Zhou Yi looked at the screen of the controller tablet.

Under the satellite view, the black long bridge on the east coast of Jade City crossed the Dead Sea all the way, connecting to the moon landing area that appeared like a black spot and then passed through the newly built moon landing new district (an area shaped like petals created by space holes) and extending northward.

The long bridge continued to extend in the Dead Sea, then turned from north to west, reaching the port of Steel Refining City.

The black bridge across the sea linked the two places, drawing a figure '7' over the Dead Sea.

In the aerial view, such an unprecedented long-distance infrastructure connection still appears quite stunning.

The more Zhou Yi watched, the more he liked it.

This is a big step in breaking the blockade of the Dead Sea.

The elevated bridge provided real-time feedback: "Chairman, currently the bridge has only reached B-level strength, which is relatively weak and needs time for solid reinforcement. At this scale, it will take about 6 months to reinforce it to A-level strength."

"Next, I will gradually widen the bridge area to allow more life forms to move between the two places."

"Once stabilized here, and the test results are fine, I will further expand the connection towards Shell City."

Steel Refining Lord rushed to Sand Port with his mechanical arm, knocking on the door of an apartment building.

"Mr. Zhou, Mr. Zhou!"

"It's so sudden! I thought it was some kind of projection when I saw it! Is it real? Can it operate long-term? Can people walk on it..."

"Such a long-distance Dead Sea-crossing bridge connection is an unprecedented achievement in history!"

"How was this even accomplished?!"

Zhou Yi briefly explained the upgrades of the elevated bridge.

The other party was even more shocked: "A mutated one at the Light Core Body level... There has never been such an existence in the database... This is truly astonishing!"

He immediately turned ecstatic and let out a quacking laugh. Only, his laughter sounded sharp and mechanical, giving off a bit of a villainous flavor.

"No wonder Mr. Zhou, you have been investing in the mutated ones without expecting returns. Once they breakthrough to the Light Core Body, not only did they completely overcome the Dead Sea, but they can also utilize the energy of the Dead Sea."

"All the previous investments and nurturing efforts are indeed worthwhile! You have truly thought deeply and planned ahead! Chairman, your foresight is admirable!"

Zhou Yi felt odd: "Where did you learn to suck up like this?"

"I upgraded my database, adding the social mode data collected from various cities' earth officials - this mode is the latest result developed by the Program Department in collaboration with Recursive City."

Steel Refining Lord said: "According to data statistics, the success rate of motorized life forms receiving positive feedback and benefits in negotiations is 33% higher when using social mode compared to when not using it."

"It's a very practical mode, I'm recently researching deeply and undergoing intensive training."

"How do you feel about my flattery skills and intensity?"

Zhou Yi: "..."

He initially wanted to say that such things weren't needed in the Alliance.

But Zhou Yi then reconsidered. Steel Refining Lord and its kind still needed to collaborate further with other cities and engage in various external negotiations. If they had the social mode, flattering the other side a few more times wouldn't hurt.

Don't hit a smiling face, and the data supports this point.

So Zhou Yi said: "It's a bit stiff, needs more practice."

"Understood. Indeed, socializing is not a simple matter. I will continue to perfect it, sorry for the poor experience."

"It's fine... Let's talk business."

Steel Refining Lord immediately began discussing some of its ideas.

"With this long bridge connecting Steel Refining City and Sand Port, electric cats can directly pass through, enhanced cars can carry people between the two places, and personnel mobility will be greatly enhanced."

"Previously, transporting our metal tools, components, cooling coal, and frozen beverages took at least a few days to arrive here. Whether by glider or airship, they needed to be scheduled, transferred, and loaded into the cabin."

"Now in one day, items can be transported directly from Steel Refining City factories to Jade City or Sand Port City."

It spoke rapidly: "This greatly shortens the transportation period, reducing our inventory pressure significantly, especially since it's winter, demand for cooling coal and frozen beverages is huge."

"You might not know, Jade City purchases a lot of these two items, accounting for 15% of Steel Refining City's sales... This is because employees here have high incomes and demand a high quality of life."

"Now we can also do that, what do you call it? Takeout, yes, we can do that too!"

Speaking of his estate's output, this motorized lord listed his properties like precious jewels.

"Chairman, some employees of the Wasteland Development Company have invested a considerable amount in Sand Port."

Zhou Yi asked: "Investment?"

"Yes."

Steel Refining Lord explained: "Most company employees are happy when they earn money, storing it well. But a few employees also invest externally."

"In Steel Refining City, four bone-man engineers from the manufacturing department invested in building a small metal products factory specializing in bolts, nuts, screws, and other metal products. Nowadays, power infrastructure needs a large number of related spare parts, which are in shortages. They hired dozens of workers from Steel Refining City and have been in operation for half a year."

"There's also a wire and cable factory, co-invested by A-Wei from the courier center and his friend Bone-man Jacob together."

"Because of the company's electric cat construction promotion, large amounts of wires and networks need to be laid locally, and the demand for copper wires is huge. After collecting copper, they need to draw and insulate... It's a good business. Steel Refining City actually has a large wire and cable factory in production."

Zhou Yi listened with great interest.

The bone-men were resourceful and forward-thinking, investing in future industries.

This counts as the employees' personal growth in their field.

"So if both places are connected, I believe more company employees will invest in Steel Refining City."

Steel Refining Lord confidently said: "We have unique experiences in metal processing, smelting, and industrial technology, while the company's employees have funds. As long as funds are brought to us, it will promote faster development in Steel Refining City, providing more jobs for immigrants. Worker salaries have always been good."

Zhou Yi nodded: "That sounds good. But make sure to regulate them properly. Even if they are company employees, they must abide by Steel Refining City's rules in your area, and treat them equally under restraint."

"Understood."

For this Dead Sea crossing connection, Duke Destructive also paid much attention.

Shuanghe Region is over a thousand kilometers from Sand Port, so he arrived in Jade City half an hour later than Steel Refining Lord.

"When will our Shuanghe Region be connected?"

"In terms of economy, security, and political interests, we're beyond Steel Refining City."

"Shouldn't it be our turn next?"

Zhou Yi told him: "Don't expect it in the short term."

Doll Governor became furious, clenched his fists: "Why! Given strength and influence, Shuanghe should be the most prioritized in this Alliance! It's unfair! Our Shuanghe Region has also made significant contributions to the Alliance!"

Zhou Yi laughed angrily.

Shuanghe Region is 840 kilometers from Shell City, and Shell City is 340 kilometers from Sand Port, adding up to at least 1200 kilometers.

Definitely starting by connecting the nearby Steel Refining City and Shell City first.

Then gradually expanding outward.

Zhou Yi immediately explained the principles to him.

The Wuhu Elevated Bridge has just advanced, requiring gradual propulsion.

Doll Governor insistently said: "I believe small steps are meaningless; if we do it, we should go big."

"Our Shuanghe is perfect for being the example."

"Directly connecting Jade City to Shuanghe Region, merely this ultra-long Dead Sea-crossing bridge would be enough to create technical deterrence externally, and boost our customers' confidence and loyalty... The benefits are numerous."

Zhou Yi's face twitched upon hearing.

Big steps easily lead to mishaps.

He had to finally say cold-heartedly: "Then let me ask you. Is Shuanghe's power infrastructure complete? Is the electric cat information network built?"

"..."

Duke Destructive bowed his head without speaking.

Eventually, he left defeated.

The construction of the Sea-crossing Bridge led sea lords from various Alliance regions to call and congratulate, creating heated discussions. However, it didn't attract much external discussion, which puzzled Zhou Yi.

Logically, such an achievement in breaking the Dead Sea blockade should be top news and a sensational story. Even if Mechanical City deliberately underplayed it, other places shouldn't be silent about it.

He felt deeply puzzled about this.

Red Kestrel provided an explanation for it.

"Zhou, numerous places have tried various methods to break through the Dead Sea in the past."

"Among the most famous were Heavenly Kingdom's 'Artificial Floating Island' and Mechanical City's 'Dead Sea Reconstruction Plan'."

Zhou Yi knew about the latter but had never heard of the former.

"Heavenly Kingdom tried breeding a massive amount of bubble fish, letting them produce enormous amounts of excrement to form floating islands. Through human intervention and modification, the goal was to create a sufficiently large floating island group to expand and increase landmass."

Red Kestrel said: "In theory, this is feasible, but in actual implementation, numerous obstacles were encountered."

"Bubble fish can't survive densely in the same area; they are very sensitive to their living territory, and getting too dense would weaken, go mad, mutate, and die."

"The floating island has weak carrying capacity, requiring over 50 years to cultivate to bear heavy properties like houses, steel, and stone."

"Another issue is pollution. Bubble fish excrement isn't harmless; it releases toxic substances over time, leading to severe hallucinations among island residents, causing them to fail distinguishing reality from illusion, accompanied by severe physiological bleeding."

"Therefore, after 20 years, the 'Artificial Floating Island' plan was shelved, effectively declared a failure. Heavenly Kingdom spent over 18 million Light Seeds and didn't pursue similar projects afterward."

"'Dead Sea Reconstruction Plan' involved long-term research on the Dead Sea, developing new techniques and data. However, whether purifying or building undersea cities, all attempts failed, with costs exceeding 23 million Light Seeds."

"The largest surface groups failed."

"Therefore, external entities have little hope for Dead Sea reconstruction or land creation. Even with the company's current momentum, most people will view it skeptically and cautiously."

"'Artificial Floating Island' started with great enthusiasm. But within years, residents died frequently, lost in hallucinations in the Dead Sea, becoming skeletons, with over 200,000 death tolls... 'Dead Sea Reconstruction' had similar results, with collapses, leaks, consciousness pollution, high pressure, shocks, causing 1044 motorized lives deaths."

"With so many precedents, entities remain extremely cautious about such experimental projects."

His explanation made Zhou Yi understand.

Similar mega-projects require time validation; it's a shared conviction among entities.

The Wasteland World hasn't seen Light Core Body level building life forms yet.

Naturally, no one witnessed Light Core Body level infrastructure strength either.

Zhou Yi pondered.

This is advantageous for himself, as most doubt official statements, allowing for silent elevated bridge progress, giving him a few years before others catch on.

Zhou Yi immediately changed the strategy, instructing all sides not to promote the matter actively, and when asked, to respond it's still a testing project.

...

At this juncture.

Xiao Fu suddenly spoke: "Da Zhou, it's time to create Fire Seed Civilization, the sooner the better."

"Conditions are mature now, electric cats are excellent foundational Fire Seed life units."

"Upon constructing Fire Seed Civilization, you will possess your conceptual entity - or rather, conceptual life."

"Not only will it extend our external consciousness but also resonate and align with all electric cats in power..."

Zhou Yi listened eagerly.

Creating a conceptual life is possible?

He immediately rolled up his sleeves.

"How should we proceed?"

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