Wasteland Development Diary

Ding.

The elevator doors slid open to both sides, stopping at the 31st floor.

Zhou Yi, followed by a line of people, walked out.

Now, the 31st floor had become the rooftop of Jade City. However, at his request as a committee member, Jade City had cleared the area. Debris and soil had been blown away, leaving only a few stubborn patches of moss clinging on, giving it the appearance of some kind of ecological architecture.

The top floor had only two houses facing each other, with an elevator next to them that didn't even have a ceiling.

The tall building was dilapidated.

But Zhou Yi was not worried.

Jade City had shared its structural integrity with him.

"…The damage exceeds 31%, but overall operation is within normal ranges without risk of collapse or disintegration."

"The current charge is 3.32%. Reaching a safety margin of 10% will allow the use of natural materials for structural renovation."

It needed a large amount of metal, various inorganic substances, or natural building materials for repairs and reconstruction, and it would be even better if these were readily available.

Zhou Yi planned to get Jade City somewhat settled and ensure the company's employees had a basic understanding of it, then re-enter the Dead Sea to search for building materials.

At the sea floor sealed by the Death Light, there was no shortage of steel and concrete.

Zhou Yi arrived at the rusty, anti-theft door of Apartment 3101.

The door creaked slowly open.

The interior was spacious; the furniture and flooring had long since rotted and were cleared away, leaving behind a standard bare room of 122 square meters, with three bedrooms and a living room, the main structure intact.

The room had excellent natural light and visibility. The walls and ceiling emitted a soft, non-glaring white light — naturally provided by Jade City.

As Zhou Yi had requested, the room could instantly switch to soft lighting, with both cold and warm light settings available.

Since Jade City had developed a sense of self-awareness, this was the first time it had welcomed an owner.

It hadn't charged for utilities, which instead made Zhou Yi concerned.

He didn't want to see this living building overexert itself and encounter problems. After all, sustainable development was key. A free ride might feel good momentarily, but Jade City was now one of their own, and if the building fell, everything would be lost.

"Can your energy reserves handle it?"

"Please rest assured, the energy conversion rate inside the structure is very high, with minimal loss. Lighting consumption is almost negligible."

Jade City stated it could absorb Dead Light Energy from nature during the day, which was sufficient for these needs.

Seeing the brightly lit interior, the young man Ajin looked around curiously, "Where are the lights in here? Why is it so bright? Is it all made from rhombic stones?"

He wanted to touch the walls but hesitated.

Gong Zheng had a contemplative look on his face, "So this is what it's like inside a Dead Sea Alien. It's not that you get devoured and digested upon entering; you can actually reside and persist within its body..."

He asked, "Chairman, will Jade City continue to move around?"

Zhou Yi said, "Unless there's a special circumstance, it will remain stationary for a long time."

"That's fantastic!"

Gong Zheng suddenly became excited, "I think we should move all company supplies here."

"Before, Ajin and I were quite concerned because of the presence of sand rats here. They're a common small animal, but they're extremely adept at burrowing and stealing. The people in Mao Valley Town have all been stolen from by them — mushrooms, twigs, soft leaves, and even fecal matter, they steal it all."

"They're quite cunning, always stealing just a little at a time, making it hard to notice. With Jade City here, they won't be able to climb up, and it will have a significant deterrent effect on those raiders outside as well."

Zhou Yi fell silent.

The true value of Jade City wasn't for such trivial matters.

But then he thought about it.

Yes.

Now that they had Jade City — a building life-form capable of offense and defense, equipped with charging and identification abilities — it should be fully utilized.

He first communicated with Jade City.

Jade City expressed concern about the safety risks of unauthorized construction. Zhou Yi felt that since it was the corridor of the 31st floor, a public area, stacking containers there wouldn't pose a safety hazard.

Finally, Zhou Yi proposed setting up a renovation fund, including finances for 10 Light Seeds and various raw materials, taking a co-renovation approach, reutilizing the abandoned areas, and ultimately reached an agreement with Jade City.

"Gong Zheng, your suggestion is excellent. But we need to go a step further and move the company directly here, to work on the rooftop next to my room. Later, you and Ajin will take care of this. I'll have Jade City help you transport the containerized main structures. For the smaller items, you'll need to bring them up in batches through the elevator."

Zhou Yi's words left the two employees both shocked and delighted.

Ajin immediately beamed with joy, "I never imagined I could live in such a high place! No more fears of monsters attacking, the Chairman is truly powerful!"

Gong Zheng had to rein in a great deal, struggling to suppress the corners of his mouth rising and his slightly trembling hands. Taking a deep breath, he said, "The chairman is wise."

Zhou Yi heard a hoarse voice.

"Mr. Zhou, may I boldly ask what exactly you intend to do?"

The speaker was Cui Mao.

This Knight, with his right hand in a bandage, had a somewhat solemn expression on his face.

"Although I can't discern your true identity and origins, having a guard squad composed of samurai crabs and even being able to tame and subdue the Dead Sea Alien, claiming you're here to develop farmland and build houses—it truly sounds unbelievable."

The Tianjin Knight paused, "You aim to conquer all the nearby towns, don't you?"

Zhou Yi's face looked strange, "Then tell me, what could I possibly gain?"

"Of course, various resources and wealth, as well as a significant labor force..."

Mid-sentence, Cui Mao suddenly fell silent.

Zhou Yi said softly, "You've realized it yourself, haven't you? The towns you're talking about—I have no issue or target against them; it's just the reality that they are too backward."

"As far as I know, the only city nearby is Sand Port."

"Sand Port still operates by hiding by day and emerging at night, forbidding ordinary people from leaving their homes during daylight, and regularly paying tribute resources to the sea lord over there to protect the city."

Zhou Yi looked at this injured enhancer and smiled, "Even so, Guangna Species creatures still roam within the city, destroying houses and causing casualties. You Knights are only able to expel or capture them, not daring to kill them directly because Guangna Species are considered superior."

"I have no interest in such a place."

This was all what Zhou Yi had heard from Gong Zheng.

Sand Port's productivity, infrastructure, and population far surpassed Mao Valley Town, but it was still a city colonized by monsters.

Raiders regularly robbed Mao Valley Town, and the sea lord ordered tributes from Sand Port—essentially, there was no difference.

Cui Mao looked somewhat embarrassed.

"I apologize, I'm quite forthright. I understand, Sand Port is just an ordinary mid-sized city; they must first think about survival before considering anything else. They don't have many choices."

Zhou Yi stood by the window and pointed outside, "That's why our company is planning to start transforming from here, creating a different lifestyle."

"Using so much land just for soaking up the Sun, that's too much of a waste."

Cui Mao seemed to have something to say, but in the end, he just nodded, "The situation here is astounding; I must return to Sand Port to make a detailed report. If you need to find me, just come to the city defense of Sand Port or find any Knight or knight guard; they can all locate me."

"Safe journey."

...

Outside the Mushroom Forest.

Atop a hill.

Sun Chonglai put down the antique Stretching telescope he held in his hands.

He pinched his own cervical vertebrae with his finger bones.

A Black Hand Mushroom rushed over in a hurry and said, "Lord, Lord, it's terrible! The chairman of that company really tamed the Dead Sea Alien! The Alien stopped moving as soon as it approached him, letting him enter and exit its body at will!"

"The Alien even illuminated the top-floor cave room especially for him!"

"Maybe that Alien really is under his command..."

The Black Hand Mushrooms murmured among themselves, their voices filled with unease and worry.

"Are we going to be attacked by them?"

"It's hard to say; maybe that chairman is petty... I've heard the higher a human stands, the pettier they are; he's just pretending to be magnanimous, then seeking crazy revenge in private."

"What a pity all our explosive mushrooms are almost fully consumed; we simply can't withstand the Alien, sigh."

"We should surrender, let's just surrender!"

"Shut up, you defeatist, are you asking to be hit?"

The Bone Man Sun Chonglai slowly spoke, "Everyone, there's no need to rush and worry."

As the Lord spoke, the Mushroom People instantly fell silent.

"That chairman himself suggested cooperation, or he could have initiated war at that time. We undertook a costly experiment and failed, but I don't think it was the wrong decision."

"In terms of power, he far surpasses us, but since the work involves farming and planting, that's actually the Mushroom Forest's expertise."

"As long as we show enough sincerity and technology, we can impress him; ability and value are key to ensuring stable survival..."

"Wait for my message."

The Bone Man adjusted his red scarf and tugged at his tattered coat before walking toward the brightly lit high-rise in the distance.