46: Chapter 46 Exchanging Energy Crystals

The two stood on the floating walkway, the path beneath their feet automatically moving forward. Above them, cold white energy light strips wound along the architecture, while low-altitude hovercars streaked across the sky, leaving behind faint purple light trails; Mo Yufei felt the technology of this future world rushing toward him.

Wang Chen did not pursue the mystery of the energy crystals any further; his fingertips lightly swiped across the virtual screen of his smart optical computer, causing the light blue display to instantly switch to the Federal Identity System interface.

"By the way, there is something I need to tell you."

Wang Chen looked up at Mo Yufei, the optical computer on his wrist flickering with a cold light.

"When we went to the Federal Administration Hall earlier to register your new identity, the coordinate information I submitted simultaneously was urgently surveyed by other special investigators from the Federation. The on-site verification was confirmed, and the relevant mission credit point subsidies have just arrived in your account."

As he spoke, he gestured toward the seemingly ordinary smart bracelet on Mo Yufei's wrist. A subtle silver-blue energy beam scanned across it, and the bracelet immediately glowed with a soft white light, displaying a translucent personal account panel.

"I have transferred all the credit points into your exclusive account. This account is directly bound to your new Federal identity; it is unique, tamper-proof, and non-transferable."

Mo Yufei looked down at his bracelet, where a string of credit point numbers was clearly displayed on the screen. A flicker of emotion stirred within him, though he remained stoic.

Seeing this, Wang Chen added, "From now on, as long as you wear this identity bracelet, you can pay directly by swiping it, whether at offline smart supermarkets in the Federal capital or on any major shopping platform on the interstellar network."

"You can use it to purchase supplies or exchange for scarce resources. I have already granted you the highest level of civilian access. If you have any issues with your account later, just contact me directly using the bracelet."

Mo Yufei nodded gently, his fingertips quietly rubbing the inner wall of the bracelet as his thoughts drifted to the matter of exchanging credit points for energy crystals.

"Wang Chen, let me ask you something—can credit points be exchanged for high-purity energy crystals?"

When Mo Yufei spoke, he deliberately slowed his pace. His gaze drifted away from Wang Chen, landing on the flickering digital screen of the terminal instead of looking directly at him.

Wang Chen was taken aback at first, then frowned. He lightly tapped the smart optical computer on his wrist, and a light blue virtual screen instantly appeared, listing the parameters and prices of various energy materials.

He stared at the entry for energy crystals on the screen, his tone filled with confusion and bewilderment, before turning to look at Mo Yufei. "Energy crystals? What do you need those for? I know that these primitive crystals are what ancient cultivators called spirit stones, but that's ancient history."

He leaned in closer, pointing at the comparison data on the screen, and explained earnestly, "You know, spirit stones contain too many impurities, and their energy conversion rate is pitifully low. Even for cultivation, being able to absorb one-tenth of the energy is considered good; it's a complete waste."

"The Federation has long since developed purified concentrated energy blocks. After multiple refining processes to remove all impurities, their energy purity is over a dozen times higher than that of ordinary crystals, and they offer better value for your credit points. Wouldn't it be more cost-effective to buy those directly?"

"Using purified energy blocks will double your efficiency; there's no need to seek out primitive energy crystals that are hard to exchange and impractical."

As soon as Wang Chen finished speaking, a flicker crossed Mo Yufei's eyes. Suppressing his urge to immediately exchange for the crystals, he feigned casual curiosity and asked.

"By the way, let me ask you one more thing."

Mo Yufei's gaze rested on the energy data flickering on Wang Chen's optical computer; his tone sounded indifferent, but he was actually deeply interested.

"When you purify and process natural energy crystals into standard energy blocks, is there any energy loss during the process?"

He knew that his secret realm only recognized raw spiritual energy; it didn't need purification, and impurities didn't matter. However, he still needed to understand the details so he could calculate how many raw stones would be required for the secret realm's upgrade.

Wang Chen replied without hesitation, his fingertips adjusting the energy purification process parameters on the screen. "Of course there's loss; how could it be completely lossless?"

"Natural energy crystals contain mixed impurities and scattered spiritual energy. When the Federal workshops purify and refine them, they have to remove the mineral slag and impurities, reconstruct the energy structure, and compress it into standard energy blocks."

He paused, then provided an approximate ratio. "Overall, the loss is around twenty percent, and for lower-quality crystals, the loss is even higher, reaching up to thirty percent."

"So, most people prefer to just buy the finished energy blocks. No one uses their credit points to buy raw stones and then purify them themselves; that would be a total loss."

Wang Chen looked at Mo Yufei, puzzled. "Why are you suddenly asking about this? Don't tell me you want to hoard crystals and purify them yourself? That's not cost-effective at all."

After hearing Wang Chen's explanation, Mo Yufei immediately figured out the math.

He mused to himself: His secret realm only required raw energy stones for upgrades and had no use for technologically purified standard energy blocks.

If he had them purified by the workshops, he would lose twenty to thirty percent of the energy for nothing—it would be a complete waste.

Conversely, if he used the credit points that had just arrived to exchange directly for natural energy raw stones, there would be no purification loss. Every bit of energy could be fully absorbed by the secret realm, saving him the intermediate loss while perfectly meeting the requirements for the secret realm's upgrade. It was actually much more cost-effective.

With that thought in mind, Mo Yufei feigned indifference and followed the conversation, asking, "Since there's such a significant loss during purification, I'll just forget about the energy blocks."

"Can you check if I can use my credit points to exchange for a large quantity of unprocessed raw energy crystals directly? I want the kind that hasn't been purified at all and still retains its original energy structure."

Wang Chen was puzzled and frowned. "Why insist on exchanging for raw stones when you could use the more cost-effective purified energy blocks? And you want a large quantity? This doesn't seem worth it at all."

Mo Yufei remained calm and casually offered an excuse, "The special purpose I need them for is quite specific; it only works with raw ore stones. Purified ones actually won't work. I have no choice but to exchange for the raw stones directly."

In truth, he knew this was the safest and most cost-effective choice. He wouldn't be wasting credit points on energy blocks that had been purified and altered; hoarding raw stones directly would perfectly meet the essential needs of the secret realm's upgrade, ensuring not a single bit of energy was wasted.

Seeing that Mo Yufei was determined to have only the raw energy crystals, Wang Chen stopped trying to persuade him. He helplessly shrugged, tapped his smart optical computer a few times to bring up the exclusive channel page for raw stone exchange, and looked up at Mo Yufei.

"Fine, since you have special requirements and must have the raw stones, I won't say anything more."

He paused, his tone casual yet probing, and got straight to the point. "Give me a solid number—how many raw energy crystals do you plan to exchange at once? I can lock in the inventory for you directly and go through internal channels so you won't have to pay extra transaction fees for multiple exchanges."