great. In this era of civilization, even cultivators can enjoy Cola. Do you smoke?"
"Yes."
"You actually do?" Chen Mang asked, surprised. "Aren't cultivators supposed to avoid impurities in their bodies?"
"That's true," the man replied. "But the process of expelling impurities is incredibly satisfying. Many cultivators do it primarily for the pleasure of the purification process. Some Foundation Establishment and Golden Core experts even deliberately smoke to accumulate impurities, then expel them all at once."
"Care to try this?"
The middle-aged man finally accepted the Cola. He pulled a silver needle from his pocket, inserted it into the can, and, after confirming the needle hadn't discolored, hesitantly brought the can to his lips and took a cautious sip.
The next moment—
The man's eyes widened slightly. He instinctively raised the can and drained it in one gulp, his throat working convulsively.
Then—
It happened in an instant.
Black impurities visibly seeped from the man's pores, while the middle-aged man's face flushed red. He gasped uncontrollably, his legs clamped tightly together.
His back rubbed against the wall repeatedly.
Unconscious moans escaped his lips.
His eyes, once filled with vigilance, gradually grew hazy.
"..."
Chen Mang walked expressionlessly to the alley's entrance, leaving the middle-aged man to detoxify alone. Standing at the entrance, he silently lit a cigarette, looked up at the towering buildings before him, and sighed.
The good news:
His Cola seemed to be working remarkably well.
The bad news:
Besides replacing the Marrow Cleansing Pill, his Cola might also have acquired other effects, not as he had intended.
Ten minutes later, Chen Mang stubbed out his cigarette and re-entered the alley. He looked at the middle-aged man sprawled on the ground and asked softly, "How do you feel?"
"Good... good! So pure!"
The middle-aged man struggled to his feet, leaning against the wall. "But my cultivation is currently suppressed, leaving me unable to resist the pill's effects. It's quite potent—this is the strongest Marrow Cleansing Pill I've ever seen, even though it's a liquid."
"And it doesn't even require 108 pills."
"Just one bottle is enough to completely purify all impurities from my body."
"Generally speaking," he continued, "taking 108 Marrow Cleansing Pills removes 90% to 99% of impurities. The difference depends on the pill's grade and the alchemist's skill."
"A Marrow Cleansing Pill that clears 99% of impurities would cost at least 5,000 spirit stones per pill!"
"And they're almost impossible to find!"
"But the Marrow Cleansing Pill Senior gave me completely eliminates 100% of impurities. It utterly crushes all other Marrow Cleansing Pills on the market—it's the best Marrow Cleansing Pill, bar none!"
"That's good," Chen Mang said, leaning on his cane and smiling. "So, how much would you say a bottle of Cola is worth in your world?"
The middle-aged man lowered his head, his eyes gradually clearing as he calculated.
"For every percentage point increase, the price doubles. If it were 99%, 108 Marrow Cleansing Pills would cost 540,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, or 540,000 units of iron ore."
"This one is 100%."
"The price must be exorbitant. It'll definitely attract a frenzy of bidding from top-tier sects and reclusive clans. The selling price should be at least 1 million spirit stones per bottle."
"Good!"
Chen Mang nodded with satisfaction. "Fate has brought us together in this vast sea of people. I intend to make you my exclusive distributor. You and your sect will be responsible for selling these 'Marrow Cleansing Pills' throughout your civilization, and I will provide you with a suitable commission."
"However, we need to adjust the price. We won't be selling them for 1 million spirit stones."
"...?"
"1,998 spirit stones."
"Huh?"
A flicker of shock crossed the middle-aged man's eyes. What kind of joke is this? 1,998 spirit stones?
Even the most worthless Marrow Cleansing Pills would cost 10,800 spirit stones for 108 pills!
This bottle of Cola—just one bottle is enough for an entire treatment, completely eliminating 100% of impurities from the body—and it's priced at only 1,998 spirit stones?
He could already imagine what would happen.
A frenzy!
One bottle per person!
The entire Cultivation World would abandon Marrow Cleansing Pills made by alchemists, instead buying this Cola—the best product at the lowest price!
"What do you think of this price point?"
"Market conditions aside, the battlefield will show no mercy."
A flicker of bitterness crossed the middle-aged man's eyes. "I never expected senior to truly bestow me with this opportunity. But this opportunity—my Venomous Serpent Sect and I truly cannot handle it. It would ruin the livelihoods of countless alchemists and disrupt so many vested interests. Numerous sects and families would besiege the Venomous Serpent Sect."
"Our sect's destruction is imminent."
"I will provide you with protection."
"What kind of protection?"
"What is the highest Cultivation level in your Cultivation World?"
"Publicly, it's the Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Stage. The Divine Transformation Ancestors haven't appeared in ages, and no one has broken through to that level in a long time."
"Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Stage... that's 39th-tier."
"Do you have puppets in your Cultivation World?"
"Yes, our Venomous Serpent Sect specializes in puppet manipulation."
"The Venomous Serpent Sect and puppets don't seem to have any connection."
"We were originally demonic cultivators. The sect leader before the last one decided that demonic cultivation wasn't a sustainable path, so he switched to puppets. But the sect's name never changed."
"Good. I'll provide you with a batch of puppets at the Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Stage to help defend your formation."
"One might not be enough... Those sects... A batch?"
"Yes, a batch."
Chen Mang chuckled, patting the middle-aged man on the shoulder. "How does it feel? From today on, your sect will become the most powerful force in the entire Cultivation World, unstoppable by anyone. And you will be my exclusive supplier."
"I don't trust the Third Elder. You must become the sect leader of the Venomous Serpent Sect."
"Senior, I have no intention of rebelling. The current sect leader treats me well."
"But I only trust you. You are the only one who can lead the sect."
"If..."
The middle-aged man murmured dreamily, "If we had many Marrow Cleansing Pills of this quality, and a large puppet army at the Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Stage to support us... we could earn an enormous amount of spirit stones."
"But..."
He frowned in confusion. "Why is such a high-quality item priced so low? Even if it were priced at 10,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, there would still be plenty of buyers."
"The Cultivation Civilization's spirit stone reserves aren't small, even within the entire Kasha Civilization Federation."
"After all—"
"The Cultivation Civilization doesn't consume spirit stones as rapidly as your mechanical trains do. They're used gradually. Many sects and families have accumulated vast reserves over thousands of years, boasting deep foundations."
"I want to earn spirit stones from everyone, so setting the price too high would make it unaffordable for many. Don't worry about the wealthy; I have other products to harvest—no, to sell to them."
Chen Mang chuckled, suddenly eager to see what the Cultivation World would become after his mass distribution.
Everyone's potential would skyrocket.
Everyone would become a dragon.
In a sense, he was significantly boosting a civilization's foundation and potential, a feat worthy of sainthood.
"Since we've become fast friends and our communication has been so smooth, please stay on my train for a few days. I have something to handle in the next few days. Once that's done, I'll personally lead my puppet army to escort you back to your sect and help you ascend to the position of sect leader."
"Oh, I forgot to ask—what brings you to the Peace-Seeking Civilization?"
"Memory deletion."
"Memory deletion? What memories are you deleting?"
"They've already been deleted. I've forgotten."
"Your Cultivation Civilization also has a 'memory bank.' Why didn't you use that?"
"I don't know, I've forgotten," Zhang Yi replied.
"Alright," Chen Mang said.
Chen Mang gestured to Zhang Yi and Zhang Er standing at the alley entrance. Zhang Yi quickly strode in, carrying a refrigerator on his back.
"Come in," Chen Mang said.
"A fertile land indeed," Zhang Yi remarked.
Inside the Stellaris train...
Chen Mang sat in his chair, staring at the information Xiao Ai had compiled from Zhang Qiudao's memories through questioning. His expression was somewhat dazed as he murmured, "The iron ore reserves of this Cultivation Civilization aren't among the top in the Kasha Civilization Federation, nor are they particularly high. After all, it's a habitable planet, so there won't be much high-Tier iron ore."
"But they've had plenty of time."
A vast amount of iron ore had been stockpiled.
This was the Cultivation Civilization's greatest weakness: no matter how many spirit stones they possessed, they couldn't immediately convert them into combat power. As they accumulated more and more, their hoard would eventually become a coveted prize.
He needed to prepare in advance.
Not just for the siege by the Cultivation World's strongest cultivators, but also for the covetous gazes of other civilizations.
This was an incredibly lucrative business, one that would inevitably attract envy.
He needed to deal with these petty thieves without drawing the attention of advanced civilizations. He would use the Cultivation Civilization as a test case to see how much profit he could make from this venture.
First, sleep.
When he woke up tomorrow, he would need to retrieve the high-precision instruments the Jiang Family merchant guild was transporting.
Suddenly, Chen Mang realized how busy Lord Mang had been all day.
Feeling somewhat weary, Chen Mang stripped off his clothes, showered, and lay down in bed, gradually drifting off to sleep.
That night, Chen Mang slept soundly.
But—
Some people tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep no matter how hard they tried.
Zhou Shen, for example.
In a manor on the outskirts of Sanshui City, night had fallen. The Celebration Banquet had ended, and the boisterous sounds had gradually faded away.
After seeing off the last guest, Zhou Shen stumbled drunkenly into his bedroom. The moment he pushed open the door, his previously clouded eyes instantly cleared.
He sat in a chair, gazing out the window at the tree branches swaying in the wind. Then he looked down at his wristwatch.
After a long silence, his expression shifting like a storm, he finally removed the watch and set it aside, choosing to remain silent. He wouldn't reveal Lord Mang's existence to anyone.
He wouldn't reveal the powerful backing behind him.
He wouldn't even tell the Jiang Family.
In truth, he really didn't want to get involved in this mess. He just wanted to live his quiet little life in peace. But often, he had no choice. He happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, meeting the wrong people. What could he do?
Lord Mang's power had already been demonstrated.
That target acquisition radar with its ridiculously vast detection range.
A method of teleporting to an unfamiliar habitable planet out of thin air.
And formidable combat strength—though he hadn't witnessed it firsthand, the existence of the first two implied the latter wouldn't be weak. Lord Mang's combat power likely fell short of the Kasha Civilization's, which explained his cautious approach; otherwise, he would have simply plundered all civilizations outright.
Civilizations develop in countless ways.
But throughout history, only one method has consistently proven the quickest path to rapid wealth: plunder.
After completing this mission for Lord Mang, he would be irrevocably bound to him, becoming a member of the same gang, fully integrated into Lord Mang's network of interests.
He wasn't worried about Lord Mang silencing him. There was no reason to.
Meanwhile, aboard the Stellaris train, Zhang Qiudao, located on Aquablue Star, gazed at the azure sky above, his heart filled with bewilderment.
Ever since their civilization was designated a Cultivation Civilization and joined the Kasha Civilization Federation, the world's entire structure had shifted.
That had happened hundreds of years ago, long before he was born.
He'd heard from elders that many other Cultivation Civilizations once existed in their region, but all had been destroyed. They'd even learned this from the train conductors themselves. Before that, they'd only known that cultivators lived on nearby planets.
Over the years...
In truth, the fervor for Immortal Cultivation had waned considerably across the Cultivation World. After all, what was the point of reaching the Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Stage, the pinnacle of power in their world, when they were still no match for a mechanical train?
They spent hundreds or even thousands of years in arduous cultivation, while a mechanical train could surpass them in mere years.
Moreover, cultivators at the Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Stage couldn't survive in the vacuum of space, let alone engage in combat or interstellar travel. In the past, it was widely believed that cultivators who broke through to the Divine Transformation stage would ascend to the Immortal Realm.
But—
After learning about the true structure of the universe, everyone began to ponder a crucial question:
Did the Immortal Realm truly exist?
Where did cultivators ascend to after breaking through to the Divine Transformation stage?
Often, he wondered if their "Cultivation Civilization" had been abandoned. Why could everyone else activate train tokens and build mechanical trains, while they couldn't?
Or perhaps the universe was fair.
Perhaps only those from their Cultivation Civilization could cultivate, while other civilizations were barred from doing so.
But this "fairness" put them at a disadvantage.
They would gladly trade it away.
He vaguely recalled why he had come to the Peace-Seeking Civilization. It was during his last contemplation of this very question. He remembered stumbling upon a terrifying possibility, as if he had triggered some forbidden taboo. Since then, he had been haunted by a sense of impending doom.
Only after deleting all his memories did he finally find peace.
But why didn't he simply delete his memories at the memory bank on his own planet? Why did he specifically travel to the Peace-Seeking Civilization for this?
...
Zhang Qiudao sat on the ground, lost in thought.
He suddenly realized that "Memory Deletion" was a false premise!
If a person's memory suddenly lacked a section, their mind would subconsciously try to reconstruct it through cause and effect, making the entire process even more painful.
Where did that killing intent come from?
The universe?
If he were to follow the Cultivation World's logic, it would mean he had committed an act that defied the Heavenly Dao, sensing its killing intent—in other words, he had revealed Heavenly Secrets and was marked for destruction.
The Stellaris train spent a full year mining on Mining Planet No. 1.
During that year, many things happened on Aquablue Star.
Although Lord Mang had predicted that Aquablue Star would become a dead star in two or three years, forcing a mass evacuation to a new habitable planet, everyone still wanted to make their home a better place.
In the Iron Ridge Wasteland, Taiping City—the place where Chen Mang had first risen to prominence, once a desolate ruin—had undergone a complete transformation. With the assistance of countless robots, all structurally unsound buildings were demolished.
Towering skyscrapers rose from the ground.
Because Taiping City was Chen Mang's birthplace, it received priority in resource allocation.
Lord Mang also visited here frequently.
So...
Old Pig secretly ordered that all resources and a large portion of the population from Aquablue Star be prioritized for Taiping City. As a result, the city now thrived. While not as prosperous as Sanshui City, it was far more vibrant than before the apocalypse.
Outside the city stretched vast orchards and fields of crops, bursting with life.
"Excellent."
Late at night, as most passengers on the train slept, Old Pig, accompanied by several attendants, walked the streets, surveying his achievements. For the past year, he had been entirely responsible for Aquablue Star's development and resource allocation.
He had poured his heart and soul into Taiping City in particular.
He was immensely satisfied.
Long ago, the people of Aquablue Star had stopped eating bread.
The Tier 50 overpowered effect of the space gate was that the soil within it accelerated crop growth and improved their taste.
Moreover, after the train reached Tier 15, it gained a new function: "Accelerated Growth." This drastically shortened the growth cycle of crops within the train.
Aquablue Star was naturally considered part of the train's domain.
As a result, crops matured in an incredibly short time. Coupled with the revival of basic industries, Aquablue Star had long since overcome food shortages. Everyone had enough to eat, and everyone ate well—a standard of living many times higher than during the apocalypse.
In this civilization, high-end combat power relies on mechanical trains.
However, basic industries cannot depend on mechanical trains. Among the many civilizations within the Kasha Civilization Federation, not a single one has its people eating moldy bread slices every day.
Old Pig kept his hands clasped behind his back, nodding repeatedly as he inspected the city.
Following closely behind, the mayor of Taiping City provided a detailed explanation.
"Trainmaster Zhu," the mayor began. "Under the leadership of Lord Mang and Trainmaster Zhu, we have weathered storms and overcome countless difficulties."
"We have now largely achieved comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable development, and the issue of basic living standards has been completely resolved. This is a universally recognized achievement."
"Mm," Old Pig chuckled, nodding. "It's mainly thanks to Lord Mang's wise leadership. I'm just a worker. How are things for everyone now?"
"Guaranteed allocation," the mayor quickly added. "All residents are guaranteed housing, jobs, and marriage. Following your instructions, all young people of the same age have been placed in a designated zone, with their primary mission being to marry and have children. Last year alone, 1,398 newborns were born, but this is only because we've just begun developing. We expect the number of newborns to reach hundreds of thousands within a year."
"Everyone has a job, and residents who make significant contributions enjoy better living conditions. Our currency is the stellar coupon."
"In recent days, Director Zhang Yiren's new film is preparing for its first ticketed public screening on Aquablue Star. The market economy on Aquablue Star is gradually developing, with the goal of ensuring all residents live comfortably, free from worries about food, clothing, and shelter."
"Humans..."
Old Pig stood still, turned to gaze at the towering skyscrapers of Taiping City behind him, paused for a moment, then clasped his hands behind his back and murmured softly, "Every human life is bound to be driven by desires."
"They want better homes, more wealth, and higher status."
"This is called progress."
"We must allow for this progress."
"But there are also those who simply want to live quietly in their homes, content with their simple lives. They don't seek fame or fortune; they just want to observe the world. We must tolerate these people and provide them with adequate social welfare."
"At the very least..."
"I don't want anyone to starve, die of illness, or perish from thirst."
"By the way, has there been any suicides this year?"
"No, the suicide rate remains at zero."
"Good. The suicide rate must always remain at zero. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Excellent."
Old Pig, mimicking Lord Mang's mannerisms, scanned the surroundings again, filled with a sense of accomplishment. Just a year ago, this was a wasteland, the city in ruins. Now, in just a year, it had transformed beyond recognition. His contribution to this rapid progress was undeniable.
Then a pang of regret struck him.
When the entire population relocated, all his creations would turn to ashes along with Aquablue Star.
What a pity.
"Have those train conductors caused any trouble since being stripped of their authority?"
"No," the Mayor of Taiping City shook his head. "Only at first, some train conductors struggled to adjust. After those troublemakers were dealt with, the remaining conductors settled down. After all, they used to bear immense pressure as train conductors. Now, though their status is lower, they no longer face such intense stress."
"No monsters?"
"I'm not sure about other cities' specific data, but recently, Taiping City has accumulated a significant amount of iron ore, all mined from surrounding mines."
"Mm."
Old Pig chuckled and nodded again. Taiping City didn't have any high-grade mines nearby, only Tier 1 mines, and even Tier 2 ore was rare. But he'd given Taiping City a special advantage: he'd arranged for the mining residents to use shuttlecraft to travel directly to high-grade resource mines.
"Let's keep stockpiling for now. Once we've accumulated a significant amount, I'll report it to Lord Mang."
Aquablue Star's current mineral reserves were too meager. Lord Mang hadn't even paid attention to this matter. But after accumulating resources for a while, when Old Pig reported again, Lord Mang would surely be astonished. This would be a testament to his effective governance—how could it not count as merit?
While chaos reigned outside, the Stellaris train continued to develop in an orderly and organized manner.
Dawn broke, ushering in a new day.
Chen Mang rose from his bed, washed up, and sat down in the chair before the train control panel. He lit a cigarette and glanced at the Train Log, quickly skimming through a long list of detailed accessory consumption. After confirming that there were no anomalies in the total accessory consumption, he turned his attention elsewhere.
For example, the Cyber Mine. He checked to see if anyone had been injured there the previous night.
After reviewing all the information, he contacted Zhou Shen via his smartwatch, signaling that he could come over. Today was an opportune time to get to work.
Today's objective: intercept the high-precision instruments from the Jiang Family merchant guild.
But first, we need someone familiar with the Jiang Family to lower the merchant guild's defenses. Sanshui City Technology Soaring Company is an excellent choice. Biaozi has already set out early with Zhang Yi, Zhang Er, and Qi Kexiu.
Through Qi Kexiu, we'll lure out the middle-aged man from Sanshui City Technology Soaring Company, then his superiors, and so on.
Soon—
Xiao Ai's voice came from the locomotive cabin.
"Train Conductor, Biaozi's operation is complete and successful. They're currently heading to pick up Zhou Shen with the refrigerator."
"Excellent."
While the refrigerator is good, it has a significant drawback: the last person to enter it can't take it away. The refrigerator will remain in place. Biaozi and the others will have to leave it temporarily at Zhou Shen's estate.
There's no risk of unauthorized entry. Without proper authorization, opening the refrigerator reveals nothing more than an ordinary, unremarkable appliance, with less than 100 square meters of space.
It's a bit wasteful.
Building a Tier 200 Refrigerator isn't cheap.
(End of the Chapter)
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