63: Chapter 63: Using Technological Products to Exchange for Resources

Morning light had just climbed the flagpole of the Eastern Wasteland Chen Family's Outer Gate Square as the first transport vehicle pulled into the loading area.

The vehicle's body was painted with the Star Track Emblem of the Angel Race merchant caravan, and its wheel hubs still crackled with faint arcs of electricity from a Star Domain jump.

One hundred Portable Purification Units were neatly stacked on the platform, their silver-gray shells gleaming with a cold light, each bearing a Family Divine Sense brand talisman.

Clan members crowded around the periphery, standing on tiptoe to watch, some whispering counts: "One, two... sixty-seven, sixty-eight..."

"Don't block the path!" a Clan Elder in charge of dispatch roared. "Clear the way! Follow the numbers!"

Before he could finish, Unit 3 suddenly emitted a low-frequency hum, and the signal light turned from green to yellow.

Soon after, Units 5 and 79 also lost connection.

The crowd fell silent.

"Signal delay!" a technical clan member rushed forward to check the interface. "The resonance frequency has shifted by half a waveband! If we don't adjust it now, it won't start!"

Someone nearby immediately muttered, "Problems already with the first batch? Everyone outside is watching..."

Chen Wuwang stood at the edge of the platform. Instead of tapping the table, he drew a titanium alloy dagger from his waist and carved three marks into the stone railing—this was his signal to take action.

He stepped toward the malfunctioning units, his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye instantly activating as blue light scanned the equipment's core modules.

A stream of data scrolled through his vision: abnormal oscillation in the Psionic Circuits, misaligned energy coupling points.

"It's not a quality issue," he said, his voice not loud but suppressing all other noise. "During final assembly last night, the last charging pulse was 0.3 seconds too long. It's a minor impact, but for precision equipment, a hair's breadth of difference means an instant crash."

After speaking, he pulled a miniature rune chip from his sleeve, inserted it into the debugging port, and his fingers moved rapidly in the air, inputting a string of commands.

"Old Li! Bring the frequency controller! Little Chen, get the spare resonance plates ready!"

Two technical clan members responded immediately. Seven breaths later, the signal lights on all three devices turned green in unison.

"It's restored!" someone shouted.

Chen Wuwang didn't relax; instead, he turned toward the periphery.

"Make way, don't just stand around watching. Every machine handed over today represents new seedlings in the Medicinal Field and furnace fires in the Artifact Refining Workshop. Whoever wants to drink top-grade spiritual spring water must first do their own job properly."

He then called out the names of two Elders: "You two, take men to maintain order. Open the West Viewing Platform so everyone can see—this isn't charity, it's an exchange."

The crowd hesitated for a moment before beginning to move.

Some spontaneously brought over benches, while others ran to notify the logistics team to bring water. The originally chaotic scene gradually became orderly.

Aelia stood beneath the boarding ramp of the merchant flagship, arms crossed, quietly watching the scene.

Only after the last unit was loaded did she step forward, her fingertip lightly tapping the transport hatch.

"Quantity confirmed, one hundred units, serial numbers match, seals intact."

"You can scan them," Chen Wuwang handed over a Jade Slip. "The built-in heartbeat sync detection module is active. If anyone dismantles them or tries to force-rewrite the program, the System will automatically lock down."

Aelia took the Jade Slip and entered the key. After a moment, she looked up: "All online. You even manage details like this?"

"I don't believe in luck," he said. "I only believe in what I can see."

She smiled and clapped three times.

Three heavy resource vehicles slowly drove into the center of the square. When the hatches opened, the unique fluctuations of spiritual minerals permeated the air.

The first chest opened to reveal piles of Crimson Sun Crystals, pure in color and brimming with Spiritual Qi.

The second chest contained Geocentric Marrow Iron, heavy as a mountain, its surface still bearing patterns from cooled lava. The third chest...

"Wait," a young clan member suddenly frowned. "What is this grayish-white layer? The quality doesn't look right. Is there waste material mixed in underneath?"

"It really doesn't look like high purity... we're trading a whole batch of purification units for this!"

The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.

Aelia said nothing, only looking at Chen Wuwang.

He didn't rush to argue either. Instead, he raised his Mechanical Prosthetic Eye, and a thin beam of light scanned the hidden compartment at the bottom of the chest.

In his vision, a distribution map of Impurities appeared immediately—the surface layer was indeed low-grade slag, but the five layers beneath were all top-tier spiritual crystals, stored using space-folding techniques.

He withdrew his gaze and spoke publicly: "This is a standard insurance strategy for interstellar trade routes. Placing low-quality samples on the surface to deceive bandits. Those who truly know the trade won't just look at the surface."

As he spoke, he personally pulled back the camouflage layer, revealing the crystal-clear piles of Purple Obsidian beneath.

"When the Angel Race transports goods, they always use triple-verification and five-fold sealing. If she wanted to cheat, she wouldn't have let you see this chest."

He paused, looking at the surrounding clan members: "For this batch of resources, besides replenishing the workshop's raw Materials, I have decided to set aside an additional fifty percent to establish the 'Youth Artifact Refining Fund.' Any clan member over sixteen who passes the assessment can apply for a dedicated Materials pack to prototype innovative devices."

The crowd broke into an uproar.

"Really?!"

"The Family Head keeps his word," he scanned the crowd. "We aren't selling machines; we're selling opportunities. And opportunities must be reserved for those willing to strive."

Cheers erupted.

Aelia looked at him and suddenly said softly, "You could have just accepted it without explaining. Why go through the extra trouble?"

"Because I want more than just cooperation," he said, looking toward the distant Medicinal Field. "I want them to know that every piece of ore and every drop of water doesn't come for free. Only when rules are established can people's hearts be steady."

She was silent for a moment, the corners of her mouth curling slightly: "No wonder my mother said back then that the most terrifying merchant isn't the one who asks for an exorbitant price, but the one who understands the Dao more thoroughly than anyone else."

The transport convoy completed the handover, and the last vehicle slowly started up.

Aelia boarded the flagship's ramp and looked back at him: "In three days, for the second batch of orders, I will personally escort the Star Core Powder you requested."

"I'll be waiting," he said.

The ship took off, its tail flames cutting through the morning sky and leaving a straight trail of light.

On the square, the clan members were still buzzing with discussion.

Some had already begun counting the inventory for storage, some were gathered around the discarded packaging boards studying their structure, and one youth even secretly snatched a scrap piece and hid it in his robe.

Chen Wuwang turned and ascended the high platform in front of the Main Hall.

The noise gradually faded.

He stood motionless until the entire field was silent.

"One machine cannot save a world," he began, his voice not loud but reaching every corner. "But a set of rules can sustain a generation."

No one below spoke.

"From today, the 'Technology Dispatch Department' is established, with three Elders rotating to oversee the pace of production. The output every ten days shall not exceed three hundred units; quality over quantity. Anyone who dares to expand production privately, steal designs, or bypass registration—"

His gaze swept over them. "Will face Family law and be expelled from the core workshop."

Having finished, he didn't linger and turned to enter the hall.

Inside the Council Hall, the logs for the first transaction were already on the desk. He sat down to flip through them, his fingers unconsciously stroking the three old scars on his right cheek.

Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.

New seedlings broke through the soil in the Medicinal Field, the first wisp of green smoke rose from the Artifact Refining Workshop's chimney, and on a distant construction site, a Construction Mecha was slowly rising.

He closed the log and looked up at the star chart on the wall.

Three red dots were still glowing.

North Meteor Star Belt, Rift Valley, Desolate Planet No. 73.

His gaze once again stopped on the furthest point.

His finger lightly tapped the table.

Once, then again.

Like some kind of countdown.