Time passed.

Quickly, it was the end of the year, and Black Emperor II had been staying for nearly three months.

In the second month, he found Zhou Yi had a drastically different approach, which he could not emulate. So in the latter half of the month, he changed his strategy again and started focusing on the company's cultivation of backup forces.

Black Emperor II particularly focused on the company's special employees.

Mainly the samurai crabs and bone fish groups.

Samurai crabs are the earliest and most loyal force of the company, not only a symbol of the Wasteland Development Company, but they also continuously evolve.

Black Emperor II said to Zhou Yi, "I know samurai crabs can evolve, but no other places have developed the path of Weapon Masters. It seems you've intervened artificially, directing cultivation towards intelligence..."

"Is it possible that other Guangna Species can also be meticulously cultivated from a young age to play roles in specific fields?"

This topic happens to be Zhou Yi's forte and area of interest.

"It's actually not directed cultivation."

Zhou Yi corrected, "Environmental changes indeed have a significant impact, but the core is still its inherent compatibility."

"Samurai crabs growing into Double Swordsmen, Hammerhead Soldiers, and Weapon Masters is because individuals have different innate talents. Some focus on strength and resilience, some on agility and speed, and others on intellect."

"By providing an environment conducive to their strengths, they will continue to refine along that direction until they undergo qualitative change."

Black Emperor II, in deep thought, said, "I see. This seems consistent with your company's strategy, placing different individuals in suitable positions and environments based on their talents and inclinations."

"That's exactly right. It's actually very simple."

Zhou Yi nodded.

"Then again, resources need to be invested. For instance, with samurai crabs, if you let them grow and evolve naturally, only the top 0.01% with extreme talent, one in ten thousand geniuses, can quickly mature without external help. But most are ordinary beings needing an appropriate environment and subsequent resource investment to break their current state."

He shared his cultivation experience: "One important nutrient supplement is the Wise Mushroom. Additionally, in Building 6's Samurai Crab Apartment, there's a full gym suite so they can train along different paths based on their strengths. Progress should be rewarded to accelerate their growth and initiative."

Initially, the company only had a few Weapon Masters, but by the seventh year, the Weapon Master group had grown to over a hundred. Most have joined the Scavenger Team, led by Xie Xun, to explore and excavate different regions.

It's also because the cultivation process has become increasingly mature.

Black Emperor II then asked, "For these Weapon Masters, do you intend to keep them as Dead Sea scavengers?"

"Of course not."

Zhou Yi explained, "Don't be fooled by their clumsy appearance. In fact, the Weapon Master group has a highly developed brain. The brain capacity of an average person is about 1300-1500ml, while that of a Weapon Master is 1200-1600ml, almost on par."

"Moreover, due to physiological advantages, they are inherently skilled in using and modifying various tools, and are brave and skilled in combat. This is also a characteristic of the Weapon Master branch."

"We are currently developing modified crab-style wasteland armor for gradual implementation on them."

Black Emperor II said solemnly, "So you have them form Scavenger Teams as preparation and practice for future Mars ventures."

"That's purely coincidental… However, practicing basic skills can be useful in the future, for who knows when they might come in handy."

Zhou Yi waved it off, "The company's Scavenger Team has years of scavenging and excavation experience, so deploying them for extraterrestrial excavations is fitting."

Black Emperor then asked, "And the bone fish? What is the company's aim in cultivating bone fish?"

"Originally, it was for fish farming. I wanted to develop a bone fish industry, but later discovered they were impressive in the courier industry, bringing substantial initial profits to the company."

"Since they're company employees, they should be equally nurtured."

Zhou Yi was candid, "Later, my thoughts changed. Bone fish are the most populous Guangna Species in this world, similar to how ordinary humans are among terrestrial beings."

"So if the issue with bone fish can be solved, allowing them to retain memory and experience long-term without deterioration due to their fragile bodies, they'll cease to be seen as the weakest Guangna Species in terms of resilience, but as a strong force capable of changing the world."

Black Emperor II muttered, "So you've been cultivating bone fish until they can be sent into the sky to transport and maintain satellites... did you foresee even this step?"

"What a joke, how could that be."

Zhou Yi chuckled, "It's just that if you don't attempt many things, there's absolutely no opportunity. But if you try, perhaps there will be such a turnaround in the future."

"Starting from the present, these years have confirmed that the company's cultivation of bone fish is necessary, and our methods are effective."

"Thus, the subsequent growth rate of the company's bone fish is rapid, as they have Light Shoot Muscle Suits to protect their bones from damage and prevent memory lapses. Although their intelligence isn't high, they can gradually become smarter as they continue to grow."

"Especially within a structured group, bone fish only need to learn the portion we teach them to be competent in their roles."

Talking about this, Zhou Yi couldn't help but ask, "You control the Heavenly Kingdom, are you familiar with bone fish? Besides evolving into Bone Horseshoe Crabs and Bone Stings, which are two D-class directions, there's a branch that drills into the underground of the Dead Sea. Do you know it?"

Black Emperor II frowned, "Common bone fish follow these two directions. Bone Sting has a soft, reconfigurable structure capable of long-distance flight, with the next step being evolved into a Hunter."

"Bone Horseshoe Crabs dart and swim in the Dead Sea, with their next step being the evolution to Bone Whales. Most Bone Whales dwell in the true depths of the ocean, rarely leaving the high-pressure zones, usually slumbering in a state akin to the Bone Great Barrier Reef."

"Even the so-called Rocket Bone Fish, I only heard of it upon arriving here."

He organized his thoughts while speaking, "Bone fish themselves are a foundational species with many branches. However, it's challenging to fully understand their branches and growth routes."

The Alchemist Association's Dead Sea Atlas records some, but I remember the latest full record doesn't document the underground-penetrating bone fish branch. The deep underground of the Dead Sea remains a surveying restricted area due to high precision equipment requirements.

Zhou Yi was a bit disappointed.

The areas where underground bone fish appear in the mantle, even according to the thinnest oceanic measurements, are 5-10 kilometers from the underground to the sea floor. Beyond 10,000 meters, indeed, little is known.

Black Emperor II changed the topic, "However, the Biology Department of the Heavenly Country Military Academy has an old professor named Wei Ming, who's specialized in studying bone fish ecology for nearly a century, an authority in this field."

"I'll contact him when I return to see if he can help you somewhat."

Zhou Yi was elated, "Thank you so much then."

After all, the vast Heavenly Kingdom does have numerous talents in rare fields.

Black Emperor II said sternly, "Mr. Zhou, the Heavenly Kingdom has accumulated a lot of affairs needing my attention, so I'll take my leave today."

Zhou Yi advised, "If not urgently, I suggest leaving after midnight, post 12 AM."

The other party was puzzled, "What is this?"

"For this New Year's celebration, our company prepared a new program. If Your Majesty stays here, you'll have the best view."

The Black Emperor II hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded.

…

The winter night's sky was dark and the wind was cold.

However, because it was New Year's Eve, the Jade City area was brightly lit up, with all departments having gatherings and celebrations.

This time, Zhou Yi did not organize a year-end meeting for department heads, but instead, he congratulated and acknowledged everyone's achievements and efforts over the past year and distributed the year-end bonuses.

Jade City First Building, on the rooftop terrace.

Zhou Yi glanced at the Black Water Ghost on his left wrist.

The New Year countdown began.

Every projection wall of the Jade Tower lit up with countdown numbers.

The sound of everyone downstairs loudly shouting could be heard.

"10, 9, 8..."

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"Happy New Year!"

With the final cheer, words and directional arrows in East and West continental languages appeared on the projection wall.

[Look Up.]

The crowd downstairs raised their heads one by one.

The originally pitch-black sky was suddenly illuminated.

A golden sun blossomed in the sky, releasing beams of light from its surface, like a child's simple drawing.

After the initial strong light quickly contracted, it gradually transformed into the shape of a samurai crab.

This Sun Samurai Crab roamed back and forth in the night sky, waving its pincers to greet the company's employees and residents on the ground.

On the projection wall of Jade City, the cat-eared host Biting Cat appeared.

She said with a beaming smile, "Happy New Year, everyone! This is a New Year gift from our chairman to all of you!"

"It is an artificial sun created by our company! This sun will serve everyone, and we hope you all will like it!"

After a brief silence, a high-pitched cheer erupted from the crowd on the ground.

"Chairman! Chairman!"

"Sun! Samurai Crab Sun!"

"The chairman is incredible!"

"Company! Invincible!"

…

Zhou Yi smiled and looked at the Black Emperor II beside him, "So, was it worth the extra hours of waiting?"

The Heavenly Emperor stared intensely at the artificial sun in the sky.

The heaviness and shock in his eyes slowly turned into a certain bitterness and complexity.

"Very worth it… Today has truly opened my eyes."

"This is a super project crafted with Heavenly People Gem, with strength reaching Light Core Body… It truly is a genuine small sun, even the Death Light is exactly the same..."

"I indeed am not as good as you."

The Black Emperor II turned his head and asked, "What do you plan to use this artificial sun for?"

"Of course, to transform the Dead Sea."

Zhou Yi said, "Since it's hard to change the Dead Sea from within, we'll address it from outside at the source. We'll create a sun, and then use this sun to alter the flow of the local Dead Sea."

…

The Empire's official plane traversed above the clouds.

The Black Emperor II sat by the window seat.

Through the glass window, he could clearly see the artificial sun of the Wasteland Development Company in higher skies. At this moment, it was retracting its light, with only a faint, cool halo on its surface, more resembling another moon.

Inside this artificial celestial body, however, there was a clear samurai crab emblem.

The Black Emperor II looked somewhat dazed.

The Minister of Commerce next to him whispered, "Your Majesty, this sun... will there be any impact on the Heavenly Kingdom?"

The Black Emperor II shook his head, "It's actually beneficial for us. It signifies that Zhou Yi's transformation of the Dead Sea has officially begun, and as the producer of company's Consciousness Nerve material, our cooperation with them will become even closer. I am discussing specific matters in this regard with him."

The minister's face immediately lit up with joy, "That's excellent! Your Majesty is wise!"

The Black Emperor II thought with a bit of melancholy.

Catching up to Zhou Yi seems overly challenging.

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