164: Chapter 164 Technological Gifts, a Beacon of Hope

The night wind was still blowing, and the heat from the tea in the cup had mostly dissipated.

Chen Wuwang said nothing more, merely standing in place, his gaze falling on the distant mountain gate.

The lights there were still burning, the patrolling youths marched with steady steps, and the mechas stood silently in the center of the square, like five tireless night watchmen.

Aelia didn't move either, her fingertips lightly stroking her earring, a hint of lingering contemplation in her eyes.

After a moment, she took out a Star-patterned Metal Box from her waist. Fine runes flowed across its surface, crawling slowly as if they were alive.

She placed the box on the stone table, her movements not fast, but carrying a sense of ritual that could not be ignored.

"Level three and below are fully open," she said, her voice a bit colder than before. "It has been unsealed according to last night's agreement. Content exceeding the threshold still requires a permission request, and every access will be recorded."

After she finished speaking, her fingertip lightly tapped the surface of the box. A faint light rose, forming a thin Verification Formation. The runes rotated a few times before stabilizing, emitting a very soft "beep."

Chen Wuwang didn't reach for it immediately. He raised his left eye, his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye flashing with blue light as a scanning wave silently swept across the surface of the Crystal Core.

A stream of data rolled rapidly across his vision—no spiritual brand, no hidden programs, no remote tracking signals. Only a layer of standard encryption, within the scope of the agreement.

Only then did he reach out and lift the lid of the box.

Inside was a Crystal Core the size of a fist, completely transparent, with countless tiny points of light flowing slowly like stars inside.

It was slightly cool to the touch, but its weight was startlingly heavy, as if he were holding not a crystal, but an entire unopened world.

He closed his palm, gripping the Crystal Core.

In that instant, his knuckles tightened slightly, and his breathing grew a beat heavier.

It wasn't excitement, nor was it ecstasy. It was the clear knowledge that once research on this thing began, the Chen family could never return to what it was before.

The landscape of the Eastern Wasteland would change, and the rules of the Cultivation World would begin to loosen.

And they would no longer be a small clan struggling to survive in the ruins, but would truly have the qualification to reach out to the world.

"You didn't hide anything?" he asked.

"Everything I've given is written into the contract," Aelia said, looking at him. "A merchant can be shrewd, but they cannot lose their credibility. Especially when cooperating with someone like you... who calculates every step down to the bone."

"Then you should be glad I'm not the type who likes to settle old scores," he said, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly before pressing back down. "I didn't mention the black market incident from three years ago, and you're pretending not to know about it."

"If it were mentioned, there would be no future," she said calmly. "The way things are now is better for everyone."

A few breaths of silence passed between the two. Laughter drifted up from the mountain below; some youth was singing 'Po Xu Xing' again—out of tune, as usual—drawing a burst of laughter from his companions.

Chen Wuwang looked down at the Crystal Core in his hand, then looked back down the mountain.

The lights in the Artifact Refining Workshop were still on, and there was flickering firelight over by the Medicinal Field. The young Disciples hadn't slept yet, taking advantage of the high morale following the celebration to spontaneously organize data and archive drawings.

He knew that these people had already begun waiting.

Waiting for a direction, waiting for a chance, waiting for a future that would allow them to walk with their heads held high.

And this Crystal Core was the key.

"You call this a 'limited gift'," he suddenly spoke. "But in my eyes, it's more like a seed."

Aelia raised an eyebrow. "A seed?"

"Yes," he nodded. "It's not the end point you've given, but the starting point. Whether it can grow into a towering tree depends on how we water and nurture it. You provide the soil and sunlight, and we're responsible for taking root and breaking through the earth. If it fails, you haven't lost anything; if it succeeds, you share the profit. Fair."

She listened and didn't refute him, only letting out a soft hum. "You always manage to turn business into the Great Dao."

"For those of us still alive, who isn't walking the Dao while doing business at the same time?" He withdrew his gaze and tucked the Crystal Core into his robe, against his chest. There was a specially made compartment there—shockproof, probe-proof, and theft-proof—that he had designed himself.

After finishing this action, he finally turned around to face Aelia directly.

"I will have the engineering team access the data as soon as possible," he said. "There will be a three-month trial period, during which all non-combat operation logs will be shared with you. You can send someone to supervise, or you can view them remotely. But I have one condition—any suggested modifications must be signed by technical representatives from both sides to take effect."

"Afraid I'll secretly plant a backdoor?" she laughed.

"I'm afraid you won't trust us," he said bluntly. "A lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion leads to defensiveness, and with too much defensiveness, the cooperation will fall apart. I don't want it to reach that point."

Aelia stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly shook her head. "You really are a difficult man to deal with."

"Of those who have survived, which one isn't difficult?" He shrugged. "You want controllable cooperation, and I want resources to stay alive. Our goals are aligned; only our methods differ."

She didn't speak again, only sighing softly before turning toward the Airship landing point beyond the railing. Her silver hair fluttered in the wind, her back appearing crisp and decisive.

"I'll set out tomorrow morning," she said without looking back. "There are matters to handle in the Northern Border. If there are any changes in your progress, just send a message via the Encrypted Spiritual Frequency."

"Fine," he responded concisely.

She paused in her step and added, "Don't disappoint me, Chen Wuwang. This cooperation is very important to me as well."

With that, her figure flashed, and she leaped onto the Airship. The hatch closed, the engine started, and a soft beam of light lifted the hull, slowly rising into the sky and disappearing into the night.

Silence returned to the observation deck.

Chen Wuwang stood still, his hand still pressed against his chest, where he could feel the slight coolness of the Crystal Core through his clothing. He looked up at the sky; the clouds were thin, and the stars were clearly visible, like a handful of crushed diamonds scattered across a black cloth.

He knew that behind these stars, many more merchants, powers, and civilizations like Aelia's were in motion. They didn't care for sentiment, only for profit, but as long as the rules were clear, they could coexist.

And now, the Chen family finally had the qualification to sit at the table.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and walked down the steps one by one. His footsteps were light, yet exceptionally firm.

As he crossed the square, several patrolling youths saw him and immediately stopped to salute. He nodded in response without saying much.

Reaching the fork in the road halfway down the mountain, he stopped and glanced back at the observation deck. It was empty, with only the wind moving the teacup on the table, the tea stains remaining at the bottom glinting darkly under the moonlight.

He didn't linger any longer.

He quickened his pace, walking toward the Council Hall. Encountering a messenger on duty, he instructed in a low voice, "Summon the heads of the Blacksmith Workshop, the Alchemy Group, and the Formation Room to gather in the main hall in half an hour. There is urgent business."

The messenger was stunned for a moment. "This late?"

"This can't wait," he said calmly. "Tell them to bring their most capable assistants. No one is sleeping tonight."

Seeing his expression, the other party didn't dare ask more and immediately left to carry out the order.

Chen Wuwang continued forward, his fingers unconsciously tapping the outside of his thigh in a steady rhythm, as if he were calculating something.

His mind had already begun to break down the next steps: data analysis, permission leveling, personnel allocation, security isolation, phase one research goals... instruction after instruction took shape in his heart, automatically arranging themselves like code.

He knew this night would not be peaceful.

But he also knew that from this day forward, the Chen family's progress would not be easily stopped by anyone.

The wind whipped his hem, and his long silver hair swayed gently behind his head. He walked faster and faster, finally breaking into a near-jog.

As he stepped onto the final stair before the Council Hall, he finally whispered:

"It's time to wake them up."