After Sun Hao repaired Black Thorn's fragmented consciousness, this humanoid sea urchin possessed a strong autonomous character.

Initially, it obediently hung out on the rooftop, but as time passed, it couldn't stand it anymore.

"Chairman, I want to go swimming."

"The energy here is too sparse, the Dead Sea is more comfortable."

Zhou Yi did not stop it, but reminded, "Don't frighten people, and along the way, expel any Guangna Species that come too close to this place to avoid threatening ordinary humans."

"Okay."

Now there are two Black Thorns, and to distinguish them, Zhou Yi gave it an official name "Hei Fu".

Hei Fu was a soldier during the Qin dynasty in Chinese history, who wrote one of the earliest surviving family letters from ancient China, asking his family to send money in a very down-to-earth manner.

Zhou Yi was impressed by this.

Black Thorn felt the same. It possessed the spirit of a warrior; it was the one who took the initiative to capture another Black Thorn and had also lectured Ni Ge, who constantly pressed down on the fruit core, demonstrating a brave and martial warrior's demeanor.

It often asked Zhou Yi for some Light Seed to eat. Because the energy in nature itself still needs purification, the taste wasn't good, nothing like the smooth and delicious Light Seed.

Comparing the two was like eating grassroots versus eating grain.

"Bring me some more, just a little more."

"Chairman, today I'd like to have something nice…"

So Zhou Yi named it Hei Fu.

Both like to ask for money from home.

Hei Fu was vivacious; aside from loving to wander in the Dead Sea, it also enjoyed the sun and water. It often lay at the entrance of the Dead Sea Channel basking in the sun, initially startling many people, who then reported to the company about a monster invasion.

Later, Zhou Yi made a simple announcement, saying this was the company employee "Stinger Man" Hei Fu, not to worry, which reassured the public.

Due to its outgoing nature, Hei Fu often initiated conversations with Zhou Yi.

"Chairman, I'm actually quite strong."

"Most monsters in the Dead Sea are no match for me."

"Is there anything you need me to do? Just give me some more Light Seed, like capturing some monster or dealing with some enemy, I can do it."

Unfortunately, the company had no need for such fighting and killing.

Zhou Yi teased, "Indeed, the company has a tough adversary. It's on Forbidden Continent, called Dragon, an A-level Concept Life. However, its actual strength might be even higher. Can you handle it?"

"What is Concept Life?"

So, Zhou Yi explained.

Hei Fu then became extremely cautious: "The current me might not triumph. The enemy has the home field advantage, coupled with that powerful Building Life's aid, and a group of Dragon's Inheritors joining the battle… I am outnumbered, and the odds of victory might be low."

"I'm not strong enough…"

However, not long after, Hei Fu suddenly burst out excitedly, "Chairman, I have a solution!"

"At my current stage, I'm not yet complete. I cannot advance further on my own, but the Pan Tree can help me; it wasn't able before, but now its strength is sufficient to assist me."

"If I can reconnect back to the tree, I can continue evolving through it, eventually undergoing a transformation, becoming a true Light Core Body!"

"This requires it to focus all its energy supply on me, needing a large amount of Light Amber, a lot of water, and continuous sunlight. It also requires a long growth enclosure, during which I can't be activated, to ensure that my internal transformation can continue uninterrupted."

"I don't know how long this enclosure period will last, if it's short, a year or two, if long, about five years."

"Once I achieve this evolution, I'll be able to fight that Dragon."

"You'll just need to give me some Light Seed at that time."

…

Previously, Zhou Yi was still somewhat hesitant about this.

Light Seed was not the problem.

Because using the Pan Tree to cultivate Hei Fu might lead to the tree's overexertion, resulting in the destruction of the tree and the failure to cultivate Black Thorn.

The risk was significant.

But Ni Ge mentioned the Dead Sea Channel and Cave Energy, which made Zhou Yi decide to give it a try.

After listening to Hei Fu's story, Ni Ge sat cross-legged on the ground and pondered for a while: "Although I am not a naturalist specialized in trees, I know that Black Thorn must be harvested and cut while they are still hard."

"Because if they continue to grow on the Sky-reaching Tree, they will soften and rot on the outside, while the core inside will grow larger and larger."

"Then they will naturally fall from the Sky-reaching Tree into the Dead Sea."

"The Black Thorn Fruit will become a bizarre soft-bodied organism, filled with sinews and veins inside, becoming complex and uncontrollable. However, at this stage, they quickly disappear, unknown whether they burrow underground or become unobservable."

"They are indeed not yet mature. But it is at this stage that they can be trained to execute specific commands based on their desire for energy…"

The most significant part of the artificial conditioning process is the mechanism of the harvesting platform.

This is entirely the result of repeatedly conditioning the Black Thorn Fruits to have a reflex, landing on it and entering a dormant state.

Like Pavlov's dogs, long-term conditioning with a bell and feeding, afterwards even without feeding, ringing the bell would summon the dogs.

A truly mature Black Thorn is uncontrollable and vanishing.

"Since Hei Fu thinks there's no problem, I think we can give it a try."

Ni Ge said, "You don't need to worry about the Pan Tree. This kind of tree is very sturdy. As long as it grows in the Dead Sea, unless it's bugs, no other force can completely destroy it. At most, it's malnutrition, growth stagnation, or withering."

So, Zhou Yi could relax.

With Ni Ge and the Tree Monster Ye Qing's help, Hei Fu returned to the branches.

The Tree Monster used itself as a bond, connecting Pan Tree and Hei Fu into one.

"This way, I can always know its growth status and if something is off, I can give feedback promptly. If it lacks nutrition, I'll know, too."

Ye Qing didn't overlook any detail regarding planting trees.

Zhou Yi also said, "Then I'll leave it to you. If there's any issue, give feedback anytime, and I'll have Red Kestrel come over every day to check in on the status with you."

After the transplantation was complete, Hei Fu fell completely into a deep sleep.

The originally large Spiny Sea Urchin remained still on the thick and wide branches of the Pan Tree. A faint purple glow lingered on its surface, clearly indicating some kind of energy reaction was happening.

The responsible Tree Monster then said, "Hei Fu has completely sealed itself and mostly detached from the outside world. It is rapidly absorbing energy to transform its own fruit core."

"Most of the tree's nutrition and energy are now focused here, making it impossible to produce new Dead Sea Fruits."

"Looking at the current progress, it will take at least two years for a quantitative buildup to lead to a qualitative change."

"I'll report any progress immediately."

In this way, with the help of the company, Hei Fu embarked on the path of its second development.

...

This autumn was busier than the previous few years.

Zhou Yi again started to follow up on the construction project of the Dead Sea Channel.

The supporting facilities for the second Dead Sea Channel have been completed, and the two Dead Sea Channels have formed two circular waterways at different locations. From a high altitude, they looked like two round eyes that had grown in the Sand Port Region.

This infrastructure project has become increasingly important as it laid a solid foundation for the local agriculture to further expand and grow rice. Also, Hei Fu's development needs a lot of water.

After undergoing orthodontic surgery, Gongsun Bao got braces, no longer protruding his mouth, and switched to neat shirts, jackets, and jeans, instantly looking completely different from before.

He was naturally thick-browed and big-eyed, and now had turned into a handsome young man with a strong presence, somewhat evoking the feel of Takeshi Kaneshiro from Sand Port.

"Not bad, not bad."

Zhou Yi laughed, "I heard quite a few girls are asking you out. How about it, see if there's someone suitable to try dating."

But Gongsun Bao shook his head and said, "President, the Dead Sea Channel is most important, I'm not in the mood right now. I think there's still a lot of room for improvement in the Dead Sea Channel."

While various sectors of the company were steadily advancing, 703 suddenly sought out Zhou Yi.

"President, Guste contacted me through the Spring and Autumn Trading Guild's station, expressing a wish to start a company-level cooperation with us."

"The Yin Shang Company, hoping to initiate formal cooperation with Wasteland Development Company."

"Yin Shang Company?"

It was the first time Zhou Yi had heard this name: "What organization is this?"

"Ah? Haven't you been following the news lately?"

The robotic dog immediately caught on: "... I forgot, you've been supporting the Shuanghe Region before and then busy with Hei Fu's matters. You definitely wouldn't have had time to pay attention to these things."

"It's like this, not long ago, the A-class destroyer 'Chaoge' announced the establishment of [Yin Shang Asset Management Company], which is mainly staffed by mechanical life forms, as well as a large number of semi-civilized bodies of new mechanical life undergoing repair."

"Then, their company was quickly recognized as a collaborator related to the Mechanical Knight Order, and also categorized as a dangerous organization by Mechanical City."

Zhou Yi was curious: "Does Yin Shang Company have a relationship with Mechanical Knight Order?"

"There's no subordinate relationship, only certain cooperation."

703 explained: "Chaoge itself is a neutral mechanical life not belonging to any organization. It has many years of leadership and mercenary training experience, participated in numerous wars, and is one of the founders of Peace City, holding high prestige and influence."

Zhou Yi suddenly understood.

Belongs to one of the great predecessors of the St. Petersburg.

"However, after establishing Peace City, it had been retired for many years, living a non-contentious life on a small island. To put it in our terms, it's basically retirement and enjoying the twilight years."

703 continued: "But after the occurrence on Sunday, Guste sought out Chaoge to convince it to come out of retirement, to reinvigorate and shelter more new-style mechanical life — that is, the semi-civilized bodies."

"I don't know how Guste persuaded it, but it was indeed successful. Chaoge accepted Guste's suggestion, emulating our Wasteland Development Company, and established Yin Shang Company, bringing many of the old mercenaries into the company."

"Today, Yin Shang Company has 39 warships, 3 submarines, 17 merchant ships, and 2 airplanes, with substantial strength."

"Their main business is asset management, investment, and property agency, and they are currently further expanding into other fields."

"Now, Guste, as a partner of Yin Shang Company, will come along with Chaoge to visit us again, hoping to embark on comprehensive business and technical cooperation with us."

Zhou Yi was somewhat surprised.

Guste's initiative was really strong.

After observing and learning here before, it turned around and found a suitable partner, and truly materialized the company system it envisioned.

Zhou Yi was very interested in this new company.

"Tell Guste, welcome to visit, I also want to have a good talk with them."

"Yes, President!"

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