Vol-2: 005. Selling the Case for the Pearl
005. Selling the Case for the Pearl
「Six standard units of organic solvent, still need… hydroxyl zinc sulfate, hmm, and then, which catalyst to use?」
Li Aozi had been tinkering in the chemical laboratory of Triangle Town for six hours, and finally, he managed to set up the basic production line needed for the biochemical pool.
With an extraordinary charisma of 100.1 and his foundation as a legendary figure from the outer lands, he was warmly welcomed wherever he went. The local warlord, Auckland Jute, even treated him as an honored guest.
The previously increased legend status in the outer lands clearly had an effect. Towns controlled by warlords generally had networks and basic industrial systems, and Triangle Town was among the more developed ones, even having basic laws.
In the previous life, this place was also one of the camps of player guilds in the outer lands. Building a good relationship with Auckland was not a bad thing.
Besides, Li Aozi had no intention of keeping the technology from the Abyss a secret.
「Everyone having nuclear weapons, only then can the world be at peace.」
Whether it's the threat from Entropy Monarchs or Philolith, the current situation of the four nations ultimately leads to destruction by external cosmic forces. Even without the threat of ancient powers, the current productivity of Azure Star could easily attract invasions from warlike interstellar civilizations, eventually becoming a colony.
Therefore, all humanity must go to space.
To achieve this goal, Li Aozi believed two prerequisites were necessary:
1: Destroy the GTB organization. As a special international organization created by the four nations, the Global Development Bank has controlled most of the energy distribution over the years. This not only monopolizes resources for the four nations but also severely hinders the unification of the people of the four nations and the outer lands.
2: Create a globally unified government. In the universe, the outdated system of nations is not fit to participate in the battlefield, only a unified government can.
The universe is too vast, and there are too many races. The mechanism of nations, serving the ruling class with violence, cannot operate in the face of the scale of interstellar wars.
Nationalism? Capitalism? The appeal of these concepts is too weak for civilizations with hundreds of billions of inhabitants. To mobilize them for war, a higher form of attraction is necessary.
For example… Dao Path.
Li Aozi was deep in thought.
「Perhaps I shouldn't just focus on the Dao Path of the Starfall Master. Given my current growth rate, I might aim for the Dao Path of the entire Domination series.」
The desire for immortality never ceased, and the six paths of transcending individually—Destruction, Domination, Craft, Eerie, Redemption, Plunder—weren't just for show.
Apart from Eerie and Plunder having a main god, the ultimate paths of the other four series, regardless of how many gods have appeared, their main gods have never been seen.
The negative effects of the first layer of the Star Abyss—Layer Abyss—are not yet apparent. As you descend to the second and third layers, even the influence of narrative-level civilizations will dissipate. At the same time, the only thing that can unite people will be fellow travelers on the same Dao Path.
If Azure Star can have at least 1 million Domination series players in the future, Li Aozi estimated that over 5000 people should reach the Starfall Master path. At that time, when he leads this fearless group into the Star Abyss, they wouldn't miss so many opportunities and could even grasp the discourse power of a layer of the Star Abyss.
But all this depends on whether he can go to space first, as that's where his main stage is.
Since most materials can only be obtained in the universe, such as Argon Crystals, Elemental Crystals, Moon Spring Water, and other things not closely related to technological civilizations. Not only Azure Star but many civilizations don't produce them. Li Aozi could only compromise, removing the requirements for 「Space Compression」 and 「High Energy Magnetic Fields」.
With the "Pioneer-Class Biochemical Materials Science", Li Aozi could handcraft some materials far surpassing current technology. Triangle Town wasn't lacking in minerals. With the help of scientists sent by the warlord who wanted to learn from him, he managed to craft an automated production line.
The shape of the biochemical pool was mostly complete. Although it's called a pool, it looked more like a ten-meter diameter super large swimming pool, with most of the reagents and solutions needing to be prepared in advance, to be spread out when needed.
Li Aozi couldn't remember how this thing was compressed or how its power was increased. But with the power of the Omega Energy in his hands, not understanding the principles didn't matter. Just make it big. With his control over gravity, he could adjust the weight of objects, even lifting a ship within the gravity field.
It would take another twenty-seven hours to complete. While waiting, Li Aozi opened the [Mall]. The limited-time items had already refreshed once. The little monster Misha was running around, introducing the latest items.
「[Key of the Black Moon], [Crimson Spinner], [Miracle Dust], [Entry-level Void Power]… It seems Grina Water Spin is a high-level spellcaster on the mystical side.」
There were many void-related items and knowledge listed by Grina, which didn't surprise Li Aozi.
The mystical side and the technological side had different understandings of the void. The former described the void as 「filled with ancient gods and narrative obliteration,」 while the latter tried to understand and contact void creatures, attempting to use void knowledge to change the material plane.
But for Li Aozi of the Domination series, void knowledge was like chicken ribs, of no use to him.
The quality of the items was good, but they were high-level materials with fair prices. It was just that his level was too low to use them.
Even the Eye of the Void Mayfly for making staffs was currently beyond his processing capabilities.
「All good stuff, but unfortunately too good for me to afford.」
The high standards of a higher dragon's perspective were evident. These items were meant to be used after reaching level 300. It's a pity.
If there were lower-level fantasy creature materials, they could indeed provide immediate assistance, helping him complete the biochemical pool.
The [Mall] generally didn't sell raw materials or mass-producible consumables, which was a headache for Li Aozi.
Just as he was about to close the mall, the little monster Misha dragged the item page, flipping a page. It flew to a strange egg-shaped object and gently tapped on it.
「Awoo meow? (Translation: This is good stuff, want to take a look?)」
Out of curiosity for the cute little monster, Li Aozi glanced at it:
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[Name]: Unknown Egg
[Category]: Biological/Collectible
[Description]:
「Prevent biological invasion, start with me.」
A mysterious egg picked up from who knows where. Maybe it'll hatch a cat, or a dragon?
[Effect]: You can choose to smash it and fry it, or hatch it.
[Price]: 128 points
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「Hmm, looks suspicious, but it's not too expensive…」
He didn't doubt that this thing could hatch a living creature. A strong person like Grina Water Spin wouldn't bother selling fakes.
Moreover, today's limited-time items clearly focused on void-themed items, so this egg was likely a void creature—which wouldn't be weak.
As for biological invasions, void creatures lose their reproductive ability once they leave the void, so no worries there.
But Li Aozi wasn't interested in keeping pets. Just as he was about to close the item page, the little monster Misha lowered its head in disappointment, its white fluffy fur drooping down, looking quite dejected.
「Awoo meow… (Translation: Another day without selling anything, I feel like everything is over…)」
Li Aozi looked at the little monster:
「Do you think acting cute works?」
The little monster's long tail hung lifelessly on the ground, its dark red eyes seemed misty. It raised its front paw and gently wiped the corner of its eye, stubbornly turning its head away.
「——It really works.」
Li Aozi's heart softened, so he bought one to see.
[Purchase Complete]
The next moment, the [Mall] interface disappeared, and a rift opened in front of Li Aozi. Misha's small head poked out, carrying a package half its size. Li Aozi took the package and fed Misha a dried lizard from his pocket.
Misha's spiky tongue rolled up the lizard and swallowed it. It closed one eye and cutely saluted Li Aozi before retracting its head and closing the rift.
「That little guy is really cute, so human-like.」
Li Aozi unpacked the package, ignoring the handwritten dragon language advertisement from Grina, and took out the strange blue-purple egg and its matching incubator—seeing the latter, an idea struck him.
「Although I may not use the egg, this incubator is very important to me.」