193: Deep Root Project and "Silver" Miners

The ravages of the Rule Storm razed the Hope Platform to the ground, but it also acted like a blazing fire, tempering the will of the "Spark" organization.

After a brief period of grief and confusion, under the leadership of Wen Youyi, the twelve surviving members, carrying the relief of having survived a catastrophe and an unyielding tenacity, threw themselves into the construction of their New Homeland—the "Deep Root Plan."

The core of the plan was to establish the New Homeland inside those massive, structurally relatively stable pieces of Starry Sky Debris, in order to withstand potential future Rule Storms or other natural disasters.

The primary task was site selection.

Wen Youyi locked his target onto three of the most massive pieces of Starry Sky Debris, which resembled a broken bow, a tilted tower, and an irregular giant rock-iron mixture, respectively.

After preliminary exploration, the "Tilted Tower" was determined to be the base for the first phase of the project, named "Bedrock Base," because its internal structure was relatively intact, possessing multiple sealable cabins and passageways, and a stable underground water source (existing in the form of ice) was discovered on a hidden fracture surface.

With the base selected, the next step was the most arduous "digging" phase.

"Damn it, this thing is even harder than the Trial Cliff of the Qingxuan Sect!" Zhao Iron Pillar swung his repaired heavy sword, hacking away at the metal wall at the entrance of Bedrock Base that needed to be widened. Sparks flew everywhere, but progress was slow.

Other members also used various tools to try and excavate, but the efficiency was low; at this rate, it would take months just to carve out enough living space.

Just as everyone was worrying about the incredibly hard shell of the Starry Sky Debris, Wen Youyi turned his gaze once again toward their "good neighbor"—"Flowing Silver."

Since "Flowing Silver" could consume metal and energy, could they be used as "miners"?

Once this idea was voiced, even Zhao Iron Pillar thought it was a bit fanciful.

"Boss, let those iron lumps dig holes? They might just eat our base away!"

"That's why we need to guide and control them." A calculating light flickered in Wen Youyi's eyes. "We need to design a type of 'directional mining' command."

He once again engaged in a remote brainstorming session with Senior Brother Zhang and Ying.

[Theoretically feasible!] Senior Brother Zhang analyzed, [The consumption behavior of "Flowing Silver" is guided by energy signals and material properties. If we can create a strong, directional energy marker that only covers the specific area needing to be cleared, and continuously provide a trace amount of 'reward' energy, perhaps we can guide them to perform precise 'gnawing'!]

Ying added: [We can utilize the Foundation of the previous interaction points and upgrade them into 'mining workstations.' The workstations will continuously emit strong, directional energy markers to delineate the mining area, and after "Flowing Silver" completes the clearance of the specified area, we will provide energy rewards.]

No sooner said than done! Wen Youyi led the technical team to set up the first batch of "mining workstations" at several selected entrances and areas needing excavation within Bedrock Base.

These workstations were like little lighthouses, emitting strong energy fluctuations that only covered the target areas, as if saying: "Come eat here! This tastes good!"

At first, the surrounding "Flowing Silver" groups were attracted by this strong signal and gathered around restlessly, but they seemed somewhat confused, not understanding why the "food" was restricted to such a small area.

Wen Youyi waited patiently. Finally, a "Flowing Silver" individual that had been active at the No. 3 interaction point and seemed to have a higher "IQ" cautiously approached an area marked by a workstation and began to tentatively "lick" the metal wall there.

When it successfully cleared a small piece of metal according to the marked range, the workstation immediately released a pure, but small amount of star energy as a reward.

The "Flowing Silver" individual was clearly "stunned" for a moment, then happily devoured the reward and began to "gnaw" at the marked area even more vigorously!

With the first one to take the plunge, other "Flowing Silver" also followed suit, starting to perform precise "mining" on the marked areas around each workstation!

One could see the silvery-gray metal liquid covering the target areas, rapidly corroding and devouring the hard shell of the Starry Sky Debris like a strong acid; the efficiency was more than ten times faster than Zhao Iron Pillar and the others hacking away with tools! Moreover, they strictly followed the range of the energy markers and never crossed the boundary, like the most obedient miners!

"Holy crap! It actually works!" Zhao Iron Pillar watched the rapidly disappearing metal wall, dumbfounded.

Wang Wu also exclaimed in wonder: "This is even more effective than hiring a hundred laborers!"

A smile appeared on Wen Youyi's face. Success! They had successfully channeled the consumption instinct of "Flowing Silver" into an efficient construction force!

Under the tireless work of the "Flowing Silver" miners, the entrance and main passageways of Bedrock Base were opened up at an astonishing speed. Wen Youyi and the others followed behind, reinforcing, laying cables (using metal wires with good spiritual conductivity), and installing basic living facilities.

Meanwhile, the "Agricultural Group" led by Wang Wu also found some relatively enclosed cabins within the base that had water sources (ice) and faint light, restarting the cultivation of "stubborn stone fungus" and "star moss," and even attempting to build a new type of "ecological farm" in larger cabins.

A home, amidst the ruins, was taking root and growing again in another, more solid, and deeper way.

Standing in the main passageway of the now nascent Bedrock Base, looking at the smooth metal walls on both sides (gnawed by "Flowing Silver") and the stable lighting overhead (powered by energy crystals), Wen Youyi felt deeply moved.

Crisis contains opportunity. The Rule Storm destroyed their surface home but forced them to find a deeper level of cooperation with "Flowing Silver," opening a new chapter of development deep underground.

The "Deep Root Plan" was not just about planting roots deeper, but also about forging the survival Foundation of "Spark" to be even more unbreakable!

He believed that as long as they were given enough time, this piece of Starry Sky Debris would surely become their most solid backing and their most secret fortress.

(End of chapter)