The last of the small-scale Blackstone Gang members stumbled into the boundless, ink-black wasteland night, their panicked, staggered footsteps quickly swallowed up by the shrill, howling wind that swept through the scrap heaps. Lu Zhechuan stood alone in the messy, trampled center of the gang's temporary camp, his chest rising and falling slightly with the faint aftertaste of the fierce battle, yet his dark eyes remained calm and clear, without the slightest trace of impetuosity.
The Primeval Origin Dao Core tucked inside the inner layer of his cloth pouch had completely stopped its low hum, the faint, fleeting golden glow on its surface quietly receding back into the dull, unadorned black matte exterior, as if the terrifying, overwhelming power it had unleashed during the fight just moments ago had never existed at all. He lowered his gaze slightly, staring at his left arm, where the reborn Black-Iron Dao Core pulsed steadily and gently, the optimized, pure energy flowing through every meridian in his body without a single trace of stagnation or blockage. The mid-stage Core Implantation realm power was now completely under his precise control, and he could even feel the faint barrier separating the mid-stage from the late-stage thinning little by little with every breath he took.
But Lu Zhechuan knew very well in his heart—this tiny bit of progress, this stable control of his cultivation base, was not brought about by his own practice or perception. He had been trapped in the early-stage Core Implantation realm for nearly five years, unable to move an inch, unable to even condense a wisp of purer energy on his own. He had no innate ability to cultivate autonomously; all his cultivation progress, all his strength improvements, came entirely from this mysterious chip in his chest. It was the only reliance he had to stand firmly in this cruel, lawless wasteland, and the only hope to get close to the truth of his parents' death.
He did not linger in the small Blackstone Gang's camp for even a second longer.
The sudden, complete defeat of a small gang in the Chip Graveyard would surely stir up small but turbulent waves in this chaotic scrap land. Drawing unnecessary attention from all kinds of forces was the last thing he needed right now, especially with such a precious, heaven-defying Origin Core on his person. Lu Zhechuan swept his gaze across the messy camp quickly and indifferently, only bending down to pick up a few intact low-grade Dao Cores, a set of worn but usable metal repair tools, and a tattered canvas bag scattered on the ground—these were just basic supplies to survive in the wasteland, nothing more. He had no interest in the gang's meager, messy loot; his only priority at this moment was to return to his hidden shack safely and figure out the real secrets and operating rules of the Origin Core.
The night in the wasteland grew deeper and darker, and the danger multiplied with the fading moonlight. Ferocious mechanical beasts that fed on residual chip energy and scrap metal roamed wantonly between the towering scrap heaps, their red electronic eyes flickering coldly in the dark. Lone cultivators were always the easiest targets for these beasts and other malicious scavengers, who would rob them of their resources and even kill them for their Dao Cores. Lu Zhechuan tightened the ragged black cloak around his body, lowered his head, and walked quickly along the narrow, hidden paths he had explored and memorized over the years, avoiding all main roads and areas with frequent energy fluctuations. He successfully slipped back into his shabby, rusted iron shack before the midnight hour, without being detected by any dangerous creatures or forces.
The tiny, cramped room was exactly as he had left it. Dim, silvery moonlight seeped through the thick cracks in the iron walls, casting faint, fragmented light spots on the rough, worn wooden table. Lu Zhechuan locked the rusted, dented metal door firmly, then dragged a heavy, broken wooden cabinet over to block the door completely, adding an extra layer of security. Only then did he let out a quiet, subtle breath, sit down slowly on the uneven wooden stool, and carefully take out the Primeval Origin Dao Core from his inner cloth pouch, placing it gently on the center of the wooden table.
He leaned forward slightly, staring intently at the mysterious black chip in front of him, his eyes full of seriousness and curiosity.
Under the soft, cold moonlight, the faint golden lines carved on the surface of the Origin Core slowly unfolded and stretched, like a sleeping, ancient mechanical creature lazily waking up from a deep slumber. This time, there was no need for blood stimulation, no need for external force or battle energy to trigger it—under his focused, undivided gaze, the Origin Core activated autonomously, and a series of silent, rapid scanning processes started first, without any sound, but Lu Zhechuan could clearly feel a faint, gentle energy sweeping through his body, the shack, and even the entire surrounding scrap heaps.
…Scanning host's vital signs: stable…
…Scanning host's cultivation state: mid-stage Core Implantation, no autonomous cultivation ability, unable to improve realm or purify energy on his own…
…Scanning host's living environment: dilapidated shack in Chip Graveyard, surrounded by scattered low-grade scraps, frequent threats from small forces and mechanical beasts…
…Scanning host's combat conditions: only mastered rough fighting skills, no complete basic techniques, insufficient long-term self-protection ability…
…Scanning surrounding threat level: medium, residual gang forces may send pursuers, long-term stay in original area is extremely dangerous…
…Core damage detection: 73% of internal circuits damaged, energy storage cavity broken, core instruction set incomplete…
…Optimal repair plan derived (based on host's current situation, lowest difficulty, highest feasibility): collect 5 kinds of lowest-grade common scraps in Chip Graveyard for temporary emergency repair, unlock minimal basic auxiliary functions to meet host's most urgent needs of cultivation improvement and basic combat improvement…
A soft, clear, and completely mechanical whisper echoed directly in the depths of his mind after the scanning ended, carrying a distinct tone of system damage, every syllable clear and precise, only presenting the repair requirements and functional benefits derived from the optimal plan, without any extra redundant prompts.
…Temporary Emergency Repair Required Materials (5 Lowest-Grade Wasteland Scraps):
1. Low-Grade Circuit Wafers
2. Fractured Energy Cells
3. Worn-Out Control Chips
4. Basic Alloy Frames
5. Scrap Power Stabilizers
…Temporary Repair Completion Effect:
Fix partial damaged internal circuits of the core, start minimal basic auxiliary modules, unlock two types of elementary small-scale functions, completely matching host's current survival and strength needs:
6. Passive Automatic Cultivation: Continuously operate in the background, slowly absorb free energy from the surrounding air and scrap residues, automatically purify core energy, and steadily improve the host's Core Implantation realm without the host's active cultivation. The cultivation progress is mild and stable, avoiding realm instability caused by forced breakthrough;
7. Basic Technique Parsing: Automatically parse and sort out complete basic cultivation methods, including Basic Core Cultivation Technique, Basic Movement Footwork, Basic Defense Technique. Fill the host's gap in complete combat systems, transform messy fighting moves into standardized, effective basic techniques, improve combat efficiency and survival rate in the wasteland.
Lines of pale blue, glowing system data floated steadily in front of Lu Zhechuan's eyes, visible only to him, completely isolated from the outside world. The data was concise and clear, all around the most feasible solution for his current predicament—no advanced materials that were hard to find, no overly powerful functions that would attract attention, only the most practical, lowest-threshold temporary repair, targeting his two biggest dilemmas: no ability to cultivate on his own, and no complete basic combat skills.
Lu Zhechuan's pupils contracted slightly, and he sat quietly on the wooden stool, digesting all the system information bit by bit, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the edge of the wooden table, his heart filled with mixed emotions of surprise and steadiness. The system had completely judged his situation, not giving him any unrealistic high-end plans, but directly pointing out the simplest path: pick up the most common lowest-grade scraps around him, repair the core a little, and get the most basic help—slowly getting stronger without taking the initiative to practice, and having a complete set of basic combat methods to protect himself.
This was exactly what he needed most urgently.
For five years, he had wandered in the Chip Graveyard, picking scraps every day, holding a broken low-grade Dao Core, trying every method to run energy, but he couldn't make an ounce of progress. He had also imitated the fighting moves of other scavengers, but he could only fight blindly, without any rules, and often fell into danger because of messy movements and inflexible steps. Now, the system had solved all these problems with the simplest temporary repair, as long as he collected these five scraps that he could find everywhere.
He quickly focused on the detailed introduction of each lowest-grade material, memorizing every feature and collection direction firmly in his mind. These materials were all the most worthless scraps in the eyes of other scavengers, scattered in every corner of the Chip Graveyard, without any competition or difficulty, completely within his reach.
Detailed Introduction of 5 Lowest-Grade Repair Scraps
1. Low-Grade Circuit Wafers
Thin, fragile circuit substrates stripped from completely scrapped low-level Dao Cores, broken civilian walkie-talkies, outdated toy sensor panels, and abandoned remote control shells. Most of them have slight surface wear but intact internal energy transmission lines, almost everywhere in the shallow scrap heaps. Used to repair the core's most basic signal transmission channels, ensuring the normal operation of the two elementary auxiliary modules after temporary repair.
2. Fractured Energy Cells
Small, cracked cylindrical energy storage batteries taken from dead low-level mechanical beasts, scrapped portable energy lamps that have been eliminated for many years, and damaged civilian heating equipment. They only retain a tiny amount of residual energy, which is usually discarded by scavengers as useless waste. Used to provide the weakest energy support for the core's temporary modules, ensuring the background operation of automatic cultivation without additional consumption of the host's own energy.
3. Worn-Out Control Chips
Abandoned micro chips from obsolete mechanical button switches, old door sensor controllers, and damaged small toy drones. All advanced functions are invalid, only retaining the most basic logic operation lines, which can be picked up in piles in the scrap heaps. Used to build the core's basic instruction operation module, ensuring the stable operation of the technique parsing function and the accurate transmission of complete basic technique content to the host.
4. Basic Alloy Frames
Thin, soft metal strips peeled from rusted can edges, broken plastic-metal hybrid tool brackets, and abandoned packaging boxes. It has the most basic energy insulation effect, no high strength, but enough to fix the core's loose internal parts. Used to prevent the core from secondary damage during the operation of temporary modules, maintaining stable function operation.
5. Scrap Power Stabilizers
Tiny residual stabilizer sheets on damaged low-grade energy transmission wires, abandoned Dao Core charging interfaces, and old battery connectors. They are small and inconspicuous, usually attached to various energy scraps, with weak energy filtering effect. The key to ensuring the mild operation of automatic cultivation, avoiding chaotic energy from damaging the host's meridians during the slow energy purification process.
Lu Zhechuan memorized all the material information and functional effects thoroughly, and a clear plan gradually took shape in his mind. He didn't need to take risks to conflict with other forces, didn't need to search for hard-to-find resources, just spent a few days collecting these discarded scraps, and he could get the most critical help: the system would automatically help him cultivate and improve his realm, and also sort out complete basic techniques for him, so that he would no longer fight blindly.
A faint, fragmented memory suddenly flashed through his mind at this moment: his young self hiding in the dark cabinet, watching his parents hurriedly seal the black Origin Core into a thick metal box, their faces filled with extreme urgency and fear. They repeatedly whispered that this core was the only hope, that it must not be taken away by the people in white coats from the Heavenly Dao Corporation, and that it must not be exposed to anyone. There were no strange cultivation methods, no transcendent realms, only the technological cultivation products of this era, and the Origin Core was the only key to his strength.