The airship slowly docked at the western airport of Sand Port.

It wasn't long.

Passengers of all kinds poured through the passageway.

A young boy with a backpack deftly maneuvered through the crowd on an electric scooter.

A nearby young man in work attire stopped him.

"Hey, kid, don't use vehicles here, and don't walk alone. Watch out for scammers and human traffickers. Where are your parents?"

Jue Mingzi glanced at the work badge.

[Civil Aviation Department - Law Enforcement Officer - Lin Long]

He was a company employee.

This law enforcement officer seemed to recall something and repeated in the Western Continent's common language, "Is this your first time here? Are you with parents or relatives?"

Jue Mingzi cupped his hands in a bow, "Thank you for your concern. I'm waiting for someone; someone is coming to pick me up."

The young boy's voice was clear and steady, unlike a mischievous little monkey running around.

For safety's sake.

Lin Long still said, "Who is picking you up? I can take you there."

Jue Mingzi had to say, "Do you know Bei Ta?"

"Eh? Are you his friend or relative?"

The other party joked self-deprecatingly, "Of course, I know him, one of the three young prodigies of the company. But I know him; he doesn't know me... Where did you agree to meet?"

"He said to wait for me at platform number 2 outside."

"Then I'll take you there. This vehicle of yours is quite fashionable, seems like you're from a well-off family..."

Jue Mingzi said, "It is my partner, inseparable from me."

It followed behind the other, slowly riding the electric scooter: "Mr. Lin, is there a lot of attention to child safety here? Sand Port is the headquarters of the Wasteland Development Company; I guess nobody would dare to cause trouble here, right?"

"Human traffickers disappeared two years ago."

Lin Long told him, "The company is transforming Sand Port into a regional exchange and education center, considering safety and convenience for kids in all aspects."

"Traffic signs have been uniformly replaced, vehicles are required to yield to pedestrians, surveillance cameras fully cover Sand Port, Mushroom Forest Primary School is also expanding enrollment, and teachers are being recruited..."

"This is a crucial direction for the company."

"The task in recent years is education and communication."

"Our Civil Aviation Department has also enhanced its services, requiring special attention to children in airports, ensuring they don't get lost or encounter danger..."

Jue Mingzi said, "The service is so meticulous; no other place offers such attentive help."

"We are the Wasteland Development Company, after all."

Lin Long said as a matter of course.

When they arrived at the platform, Jue Mingzi saw a teenage boy already waiting.

After more than a year, Bei Ta had grown taller, his hair neatly trimmed, and his face had lost some of its childishness. His right arm was still a metal prosthetic, carrying a backpack, looking very energetic.

Lin Long left to return to work after dropping them off.

"Long time no see, Master Jue Mingzi." Bei Ta clasped his hands.

"Long time no see, Bei Ta."

Jue Mingzi returned the gesture.

A mechanical voice also came from its electric scooter, "Hello, Bei Ta."

"Hello, Master Hui Mao."

This was Jue Mingzi's personal disciple.

Bei Ta asked, "Both of you must be tired from the journey; would you like to rest first?"

"No need."

"Please tell me about the company's foundation strengthening plan first."

Jue Mingzi was here for this purpose.

"Then... please get on board, this is the company's latest vehicle, the Young Black Thorn. We'll talk while traveling."

Bei Ta pointed to the spiky large sea urchin behind him, and they boarded with Jue Mingzi and Hui Mao.

The black biological vehicle elevated and flew toward Yalong Bay.

Jue Mingzi gazed around inside.

Although the vehicle wasn't spacious, its sealability and safety were excellent, with no signal reception or transmission possible.

It was somewhat curious, "A vehicle with an integrated confidentiality function, I heard this was Mr. Zhou's personal ride, is it now widespread?"

"Not yet, gradually being rolled out."

"This is just a Young Black Thorn, not a complete Black Thorn, with only some functions, much weaker. Mine is only C-grade, but as a Dead Sea vehicle, it's already quite good."

"The one transporting the chairman, Hei Fu, that's Light Core Level... the difference is significant."

"We've digressed a bit; let's return to the main topic."

Bei Ta said, "Regarding this matter, it dates back to a month ago when Shu Yumei, a naturalist from the company's Mud Tree Civilization Department, developed and transformed the Transformation Fruit using covert technology."

"Do you know about the Transformation Fruit?"

Jue Mingzi nodded, "I've heard of it. It can temporarily trigger special abilities in the human body, turning them into an enhancer. Experiments were even conducted in Snow County, but the effects were found unstable and short-lived, rendering it without pharmaceutical value."

Bei Ta said enthusiastically, "Exactly that. Teacher Shu Yumei transformed it to be long-lasting, now assisting the foundation strengthening plan, enabling company employees to become enhancers more swiftly."

"How long can it last?"

Jue Mingzi asked.

"According to data from Mud Tree Civilization, it lasts 140 years, though due to the lower environmental energy density here, after repeated identification and tests, Teacher Shu Yumei confirmed it can still sustain at least 50 years."

"Pioneer naturalists among the Mud Tree People had specialized in this aspect, using modified Transformation Fruits to grant specific abilities after consumption."

The teenager said softly, "However, this was replaced once companion plants matured."

"Because companion plants are more versatile, customizable into desired types, and their intensity can directly reach A-grade, usable by everyone. The adventure vine, for instance, integrates multiple abilities, whereas the Transformation Fruit could only grant one unique ability, which conflicts with others."

Jue Mingzi remarked, "The Mud Tree Civilization's developments in plant technology are truly astonishing."

"Every group has its specialties."

"The manufacture and efficiency of mechanical life are also exceptionally strong."

Bei Ta continued, "However, once Teacher Shu Yumei began developing, she couldn't stop... originally, covert technology was closely guarded within the company."

"Since you are the first Great Monk formally joining the Guanghan Palace and participating in our internal testing project, I am authorized by the chairman to tell you this."

Jue Mingzi said, "Please don't call me a Great Monk; I am no longer a monk."

Regarding this matter.

Monks do not join any organization, ensuring their practice remains neutral, a foundational principle that gains recognition and support from mechanical life.

From the earliest settlements to resisting the Heavenly People War and the present-day iterative common agreements with the Legal Front, monks have always maintained this stance.

Yet, Jue Mingzi made a decision contrary to tradition.

It chose to join Moon City's Guanghan Palace, formally serving as a city consultant there.

Many monks raised doubts and concerns about this decision.

Several Great Monks clearly expressed strong opposition and questioned Jue Mingzi, believing it undermines the monks' emergence rituals, risking a significant hit to the group's credibility and professional spirit.

Jue Mingzi publicly announced.

It officially renounced the monk profession, entering Guanghan Palace as a new identity, the Mechanical Taoist, as a free mechanical life.

"Your decision indeed caused quite a stir externally."

Bei Ta's smile held a hint of helplessness, "There are rumors that we forced you to retire into our company systems. To set an example for other Great Monks… such nonsensical talk."

"I apologize for causing you so much trouble."

Jue Mingzi bowed.

"I just believe that adhering strictly to old customs is no longer beneficial for the advancement of mechanical life."

It said openly, "My research focuses on reincarnation technology. After many reincarnations, I've visited 170 cities and witnessed the real lives of various inhabitants."

"The environment significantly impacts individuals. If we wish for mechanical life to revitalize, we should attempt to incrementally change the mechanical social environment."

"We have long been reactive, transforming only when disasters or challenges compel change."

"The mechanical monks themselves, however, haven't changed for years."

"Change brings vitality and hope."

"Thus, this will be a genuine reincarnation for me, starting a new life as a dedicated cultivator. In my view, cultivators represent the future of mechanical life."

"The chairman also mentioned what you spoke of!"

Bei Ta laughed, "Master Jue Mingzi indeed, just like the chairman, you have foresight. You even pioneered the professional cultivator career, a previously unheard-of profession, the Mechanical Taoist."

"Only a clumsy imitation of old humanity."

Jue Mingzi said modestly, "Old humanity sought the meaning of existence through cultivation, learning to merge with the environment, a lesson mechanical life today should emulate and learn from."

"Mechanical Taoists, cultivation is not only about seeking self-improvement but also about finding the meaning of one's existence. In the long run, the latter is more important than the former."

As they chatted, the Young Black Thorn gradually docked at the laboratory garage in the Dead Sea.

"Yet I never anticipated."

Jue Mingzi said, "You've managed to decipher mechanical life… creating a brand new mechanical life evolution technology, truly incredible."

"This is the covert technology, Qing Liu's [Life Decryption]."

Speaking of this, Bei Ta also displayed a proud smile.

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