Standing on the cold, empty, and safe metal platform, Ning Chuan’s Spiritual Body looked around.
Inside the platform, it was completely vacant, save for the complex patterns beneath his feet that emitted a faint silver glow.
Beyond the platform lay a boundless ocean of garbage, radiating an aura of both danger and opportunity.
The closest scraps—some shimmering with light, some shrouded in black mist, and others possessing bizarre shapes—were no more than a dozen meters away, seemingly within arm’s reach.
However, those few meters felt like an insurmountable chasm.
Attempting to take a step forward, the moment his toes brushed against the invisible boundary at the platform’s edge, a powerful sense of dread washed over him!
It felt as though stepping further would cause him to plunge into an endless abyss, to be utterly consumed by the chaotic and dangerous atmosphere outside.
He immediately withdrew his thoughts.
Safety first, safety first!
Ning Chuan constantly reminded himself.
He had managed to change his fate against the heavens and finally possessed the capital to tread the path of a Soul Master; he could not afford to perish at this first step due to a moment of recklessness.
The warning about damage to his Spiritual Body still rang in his ears, and he dared not gamble with his future.
But without tools, was he supposed to just stand there and watch?
“Station?” Ning Chuan tried calling out in his mind.
“Can I bring tools in here?
For example…
a long hook or a rake?”
“Authority confirmed.
The Station Master may bring tools into the Station that are made by himself or an approved craftsman, or tools that belong entirely to himself.
Tools must comply with the Station’s basic rules and must not contain high-dimensional energy or active consciousness exceeding the current authority level.
Tools can be stored in the personal platform’s tool area.”
The cold notification voice gave an affirmative reply.
Hearing this, Ning Chuan felt a wave of relief.
Things would be much easier if he could bring tools!
“Exit Station,” he immediately commanded.
The scene before him distorted and blurred once more.
The vast Chaotic Star Vortex and the boundless Garbage Continent rapidly receded and vanished.
The next second, his consciousness returned.
Ning Chuan snapped his eyes open and found himself still leaning against the door.
Outside the window, the sky was already beginning to brighten.
The golden glow of the morning sun cast warm patches of light onto the floor through holes in the window paper.
Had a whole night passed?
It felt like only a short while at the garbage station, yet morning had already arrived in the real world.
His mind did not feel fatigued from his first projection; instead, because he had opened his Mental Sea, he felt refreshed and clear-headed.
“Chuan’er, get up for breakfast!” Liu Lan’s voice called from outside the house.
Her tone was a bit lighter than yesterday, as if she had temporarily set aside the previous day’s unpleasantness.
“Coming, Mother!” Ning Chuan answered, pushing the door open and walking out.
On the dining table, it was still the same simple coarse-grain pancakes and thin porridge.
Ning Dazhuang was already seated.
When he saw Ning Chuan come out, his gaze lingered on his son for a moment.
He felt that his son looked somewhat different today, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.
He seemed more energetic, and his eyes were brighter.
Opening his mouth to speak, he ultimately only said: “Eat quickly.
After you’re done, come with me to the back mountain to chop some firewood.”
Liu Lan also looked Ning Chuan over, a gratified smile appearing on her face.
“Mhm, your complexion is much better than yesterday.
That’s the way; life must always look forward.”
They both naturally noticed the change in Ning Chuan.
It was an improvement in his spirit and vitality from the inside out, originating from the evolution of his Martial Soul and the nourishment of his Spirit Power.
However, they were just ordinary villagers and could not comprehend a high-level power like Spirit Power.
They could only attribute it to the boy having come to his senses and recovering his spirits.
Ning Chuan felt a warmth in his heart.
He nodded and sat down to eat quickly.
He ate fast, his mind preoccupied with the task of making tools.
Finishing his meal in a few bites, Ning Chuan set down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at his father, Ning Dazhuang, who was tidying up his woodworking tools.
“Dad,” Ning Chuan began, “does the house have…
well, you know, the kind of long rake with hooks on it?”
Ning Dazhuang paused, looking at his son in confusion.
“What do you want that for?
That’s a tool for working the fields, and we don’t have any land.”
The Ning family were carpenters, not farmers.
“I…
I want to go take a look at the small creek behind the back mountain.
There was indeed a small stream behind the Holy Spirit Village.
Hearing this, Liu Lan’s eyes lit up slightly.
“Catching some fish or shrimp would be good to add some meat to our meals.
It’s a good thing Chuan’er is finding ways to be productive.”
Ning Dazhuang frowned, seemingly thinking it was a distraction from proper work.
But seeing the expectant look in his son’s eyes and remembering the blow the boy had suffered yesterday, he didn’t say much more.
He set down his plane, stood up, and began rummaging through the corner piled with timber and scraps.
After a while, Ning Dazhuang dragged out a long wooden pole.
At the end was a nailed-on iron rake head with nine slightly curved iron teeth.
Several of the tips were rusted and showed signs of wear.
“Here, this is it.” Ning Dazhuang handed the rake to Ning Chuan.
“The old village chief’s family used it for clearing wheat stalks.
Later, a few teeth broke, so they threw it here.
I fixed it up; it’s decent enough to use.
It’s about three meters long.
Is that enough?”
Ning Chuan took the rake.
The wooden pole was rough and prickly to the touch.
The rake head was heavy, and the iron teeth didn’t look particularly sharp.
Three meters…
it was shorter than he had anticipated.
He had originally hoped for a tool five or six meters long, or even longer.
Standing on the platform, a longer reach would mean a larger area he could cover and greater safety.
But for now, something was better than nothing.
“It’s enough.
Thanks, Dad!” Ning Chuan balanced the rake in his hand and nodded.
“Use it carefully.
Don’t drop it in the river; this iron piece is heavy,” Ning Dazhuang cautioned before turning back to his woodworking.
Liu Lan smiled and pressed a small cloth bundle into Ning Chuan’s hand.
“Come back early, and stay safe.”
Ning Chuan acknowledged her, hoisted the somewhat clunky nine-toothed rake onto his shoulder, and walked quickly out of the house.