159: Chapter 159 Building a Foundation with Technology

Eastern Plains, New Settlement.

Lin Muci was holding the thin book given by the Chen Tribe, speaking to a dozen or so Refugees.

"This is called the 'Basic Breathing Technique'."

"Practice according to this, and you can draw Spiritual Qi into your body."

"It's slow, but steady."

The Refugees gathered in a circle, listening intently.

"Brother Lin, if we practice this, can we really achieve Immortal Ascension?" a middle-aged man asked.

"Immortal Ascension is still a long way off," Lin Muci said. "But your strength will increase, you'll work more efficiently, and you'll get sick less often."

"That'll do!"

"Let's practice!"

The Refugees sat cross-legged and began breathing according to the method in the book.

Lin Muchen watched, nodding inwardly.

"Xiao Ci, has the Cultivation Technique been passed down?"

"Yeah," Lin Muci replied in his mind. "Brother, you're here?"

"I'm here," Lin Muchen said. "There's something."

"Go ahead."

"Organize the blueprints for the Runic Crossbow and the structure of the Fire Gathering Rune furnace."

"Organize them?" Lin Muci was stunned. "For what?"

"For the Chen Tribe," Lin Muchen said. "They gave us a Cultivation Technique, so we should return the favor."

"Didn't we already give them the crossbow and the blueprints?"

"That was the first time," Lin Muchen said. "If we want long-term cooperation, we need to provide continuous output."

"Trading technology for resources shouldn't be a one-time thing."

Lin Muci understood.

"Alright, I'll do it."

He walked into the shack and took out animal hide and charcoal.

He began to draw.

The structure of the crossbow, the dimensions of every part.

The position of the Fire Gathering Rune inside the furnace chamber, and how to control the temperature.

He drew in great detail.

"Brother, is this okay?" Lin Muci asked.

"It's fine," Lin Muchen said. "Give this to them the next time they come to trade."

"Just say it's follow-up technical support."

"Once they have this, they can build their own crossbows and set up their own furnaces."

"As for us, we can trade for more Advanced items."

Lin Muci grinned.

"This is what you call a 'technology iteration'."

"Exactly," Lin Muchen said. "Once they have the basics, we can ask for better things."

"Understood."

Lin Muci continued drawing.

Once finished, he checked it over again.

"Done."

[Ding—]

[Detected continued complementary effects of the Origin Star civilizations.]

[Event: Lin Muci has organized the Runic Crossbow and Fire Gathering Rune furnace technology, preparing to teach it to the Chen Tribe through trade.]

[Analysis: Knowledge flow has shifted from one-way output to a two-way cycle; the potential for synergistic civilization evolution has increased.]

[Feedback Efficiency slightly increased: 27% → 27.3%.]

[Hint: Encouraging the establishment of a fixed knowledge exchange mechanism will further amplify the complementary effects.]

Lin Muchen felt a surge of joy.

It increased again.

Although it only increased by 0.3%, it was continuous.

"Xiao Ci, the Feedback Efficiency increased again."

"Awesome!" Lin Muci became even more excited. "Brother, I think we can come up with some new tricks."

"What kind of tricks?"

"Look," Lin Muci walked to the village well. "Drawing water is quite laborious."

"Every time, you have to crank the bucket up."

"I'm wondering if we can create a labor-saving device."

Lin Muchen became interested.

"How?"

"Gears," Lin Muci said. "The kind of simple gear transmission from Blue Star."

"Combined with the 'Weightlessness Rune'."

"Reduce the weight of the bucket, then use gears to save effort."

"One person will be able to draw water easily."

Lin Muchen smiled.

"You brat, your mind really works fast."

"Give it a try?"

"Let's try it!"

Lin Muci immediately got to work.

He found several pieces of wood and carved them into gear shapes with a knife.

Large and small gears meshed together.

Then, he carved a "Weightlessness Rune" onto the bucket's handle.

A faint green light flashed.

"It's done." Lin Muci hung the bucket onto the gear set.

"Someone come and try this."

A refugee walked over and grabbed the crank handle.

He gave it a gentle turn.

The gears rotated.

The bucket slowly rose, light as if it contained no water.

"Holy crap!" The refugee was shocked. "It's this light?"

"How much effort does it save?" Lin Muci asked.

"At least seventy percent!" the refugee said. "Before, my arm would ache after cranking up one bucket of water. Now, it's like child's play."

Lin Muci grinned.

"Brother, see that?"

"I see it," Lin Muchen said. "This thing can be popularized."

"Absolutely," Lin Muci said. "If we install one on every well, the water-drawing efficiency will multiply several times."

"And the structure is simple; it can be made from wood."

"Once the Weightlessness Rune is carved, it can last for a long time."

[Ding—]

[Detected 'Elementary Mechanical Rune Application' on the Origin Star.]

[Event: A simple gear transmission structure was successfully combined with the 'Weightlessness Rune' to design a Labor-saving water lifting device.]

[Analysis: Basic mechanical knowledge from Blue Star has produced a deep chemical reaction with the rune System, opening a new branch called 'Rune Mechanics'.]

[The productivity potential of the Origin Star civilization has increased once again.]

[Hint: This application has extremely high popularization potential; accelerated dissemination is recommended.]

Lin Muchen felt even better.

"System, can this Feedback Efficiency increase even more?"

[Analysis: The Elementary Mechanical Rune Application belongs to 'Productivity Innovation,' which has a very strong driving force for the civilization as a whole.]

[As the application is popularized, the Feedback Efficiency will continue to rise slowly but steadily.]

[Hint: Encourage Lin Muci to explore more points of integration between runes and mechanics.]

"Understood," Lin Muchen told Lin Muci. "Beautifully done."

"Popularize this device in the New Settlement first."

"When the Chen Tribe comes next time, teach it to them as well."

Lin Muci nodded.

"Brother, I think we can set up a fixed market with the Chen Tribe."

"A fixed market?"

"Yes," Lin Muci said. "Currently, trading depends on them coming over, which is too random."

"Let's find a place and hold a market regularly."

"We'll trade our technology for their resources."

"They'll trade their resources for our technology."

"A win-win."

Lin Muchen thought about it.

"That works."

"Where should we choose the location?"

"By the river," Lin Muci said. "It's close to both sides."

"We can set up some sheds and stalls."

"Hold it twice a month."

"Gradually build it up."

Lin Muchen laughed.

"You brat, you even understand business?"

"Just a little," Lin Muci scratched his head. "I saw it in Blue Star TV dramas."

"Alright," Lin Muchen said. "Plan it out."

"Mention it to the Chen Tribe people when they come next time."

"They should agree to it."

"Got it!"

Lin Muci was full of energy.

He walked out of the shack and shouted to the Refugees.

"Brothers!"

"The Labor-saving water lifting device is finished!"

"Drawing water won't be tiring anymore!"

The Refugees gathered to take a look.

"Brother Lin is awesome!"

"This thing is miraculous!"

"Our village is getting better and better!"

Lin Muci grinned.

"Low-key development."

"Now..."

"Another branch has been added to the tech tree."

...

In the Quiet Room.

Lin Muchen opened his eyes.

He sat up.

"System, things have stabilized on the Origin Star."

"It's time for me to Cultivate as well."

[Current Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Stage, Fifth Layer.]

[Feedback Efficiency: 27.3%.]

[Origin Star Natural Law Completion: 43%.]

[Hint: Use Sect points to exchange for nourishing resources to accumulate the foundation needed to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, Sixth Layer.]

Lin Muchen nodded.

He took out his identification token and checked his Sect points balance.

There were still over two thousand.

"Let's take a look at the Treasure Pavilion."

"Exchange for some good items."

He stood up and pushed the door open.

Outside, it was already broad daylight.

Lin Muchen headed straight for the Treasure Pavilion.

There weren't many people in the pavilion.

He walked to the resource area and began to choose.

"warm jade marrow, nourishes the Meridians, three hundred Sect points per bottle."

"spirit gathering pill, accelerates Spiritual Qi absorption, two hundred Sect points per bottle."

"five elements essence, harmonizes spiritual power attributes, five hundred Sect points per portion."

Lin Muchen calculated.

"Two bottles of warm jade marrow, three bottles of spirit gathering pills, and one portion of five elements essence."

"Total... one thousand nine hundred Sect points."

"Not bad."

He paid the contribution points and returned to the Quiet Room with the items.

He closed the door.

He sat cross-legged.

"System, plan out the cultivation rhythm."

"First, use the warm jade marrow to nourish the Meridians, then use the spirit gathering pills to accelerate absorption."

"Finally, use the five elements essence to harmonize."

"Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, Sixth Layer should be no problem."

[Analysis: Feasible.]

[Estimated time: Fifteen to twenty days.]

[Success Rate: 87%.]

[Hint: Coordinating with the continuous feedback from the Origin Star can further increase the success rate.]

"Alright."

Lin Muchen opened a bottle of warm jade marrow and poured it into his mouth.

A cool sensation slid down his throat and spread throughout his entire body.

His Meridians warmed slightly, becoming more resilient.

"Refreshing."

He closed his eyes and began to circulate his Cultivation Technique.

Spiritual Qi surged from all directions, flowing through his Meridians into his Dantian.

From the Origin Star side, the continuous feedback power was also injected simultaneously.

Like two small streams merging into a single river.

Lin Muchen could feel his cultivation level steadily increasing.

It was slow, but steady.