007: Strengthening the Components
Turning his gaze from the Fire Sun Terracotta Tree component's properties, Song Chi began tallying his current funds.
Apart from the 1,000 strands of zero-level floating land source provided by his parents, his account held 2.4 million credits. According to Morning Star Principality's official rates, 10,000 credits equaled one strand of zero-level floating land origin. Therefore, he possessed a total of 1,240 strands of zero-level floating land source.
Of these, he needed to reserve at least 500 strands for purchasing medical supplies, basic nanorobot repair kits, the Furious Tiger ① floating land mining vehicle, specialized exploration instruments for the vehicle, and so forth. This left him approximately 700 strands to strengthen the nether energy shuttle.
Without hesitation, Song Chi opted for the psionic shield. When activated, it could generate an energy shield around the psionic shuttle, serving as its primary defense mechanism.
As the proprietor of the Heaven's Market, Song Chi could advance his life levels step by step, making life preservation paramount during his exploration of alien star fields.
However, strengthening this component required not only zero-level floating land source and nether energy points but also items like original life cores—familiar resources to Song Chi.
In the vast Broken Star Sea, most stellar lifeforms left behind special crystals upon death, containing their essence—the original life core. Universally recognized as a valuable resource, these life cores were tradable commodities in many galactic civilizations, including human society. They could be freely exchanged for other resources like fine iron or zero-level floating land origin.
After a brief visit and greeting his parents on the first floor, Song Chi proceeded to the Dongjiang Xinhuo Shopping Mall, conveniently located near Dongjiang Community.
Though modestly stocked, this Xinhuo mall sufficed for a newly awakened captain like Song Chi. After about ten minutes of shopping, he acquired the required life cores. Rather than returning home immediately, he summoned the Nether Energy Shuttle in the mall's designated fireship enhancement area to commence its initial strengthening.
"[Confirm expenditure of {1 strand of zero-level floating land source + 100 psionic energy points + 5 life cores} to upgrade the psionic energy shield component from level 0 to level 1?]"
"Confirmed!"
"[Confirm expenditure of {3 strands of zero-level floating land source + 200 psionic points + 6 life cores} to upgrade the psionic shield component from level 1 to level 2?]"
...
After four successive upgrades, Song Chi had raised the psionic shield component to level 4. He intended to continue, but the 1,000 psionic energy points stored in the psionic energy pool of the engine had been fully depleted. He would need to wait until it replenished.
Thankfully, the recharge rate was swift. Activating only the nether energy engine, it could accumulate 9 points per second and would fully recharge in less than two minutes.
Two minutes later, Song Chi resumed his enhancements.
In the end, he elevated the psionic shield all the way to level 7, expending a total of 59 strands of zero-level floating land source, 56 zero-level life original nuclei, and 2,800 nether energy points.
Of the 59 strands of zero-level floating land origin used, 49 were allocated for strengthening, while the remaining 10 were spent on acquiring 100 zero-level life cores.
The attributes of the psionic energy shield at level 7 had significantly improved:
**Psionic Energy Shield lv7**
- Quality: Colorless
- Consumption: 10/s (psi energy points)
- Protection: 18
- Shield Value: 180/180
- Charging: 23s; Buffering after Overload: 46 minutes
- Required for Upgrade: 15 strands of zero-level floating land source, 800 nether energy points, 12 life cores (zero level)
Following the strengthening of the nether energy shield, Song Chi remained apprehensive. As a time-traveler, an innate sense of the universe's vastness permeated his being, compelling him to immediately fortify the hull armor.
Though not as defensively potent as the psionic shield, hull armor was crucial for any fireship and couldn't lag behind.
Within minutes, he had bolstered the hull armor to level 7.
However, each upgrade of this component necessitated special mineral resources like fine iron. It had consumed a total of 28 tons of fine iron to reach level 7, with each ton costing one strand of zero-level floating land origin.
In sum, 77 strands of zero-level floating land essence were used to reinforce the hull armor.
**Hull Armor lv7**
- Quality: Colorless
- Consumption: 3/s (psi energy points)
- Protection: 18
- Required for Upgrade: 15 strands of zero-level floating land source, 800 nether energy points, 8 tons of fine iron
...
After upgrading both the psionic shield and hull armor to level 7, their energy consumption upon activation had increased substantially, surpassing the psionic engine's normal energy supply. Strengthening the engine became imperative for maintaining the psionic shield in alien star fields.
"[Confirm expenditure of {1 strand of zero-level floating land source + 100 psi energy points + 5 life cores} to upgrade the psi energy engine component from level 0 to level 1?]"
"Confirmed!"
After four consecutive upgrades, only 9 zero-level life cores remained in his possession—insufficient for a fifth enhancement. Song Chi had no choice but to purchase another 20 strands of zero-level floating land essence to acquire 200 more life cores.
Finally, he raised the psionic engine to level 7, using the same resources as for enhancing the psionic shield. The remaining 188 zero-level life cores were stored in the shuttle for future use.
**Nether Energy Engine lv7**
- Quality: Colorless
- Consumption: 4/s (psi energy points)
- Energy Supply: 24/s (psionic energy points)
- Buffering after Overload: 23 minutes
- Nether Energy Pool: 1700 points (can store 1700 points of Nether Energy)
- Required for Upgrade: 15 strands of zero-level floating land source, 800 nether energy points, 12 life cores (zero level)
With the psionic engine upgraded, attention turned to the psionic main gun. Despite its welfare nature, encounters with alien creatures in star seas were unpredictable, necessitating increased firepower for the nether energy shuttle.
Enhancing the nether energy main cannon required no life cores. Song Chi elevated it to level 5, spending 25 strands of zero-level floating land source and 1500 nether energy points.
Post-upgrade, its attributes were notably enhanced:
**Nether Energy Main Gun lv5**
- Quality: Colorless
- Consumption: 20/shot (psionic points)
- Power: 16
- Charging: 4s; Buffering: 8s
- Required for Upgrade: 11 strands of zero-level floating land source, 600 nether energy points
The upgraded nether energy main gun not only boasted increased power but also reduced charging and buffering times—a substantial overall improvement.