3: His first pot of gold shocked the entire district!

spaceship Hall.

The faint scent of wheat still lingered in the air.

Gu Pingsheng sat on the only chair—the Captain's chair, somewhat worn but still representing the highest authority.

His gaze swept over the thirty-nine girls before him.

The shock from earlier hadn't fully subsided; they looked at him as if he were a walking deity.

But Gu Pingsheng was clear-headed.

Adoration was cheap.

Only profit and survival were eternal bonds.

"Since you've all elected me as Captain, I won't stand on ceremony."

Gu Pingsheng lightly tapped the armrest, his voice soft yet clear to everyone's ears.

"My rules are simple: this spaceship doesn't support idlers."

"I have a talent for turning trash into treasure, but that doesn't mean I'll support you all for free."

"If you want food, water, or to survive, you must prove your worth."

The crowd stirred.

Liu Ruyan opened her mouth to say something, but upon seeing the calm, unreadable look in Gu Pingsheng's eyes, she swallowed her words.

The current Gu Pingsheng carried an aura that made people dare not act out of line.

"Lin Qinghan."

Gu Pingsheng called her name.

"Here."

Lin Qinghan stepped forward, the ice sword in her hand emanating a chilling aura.

"You've awakened an S-rank combat talent. From now on, you're responsible for the spaceship's security and defense. Form a guard team and recruit all those who have awakened combat talents."

"No problem," Lin Qinghan nodded, crisp and decisive.

"Zhao Min."

"Yes!" Class Monitor Zhao Min instinctively straightened her back.

"You're in charge of logistics and inventory. Keep detailed records of daily food rations and water consumption. Anyone caught taking more than their share gets thrown out of the spaceship."

Zhao Min adjusted her glasses, a flicker of something unreadable in her eyes. "Don't worry, leave it to me."

"Su Ruan."

"Huh? Me... I'm here..."

Su Ruan, clutching a rabbit plushie, timidly peeked out.

"Your talent is [Soul Stitching], right? From now on, you're in charge of everyone's clothes, armor, and some of the spaceship's soft furnishings and repairs."

"Oh... o-okay..."

The assignments were complete.

Gu Pingsheng stood up and pointed to several cabins on one side of the hall.

"That area is designated as the common area. You can assign dormitories among yourselves. The Captain's Quarters and the storage room are off-limits. No one is to approach without my permission."

"Violators will bear the consequences."

With that, he turned and entered the Captain's Quarters, the cabin door closing heavily behind him.

...

Captain's Quarters.

It was much quieter here than the hall outside.

Gu Pingsheng sat before the control console and opened the [Regional Trading Market].

That earlier display of authority was just to stabilize things internally.

Now, he was going to start the real harvest.

On the screen, dense streams of trade information refreshed like a waterfall.

[Seller: Sister Rain from the Northeast. Item: Ancestral Jade Pendant (White). Request: 500ml of water. Note: Please! I'm dying of thirst! This pendant is really valuable!]

[Seller: Li Ergou. Item: Refined Iron x5. Request: A piece of bread. Note: Anything edible! Even moldy!]

[Seller: Anonymous. Item: Discuss in person. Request: A bottle of water. Note: I'm the Campus Belle, great figure, can verify via video...]

Pitiful.

Truly pitiful.

Only two hours had passed.

Most people's spaceships only had that initial, measly supply of moldy bread and murky, rusty water.

Many couldn't bring themselves to consume it, or after eating, they vomited and had diarrhea, leaving them in worse condition.

Water and food were now the hard currency.

They were life itself.

Looking at those desperate pleas for purchase, a cold smile tugged at the corner of Gu Pingsheng's mouth.

This was the apocalypse.

Once the veneer of civilization was torn away, only the naked instinct for survival remained.

He took out the bottle of [Life Spirit Spring] from his chest.

The purple liquid swirled inside the crystal vial, emitting an enchanting glow.

This item was too precious.

All attributes +1, removes negative status effects.

Sell it?

Only a fool would do that.

But he had the [Hand of God].

Gu Pingsheng found a clean, empty bucket—one Zhao Min had brought in while organizing supplies earlier.

He poured about 500ml of ordinary water into it.

Then, he carefully dripped a single drop of the [Life Spirit Spring] into it.

*Hum—*

The drop of purple liquid fell into the water, instantly dispersing.

The originally colorless, clear water immediately took on a faint green fluorescent hue.

[High-Energy Purified Water (Green · Excellent)]

[Description: Diluted Life Spirit Spring. Although its effects are greatly reduced, it still possesses strong restorative capabilities. Drinking it can quickly replenish hydration, relieve fatigue, and slightly restore HP.]

Gu Pingsheng took a sip.

Refreshing, sweet.

It didn't have the soul-elevating sensation of the original liquid, but it was still a hundred times better than the best mineral water on Earth.

Most importantly, it could save lives.

"One drop of the original liquid, diluted into a bucket of green-quality water."

Gu Pingsheng made a quick estimate.

This bucket of water could probably be divided into 100 portions, 50ml each.

For those dying of thirst, 50ml was life-saving nectar.

He opened the [List Item] function of the trading market.

[Item: High-Energy Purified Water (Green) x100 portions]

[Price per portion: spaceship Core Fragment x1 OR Refined Iron x10 OR Energy Block x1 OR Special Blueprint x1]

[Note: Green quality. A sip boosts spirits, cures all ailments. Limited stock, act fast.]

Click. Listed.

...

At this very moment.

Region No. 9527 Chat Channel.

Hundreds of thousands were venting frantically.

"Dammit! What kind of shitty game is this! I'm starving to death!"

"Who has water? I'll trade everything I have for it!"

"Don't dream, buddy upstairs. Who has extra water now? I don't even have enough for myself!"

"Some idiot just sold a bottle of piss, and it was snapped up instantly... ugh..."

Despair permeated every corner.

Right then.

A golden trade notification suddenly flashed at the top of the screen.

[Shocking! Mysterious Big Shot Lists 100 Portions of Green-Quality Purified Water! Buy Now While Supplies Last!]

The chat channel froze for a second.

Then, it exploded completely.

"Holy shit?! Am I seeing things? Green quality?!"

"Damn! I'm still drinking piss, and a big shot is already on purified water?!"

"Who is this guy? Cheating, right?! It's only been two hours since the start!"

"50ml for a Core Fragment? That's robbery!"

"Idiot upstairs, that's green quality! It restores HP! If you think it's expensive, don't buy it!"

"Big shot, please take care of me! I can warm your bed! Sweet, loli voice here!"

People cursed with their mouths, but their actions told a different story.

Gu Pingsheng watched the data in the backend.

[Trade Successful! Obtained spaceship Core Fragment x1!]

[Trade Successful! Obtained Refined Iron x10!]

[Trade Successful! Obtained Energy Block x1!]

[Trade Successful! Obtained Blueprint: Basic Water Purifier!]

...

The notification sounds became a continuous stream.

The red trade records flooded the screen.

100 portions of water.

In less than 10 seconds.

Completely sold out!

Gu Pingsheng's mailbox instantly overflowed.

*Sigh...*

Gu Pingsheng leaned back in his chair and let out a long breath.

Satisfying.

So satisfying.

This feeling of watching resources pour in was more addictive than sex.

He opened the storage.

The originally empty slots were now filled with various materials.

[spaceship Core Fragments: 32]

[Refined Iron: 450 units]

[Energy Blocks: 15]

[Blueprints: Basic Water Purifier, Simple Crossbow, Reinforced Steel Plate...]

This was the profit of monopoly.

This was a dimensional strike.

While others were still struggling for a sip of water, he had already completed his primitive accumulation.

*Knock, knock, knock.*

The cabin door was knocked.

"Enter."

Zhao Min walked in, holding that record book, her face unable to conceal her excitement.

"Gu... Captain!"

She corrected herself quickly.

"Everyone was just watching the chat channel... that anonymous big shot selling water, that was you, right?"

Though phrased as a question, her tone was certain.

After all, who else in the entire region besides Gu Pingsheng could produce green-quality water?

Gu Pingsheng didn't deny it, merely giving a faint nod.

"It was me."

"Oh my god..."

Zhao Min took a deep breath, her chest heaving.

Although she had suspected it, hearing Gu Pingsheng admit it firsthand was still a massive shock.

"Everyone outside has gone crazy! They're all guessing who that big shot is! Who would have thought he's right here on our ship!"

The look in her eyes when she gazed at Gu Pingsheng was no longer just admiration; it held a trace of fanaticism.

"Captain, just now, Liu Ruyan and a few others... were asking if they could have some of that water..."

Zhao Min cautiously probed.

"They said they're willing to pay any price."

When she said "any price," Zhao Min's face flushed slightly.

They were all adults; everyone understood what that meant.

Gu Pingsheng smiled.

A very meaningful smile.

"Tell them, if they want water, they can have it."

"Exchange it for merit."

"Killing monsters, gathering supplies, repairing the spaceship... as long as they contribute, I'll give it."

"As for the other things..."

Gu Pingsheng looked Zhao Min up and down, his gaze lingering for a second on the strained buttons of her blouse.

"I don't lack women."

"I lack people who can work."

Zhao Min was stunned for a moment, then a flicker of shame crossed her eyes, but it was overshadowed by awe.

To remain so rational at a time like this, not to be swayed by beauty.

This man was terrifying.

"Yes! I understand!"

Zhao Min turned and left.

Gu Pingsheng withdrew his gaze.

He was certainly no saint.

It's just that now was not the time for indulgence.

Danger still lurked outside.

The roar of that Void Behemoth, though temporarily distant, its oppressive presence still lingered.

He had to quickly convert these resources into combat power.

Gu Pingsheng opened the [spaceship Control Panel].

[Current Vehicle: Micro Escape Pod (Damage Rate: 35%)]

[Level: LV0]

[Durability: 65/100]

[Defense: 5 (Like paper)]

[Firepower: 0 (Do you expect to drown enemies with saliva?)]

[Upgrade Requirements: spaceship Core Fragments x10, Refined Iron x100, Energy Blocks x5.]

Previously, these materials were astronomical figures to him.

But now...

Looking at the mountain of supplies piled up in storage, a slight smile touched Gu Pingsheng's lips.

"System, upgrade the spaceship."