Ning Chuan gripped the wooden handle of the nine-toothed rake tightly, his palms slightly damp with sweat, his gaze firmly fixed on the bizarre corpse and the damaged pod that had been dragged to the edge of the platform.
After the initial palpitations, a stronger sense of curiosity and desire to investigate surged within him.
What could this creation and life from an unknown world possibly bring?
Ning Chuan observed carefully.
The silver-gray metal pod was severely damaged, as if it had undergone violent impact or explosion, its edges twisted and covered with burn marks.
The desiccated alien corpse maintained a twisted, struggling posture, its massive head tilted to one side, its ferocious maw agape, as if it had endured immense suffering before death.
The material of the uniform it wore was unusual; in some of the torn areas, a dark purple chitinous shell was exposed beneath, shimmering with an unsettling oily sheen.
“Station,” Ning Chuan silently inquired in his mind, “analyze this object, assess its recovery value and risks.”
“Scanning…”
“Target A: Fragments of unknown alloy pod.
Material: High-Toughness Titanium-Tantalum Superconducting Composite (lightly Psionic Energy-tainted).
Status: Severely damaged, energy circuits broken, Psionic Energy characteristics dissipated by 99%.
Value: Low.
Can be decomposed and recovered for basic Psionic-conductive metal materials.”
“Target B: Corpse of unknown humanoid creature.
Race: Preliminary identification as a Zerg Race worker variant (low-tier Psionic Energy lifeform).
Status: Life signals completely dissipated, cellular activity zero, chitin and biological tissues still retain some residual activity (extremely low probability of carrying dormant spores, platform shielding can isolate).
Value: Low.
Can be decomposed and recovered for Biomass Essence and chitin-based materials.”
“Target C: Damaged Psionic Fiber uniform.
Status: Psionic Energy patterns broken, protective properties lost.
Value: Very low.
Can be decomposed and recovered for basic fibers.”
“Comprehensive assessment: Low risk, low value.
Recommend sending to the Decomposition Recovery Light Pillar.”
A series of information flooded his mind, giving Ning Chuan a clear understanding of this pile of “junk.”
“Zerg Race?
Worker?
Psionic Energy?” These unfamiliar terms made him realize the vastness and strangeness of the myriad worlds.
“Not high in value, but the risk is also low, perfect for practice.”
Without further hesitation, he carefully used the rake to gather all the fragments, including the alien corpse, together.
Then, he looked around the platform, searching for the so-called “Decomposition Recovery Light Pillar.”
Soon, he found a circular, intricate pattern about one meter in diameter in a specific area near the center of the platform.
It resembled the patterns beneath his feet but was denser, with a slightly recessed slot in the center.
“Please place the items to be decomposed within the recovery area.” A prompt sounded at just the right moment.
Following the instruction, Ning Chuan laboriously used the rake to push, pry, and drag the heavy pile of fragments, eventually moving all of it into the circular area.
When the last fragment entered the area…
Hum!
The patterns at the edge of the circular area suddenly lit up with a bright blue light, forming a cylindrical curtain of light that enveloped all the items within its range. You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.
Within the light, the metal fragments, alien corpse, and damaged uniform seemed to be lifted by an invisible force, suspended in the center of the light pillar.
Then, Ning Chuan watched as they began to decompose and dissolve at a visible rate!
The metal fragments melted like ice under the sun, transforming into streams of liquid metal shimmering with a silver-gray luster, their impurities stripped away and vaporized.
The alien corpses underwent an even more bizarre process: their withered flesh and chitin rapidly desiccated, carbonized, and ultimately turned into a thick, pale green gaseous stream and a small pile of crystalline purple powder.
The uniform decomposed into several extremely fine silver threads.
The entire process was quiet, efficient, and carried a cold, technological feel.
In just a few breaths, all items within the light pillar vanished completely.
The azure light screen then extinguished.
“Decomposition and recovery completed.”
“Acquired: Spirit-Conductive Metal Ingot x 3 (Quality: Common)”
“Acquired: Biomass Essence x 1 (unit)”
“Acquired: Zerg Chitin Powder x 1 (unit)”
“Acquired: Basic Psionic Fiber x 2 (units)”
“Based on recovered item value assessment, reward points: 15.”
“Current total points: 15.”
In the recessed slot below the light pillar, several items materialized out of thin air: three palm-sized, neatly rectangular silver-gray metal blocks, their surfaces flowing with faint, shimmering light;
A sealed, semi-transparent container holding slowly writhing pale green gelatinous substance;
A small crystal vial filled with fine purple powder;
And two coils of faintly glowing silver thread.
The number in the points column also changed from 0 to 15.
“Success!” Ning Chuan felt a surge of joy.
Although the points were few, this was a breakthrough from zero to one!
Moreover, these materials…
they all seemed somewhat useful?
He stepped forward and curiously picked up one of the Spirit-Conductive Metal Ingots.
It felt slightly heavy and cool to the touch, with a faint sense of extremely weak energy flowing within.
“Station, what are these materials for?
And what can the points be used for?”
“Materials can be used for ‘Fusion’ to enhance existing equipment (requires corresponding blueprints or payment of points for analysis), for ‘Forging’ new equipment (requires blueprints), or directly exchanged for points (value approximately 70% of recovery value).”
“Points can be exchanged in the ‘Mall’ for previously recovered and decomposed items, blueprints, information, or to pay for functions such as ‘Analysis’ and ‘Repair’.”
“Note: Station Master’s authority level is too low.
The list of items available for exchange in the Mall is restricted.
Please increase authority level as soon as possible.”
“Fusion?
Forging?” Ning Chuan’s eyes flickered as he looked at the crude nine-toothed rake in his hand.
“Can these materials be used to strengthen this rake? This chapter is updated first at g.com.
For example, make it sturdier, longer?”
“Request accepted.”
“Option One: Simple Enhancement.
Consume ‘Spirit-Conductive Metal Ingot’ x1, integrate into the connection between rake head and shaft, slightly increase overall sturdiness and toughness, slightly extend effective contact distance (+0.5 meters).
Point cost: 5.”
“Option Two: Basic Enchantment.
Consume ‘Biomass Essence’ x1, ‘Zerg Chitin Powder’ x1, grant rake teeth weak corrosive properties (slight penetration effect against low-level energy shields/biological chitin).
Point cost: 8.”
“Option Three: Spirit-Conductive Channeling.
Consume ‘Spirit-Conductive Metal Ingot’ x2, ‘Basic Psionic Fiber’ x1, modify rake shaft to weakly conduct Spirit Power, slightly improve controllability and strength.
Point cost: 10.”
“Please select.”
It can do this too?
Ning Chuan was pleasantly surprised.
The functions of this recovery station were far more powerful than he had imagined!
After a moment’s thought, he chose options one and three.
Extending the attack range and improving durability were currently the most practical, and the ability to conduct Spirit Power was an unexpected bonus—perhaps it could be developed for special uses in the future.
The corrosion property wasn’t urgently needed for now.
“Execute options one and three!”
“Command confirmed.
Consuming ‘Spirit-Conductive Metal Ingot’ x3, ‘Basic Psionic Fiber’ x1, points: 15.”
“Enhancement commencing.”
A soft white light once again illuminated the center of the platform, enveloping the nine-toothed rake in Ning Chuan’s hand and the materials.
Within the light, Ning Chuan watched as the Spirit-Conductive Metal Ingots melted like liquid, seeping into the rake’s iron teeth and wooden handle.
The handle, in particular, was covered with an extremely thin layer of silver-gray metallic veins, while the Basic Psionic Fibers wound around it like nerves, eventually merging completely.
The entire process concluded swiftly.
As the white light faded, a completely transformed rake appeared in his hands.
Its length had clearly increased by over half a meter, now nearly four meters in total!
The originally rough surface of the wooden handle had become smooth and comfortable to grip, displaying a unique texture that blended metal and wood.
The weight seemed slightly increased as well, but it was now more evenly distributed.
The rake head and iron teeth gleamed with a cold, silver-gray luster, appearing far more sturdy and durable.
Most remarkably, when Ning Chuan instinctively channeled a trace of Spirit Power into the rake handle, the silver-gray veins glowed faintly.
The Spirit Power flowed unimpeded through the entire handle, all the way to the tips of the teeth!
Though it couldn’t be released externally, it elevated his control over the rake by a whole level, making it feel like an extension of his own arm!
“What a treasure!” Ning Chuan swung the enhanced rake lovingly, the sound of it cutting through the air now noticeably more powerful.
His points had reset to zero again, but with his tool upgraded, the investment was worth it!
Filled with renewed vigor, Ning Chuan turned his gaze once more toward the endless ocean of trash beyond the platform.
With a sharp weapon in hand, the urge to conquer arose!