9: series of tasks

“Yes, Host, the System Mall, everything marked as a finished product, is an item manufactured by the System and can be used immediately upon exchange.”

“Oh…”

Lin Yang's eyes immediately flickered as he considered whether to exchange it directly.

After all, this was a finished 0.1 nanometer photolithography machine!

Netherlands's latest photolithography machine was only three nanometers, and this had almost reached the limit of current technology, making it difficult to make further progress.

If the 0.1 nanometer photolithography machine were exchanged directly, the various technological blockades that shang xia wen (chinese) currently faced due to photolithography machines would not only be resolved, but it would also achieve a significant lead!

However, the System seemed to know what he was thinking and suddenly took the initiative to say, “Host, the System recommends that you do not waste achievement points exchanging for the finished photolithography machine. achievement points are extremely precious. The Host can exchange for the photolithography machine manufacturing book in the national treasure value mall and guide shang xia wen (chinese) technical personnel to build it themselves.”

“Oh? Why is that?” Lin Yang frowned slightly.

“To answer the Host, any technical means that can help shang xia wen (chinese) improve can earn a certain number of national treasure value, but directly exchanging for finished System items and providing them to shang xia wen (chinese) will not earn national treasure value.”

“Therefore, the System recommends that the Host minimize the exchange of finished items and prioritize technical manufacturing blueprints. For every corresponding item shang xia wen (chinese) technical personnel successfully build using the technical blueprints, the Host will receive national treasure value rewards.”

The System's words made Lin Yang raise an eyebrow: “Are you implying that it's better to teach someone to fish than to give them a fish?”

“The Host can understand it that way.”

“Then why are there finished products available?”

“The essence of finished products is for emergency use. Therefore, the points required for all finished products will be far greater than for the blueprint versions.”

Lin Yang somewhat understood. The System wanted shang xia wen (chinese) to master the manufacturing technology, rather than just directly enjoying the benefits.

This was a good System!

Then Lin Yang thought of a question: “System, since there is more advanced photolithography machine technology in the mall, why was your first mission to have me steal the photolithography machine manufacturing book from Netherlands? If I had brought cultural relics back to the country first, couldn't I have directly exchanged for the 0.1 nanometer photolithography machine manufacturing book?”

“To answer the Host, first, everything the System does is based on the premise of allowing the Host to earn more national treasure value. If the cultural relic series missions were completed first, and the Host directly exchanged for the 0.1 nanometer photolithography machine technology, he would lose the opportunity to receive the reward for completing the mission to obtain Netherlands's photolithography machine manufacturing book.”

“Because in the System's settings, once a more advanced technical item is obtained, obtaining a lower-level technical product of the same series will no longer yield national treasure value rewards.”

“Secondly, the raw materials for manufacturing photolithography machines are relatively valuable. The System considered that shang xia wen (chinese) technical personnel have a certain technical delay in this regard, so practicing with ordinary photolithography machines first can minimize losses.”

Lin Yang's eyes widened: “It's that humane?”

This System was a bit heaven-defying!

It sounded as if it was guiding shang xia wen (chinese) step by step from low-level technology to high-level technology.

It even thought of practicing with low-level products first.

Immediately, Lin Yang followed up with a question: “System, according to what you said, does that mean I can always exchange for lower-level technologies for them to practice with first, earn a wave of national treasure value, and then bring out more advanced technologies?”

“To answer the Host, theoretically, yes.”

“Theoretically, yes?”

“To answer the Host, in the actual operation process, it depends on whether the Host's national treasure value is sufficient to support the exchange of different levels of technical products within the same technology series.”

“What does that mean?”

“To answer the Host, for some high-level technological civilization products that far exceed Blue Star's current civilization, the difference in national treasure value required for exchanging between low-level and high-level technologies within the same series is not very large, and the national treasure value required for exchange is relatively high. If you exchange for low-level technology first and then high-level technology, it may result in a significant waste of national treasure value.”

“Uh… alright.”

Lin Yang blinked, somewhat understanding the System's meaning.

It seemed this 'wool' could only be 'sheared' in the early stages.

“But if that's the case, isn't this setting a bit useless?” Lin Yang couldn't help but mutter.

“To answer the Host, all settings of the System have their significance. If the Host obtains a low-level technology on his own, he can save a large amount of national treasure value and directly exchange for high-level technology. Providing the low-level technology obtained by the Host himself to shang xia wen (chinese) will also yield national treasure value rewards.”

“Alright.” Lin Yang rubbed his forehead. The System's settings, for now, seemed to have no major loopholes or useless aspects.

Finally, he asked a crucial question: “System, you just said that the return of cultural relics is a series mission. Is it the kind of series mission that can be completed multiple times, as I understand it?”

“Yes, Host, shang xia wen (chinese) cultural relics are scattered worldwide. Each time a shang xia wen (chinese) cultural relic is brought back, it counts as part of the series mission.”

“Oh, by the number of times? Not by the number of items?” Lin Yang asked keenly.

“Yes, Host, no matter how many cultural relics are brought back at once, it only counts as completing one mission and earning one achievement point.”

“Ah, this… why didn't you say so earlier!”

Lin Yang immediately felt like he missed out on a hundred million!

There were tens of thousands of shang xia wen (chinese) cultural relics in the Little Eagle Sauce Museum. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have let the System package and transport all the cultural relics from the museum back to the country at once.

He could have transported them in multiple batches and 'sheared' the System's achievement points!

Currently, his national treasure value was 120 points, but his achievement points were only one…

Pain!

It was too painful!

“To answer the Host, for cultural relic series missions, the standard is by region. No matter how many cultural relics are obtained in a certain area, and no matter how many times they are transported back, it only counts as completing one mission.”

“Huh?”

Lin Yang was in pain, but suddenly became speechless.

The System was truly ruthless!

It directly blocked all loopholes for 'shearing wool'!

However, the next second, Lin Yang didn't bother to complain and quickly asked: “How is this region divided? By country or by province/city?”

“Also, if this is the setting, wouldn't it mean that you could just find any cultural relic in each region to deal with it and be done?”

Based on the System's current performance, it was definitely a patriotic System, but this setting made Lin Yang a bit confused.

It seemed to imply that it could be dealt with casually.

However, the System's words quickly dispelled his idea.

“To answer the Host, regions are divided by city-level areas, into three levels. City-level areas are Level 3 regions, province-level areas are Level 2 regions, and national-level areas are Level 1 regions.”

“Secondly, although each region only counts as one mission based on the regional division, if all lost shang xia wen (chinese) cultural relics within that region are collected, an additional achievement point reward will be received.”

“For every Level 3 region cultural relic collection mission the Host completes, he will receive a Level 3 additional reward. For every Level 2 region cultural relic collection completed, in addition to all Level 3 additional rewards from all Level 3 regions within that Level 2 region, he will also receive an additional Level 2 reward and a special lottery chance.”

“Please note, if all cultural relic collection missions within a national-level Level 1 region are completed, a mysterious exclusive grand prize can also be obtained!”

“…”