Jade City, rooftop terrace.

Hei Fu, resembling a huge sea urchin, stood quietly.

Beneath the shell.

The once translucent gel layer, resembling petal segments, had now crystalized. It could be said that Hei Fu's core had transformed into a large positive tetrahedral Light Core Body.

Zhou Yi stood within it.

Although it was a solid inside, one could move freely within without floating off balance or falling.

Through the crystal planes of the Light Core Body, Zhou Yi now had a gemstone-like all-encompassing view.

Hei Fu appeared eager: "Chairman, I am much faster now and ready to take action at any time."

Zhou Yi asked a question: "What element did you fuse with?"

"Element? What is that?"

Hei Fu was completely puzzled.

Zhou Yi had to explain to it that for life to evolve to the Light Core Body stage, it needs to deeply fuse with an external element...

"I know what you are referring to, but I don't know its name. It's a substance in the Pan Tree, found in the Dead Sea Fruit, and also produced by the Pan Tree itself. It generates naturally and assimilates nutrients from the surroundings."

"I need it inherently; it is essential for my continuous growth."

Hei Fu couldn't directly describe this element.

But it said: "That substance is also a vital part of the Pan Tree and Dead Sea Fruit, providing them with energy and material layers."

"It can at least be used for storage, structural support, transport, and direct metabolism."

"My current structure and the Light Core Body are both composed of this substance."

Zhou Yi turned to inquire of Ni Ge.

This Mud Tree Person shrugged: "I don't know either, Chairman. I specialize in mud and soil matters; the complex technologies of trees and fruits are the expertise of the Tree Department."

Ultimately, Zhou Yi tentatively named it "Pan Tree Element," meaning it originates from the Pan Tree.

He delegated the research of the Pan Tree Element to the Mud Tree Civilization Department and Medical Department.

Zhou Yi piloted Hei Fu and entered the Dead Sea.

...

After becoming a Light Core Body, Hei Fu could sense energy in all directions and scan high-energy zones from afar.

These high-energy zones were marked on the crystal planes of the Light Core Body, showing the real-time distance and direction towards those places, like a super long-range monitoring center.

But for Zhou Yi, the most important transformation was that Hei Fu had become an intelligent vehicle, able to take over flight completely upon receiving a command.

No more manual driving was needed.

The ride experience improved tremendously.

At first, Zhou Yi experimented with manual control. However, as soon as he did, he became flustered, since Hei Fu reached speeds of 3600 kilometers per hour, and any slight deviation would lead to significant disarray.

While navigating quickly through the Dead Sea, they could encounter various life forms or natural disasters along the way.

After manually controlling for over ten minutes, he ended up crashing into two old human elevator buildings on the sea floor. Though Hei Fu was unharmed by such collisions, Zhou Yi was drenched in sweat and extremely tense.

Eventually, he decided to make peace with himself.

It was better to let Hei Fu fly on its own.

Automatic flight mode engaged.

Zhou Yi opened a bottle of cola, and his mood lightened as they passed by numerous Light Absorption Monsters and Dead Sea rapids.

"Hei Fu, can you traverse space bubbles now?"

"Chairman, it's very simple for me now."

Hei Fu confidently replied: "My strength was previously insufficient, easily getting crushed by spatial forces during traversal, resulting in fragmentation. Therefore, the success rate was very low. Now I can traverse freely."

"Where would you like to go? I will take you there."

Zhou Yi pondered internally. He needed to visit the Moon and Mars.

But there was no rush for now.

While chatting, Hei Fu suddenly said: "Chairman, we have reached the skies above Shuanghe City."

Zhou Yi looked down through the crystal planes and indeed saw the city below.

The agreed meeting place with Duke Destructive was a mountain north of Shuanghe City. They hadn't specified an exact location, only saying they would contact each other when it was time.

Hei Fu said: "Chairman, I can sense an energy reaction at the Light Core Body level, also in the northern hills. It must be there. Shall we go and check?"

"Hmm."

Zhou Yi decided to use this opportunity to test Hei Fu's bio-sensing accuracy.

In a few flashes.

Hei Fu dived into a smoking mountain entrance, with the inner walls equipped with laser devices weaving a red light net that completely sealed the entrance.

However, these were ineffective against Hei Fu.

It flashed through the defense line, flying directly to the deepest part of the interior.

Only then did the sharp alarm sound.

Through the crystal planes, Zhou Yi saw a large army of puppets gathering and emerging, holding guns and cannons, running out from various bunkers in the mountain wall, aiming at Hei Fu.

"Don't misunderstand, we're on the same side."

Zhou Yi stepped out from within Hei Fu.

Under the protection of the puppet army, Duke Destructive emerged.

Its vividly painted eyes stared straight at Hei Fu: "This energy reaction… has it achieved the Light Core Body stage?"

Zhou Yi nodded: "Hei Fu just advanced and awakened, so I brought it along to familiarize it with the routes."

"I see."

Duke Destructive's tone was calm.

It seemed to have come to accept the company's unconventional growth speed.

In Zhou Yi's mind, he thought, this Heavenly Country Governor has seen it all. They are different from the rest.

"The Light Core Giant you reserved is inside."

Duke Destructive led the way.

Following its footsteps, Zhou Yi turned a corner, and a massive heap of azure gemstones appeared ahead.

The Light Core Giant was within this mountain.

But it looked different from what Zhou Yi remembered.

Zhou Yi frowned at the nearby puppet: "What happened to it?"

The giant before them had both legs fallen off its body, and its right arm was broken into large and small segments. It leaned against the rock wall, motionless, looking like it had been dismantled into pieces.

Some puppets were busy around it, applying some sort of transparent oil to the gemstone fragments, seemingly conducting maintenance work.

"After arriving here, parts of its body began to disintegrate."

Duke Destructive pointed to a large enhanced controller screen nearby: "I recorded the entire process, you can watch the surveillance footage."

Zhou Yi looked up.

On the screen, the Light Core Giant expanded from a black dot. It looked around, raised its twelve-fingered right hand and gave a thumbs-up.

Then it froze for a moment.

Afterwards it started to do the moonwalk.

After a while, its right leg detached, sliding all over the ground, the giant laying prone and flailing. Then its arm broke…

Before long, it completely stopped moving.

Zhou Yi felt a pang of compassion.

It seemed that crafting a Light Core Giant required special techniques. Otherwise, if something like this had been dropped initially, it would not have caused panic everywhere.

But it did not matter.

The key was getting the Gem Cells from the Heavenly Person Graveyard.

"Thank you for your hard work."

"It's my duty." Duke Destructive's eyes focused on the giant's broken body: "But this broken Light Core Giant, can it really be of any use?"

"We won't know without trying."

Zhou Yi stepped up to examine the giant's body.

It was just structurally disjointed, with minimal damage to the Gem Cells.

If the Light Core Giants crafted by the Heavenly People were directive, simplistic tool lifeforms, then what he had crafted was probably a cluster of cells barely forming a semblance of a structure.

It barely moved before breaking down.

However, it was easier to transport.

Zhou Yi looked at Duke Destructive: "Other than checking the Light Core Giant's condition, I have come specifically to find you."

"With your comprehensive strategic vision and managerial ability, you are likely the most capable in the Development Alliance."

"I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it's feasible, so I want to seek your opinion."

Duke Destructive solemnly replied: "Please speak."

"I plan to seriously advance the Mars project."

Zhou Yi said: "Mars has two advantages. Firstly, there are no competitors, only my company and Star Axis working together. The Legal Front is investing but hasn't sent any personnel, remaining very cautious and observant."

"Over there, we have Bing Hu and Mao Da Li managing the mining operations, but neither specializes in administration. The company's Working Electric Cats, the electric cats freed from Spark Plain, the local Mars Electric Cats, and negotiations with the Star Axis at the base all need someone to coordinate and drive the initiatives."

"We need someone on Mars to lead the company's foundational construction and operations, laying the groundwork for the Development Alliance's future entry."

"This person must have extensive leadership experience, be unafraid of Mars's harsh environment, not be of flesh and blood, possess sharp wits, and be highly adaptive."

"Most importantly, this individual must be capable of strategic planning to secure our interests and assets on Mars in the long term."

Zhou Yi looked at Duke Destructive: "In my view, you are the most suitable candidate…"

"Alright, I'll go."

Duke Destructive agreed without hesitation.

Zhou Yi was taken aback.

He thought Duke Destructive would likely refuse. Not to mention the high-risk and uncertain conditions on Mars, Duke Destructive's base was in Shuanghe. They had just begun developing Shuanghe Region, which still promised vast growth potential.

Originally, his statement was merely an opening line.

In my view, you are the most suitable… Following it was supposed to be.

——But you probably can't spare the time, could you suggest someone from our current personnel for the position?

However, the other party interrupted Zhou Yi's language spell and claimed the role outright.

This left him a bit confounded.

After a brief moment, Zhou Yi regained his composure.

All things considered, it was a good development.

Duke Destructive was a man of his word, and his skills were beyond question.

Zhou Yi asked: "What about Shuanghe…"

"My focus had been on the Outer Sea, but the environment there is overly complex. Several attempts to purchase islands for development have been thwarted by atmospheric creature attacks. Regardless of the reason, they all failed."

Duke Destructive said: "Therefore, I've been seeking a new direction. Shuanghe Region is generally stable, with the newly added Du Mountain Area. Regular management from Bai Xing and Lin Qin should suffice."

"Mars, however, interests me greatly. If we can establish fundamental rules there quickly, both the company and the alliance can secure an advantageous position. In the long term, Mars's potential and profitability will far surpass our current endeavors."

"However, I lack the capability to traverse a Space Hole, so I'll need your help to get there."

"Of course, I will have Hei Fu take you."

A seemingly troublesome matter for Zhou Yi was thus unexpectedly resolved with ease.

...

Over the next two days, Hei Fu started traversing swiftly through the Dead Sea, transporting the disassembled parts of the Light Core Giant back to Jade City.

Acquiring these Gem Cells delighted 703.

"I was merely hopeful… Chairman, you are amazing! You managed to get these!!!"

The robot dog was so excited it raised its front paws and walked around Zhou Yi upright.

"Now we truly have a chance to complete the "Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad" mode!"

"I'll get in touch with Lao Zi right away!"

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